On behalf of IFIP TC.13, I have great pleasure in inviting you to attend the eighth IFIP TC.13 INTERACT conference being held in Tokyo, Japan. INTERACT is the flagship conference of the International Federation for Information Processing Technical Committee on Human-Computer Interaction (IFIP TC.13). Previous INTERACTs starting in 1984, have been held in England (2), Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Australia and Scotland. For 2001, IFIP TC.13 selected Japan as the venue for its eighth INTERACT conference, where it is graciously hosted by the Information Processing Society of Japan and organised by the Human Interface Society.

In the new millennium, there is a seemingly never-ending range and choice of technology becoming available for use in all sectors of society. Human-Computer Interaction is a major key to the success with which these technological advances are adopted for the benefit of people, in developing countries as well as developed countries. Japan's long-term interest in information technology and HCI and its closeness to many Asian countries with an emerging interest in HCI, including China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, makes it a fitting choice for this truly international IFIP TC.13 INTERACT conference in 2001.

The venue for the conference is Waseda University in Tokyo, a fascinating city with a long history, culture and traditions. The INTERACT 2001 committees have been very busy planning this five-day event for your interest and involvement, to provide a varied, multi-track, international scientific programme devoted to HCI research and practice, and to organise interesting social events where you can meet old and new friends and HCI colleagues from many countries around the world in unique Japanese contexts.

I look forward very much to meeting you at INTERACT 2001, the flagship IFIP TC.13 conference.

With the advent of the computer, information processing technology has accomplished many great achievements. To make this technology profitable for both of the people who use it and the whole society, the technological discipline of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) has been developed and is playing an important role.

As is well known, IFIP has been striving for the development of information processing technology worldwide. Equally, it is true to say that without the global perspective of IFIP TC.13 this part of information processing technology, the field of Human-Computer Interaction, would not have achieved such wide recognition throughout the world.

INTERACT, the international conference of IFIP TC13, has been developed over 17 years from 1984 very much as the truly international place to discuss all the many HCI topics. It is very significant that IFIP TC13 has decided to hold the next INTERACT conference in Japan with the aim that HCI should be developed even more extensively as a global technology. The Information Processing Society of Japan and the Human Interface Society have decided to support this plan and will welcome this important conference to Japan..

Finally, I wish to emphasize the necessity to increase and reinforce the cooperation of information processing technology with all types of industrial activity. Many products are still designed and produced with little consideration for the human user and the environment. Still there is too little work on how the product is actually meaningful and beneficial for the user, how the product can be made usable by various types of user, how the product will be satisfactory and even enjoyable for the user, etc. In order to improve this situation, I think it is crucial for the HCI technology, including the related human studies, to be reflected and indeed to be fully involved in the development of the products within industry. I strongly expect that this INTERACT conference will serve as the glue needed to introduce and bind in this missing link.

It is my great pleasure to invite you to take part in INTERACT2001, the eighth IFIP TC 13 Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 9 to 13, 2001. It is also great honor for Human Interface Society to host INTERACT2001 as the first in Asia of its series and also as the first in the 21st century.

Needless to say, the concept and technology of Human Computer Interaction or Human Interface, in a little wider sense, is at the top of many key issues at present. It will be more and more important and vital in our society in the 21st century in which Information Technology will prevail. At the beginning of the 21st century, now is just right time for all of us who are in HCI or Human Interface community to join INTERACT2001 and to exchange ideas and information in order to begin making the new century more human-centered, more human-friendly and more human-oriented than ever through your contribution toward INTERACT2001.

I look forward to meeting you at INTERACT2001 in Tokyo soon, and I do hope you will enjoy meeting your old and new friends from all over the world.

As the conference chair of the INTERACT 2001 conference of IFIP TC13 with the strong support of the Information Processing Society Japan and the Human Interface Society, I am pleased to tell you that very many excellent professionals have shown their interest in this conference. In response to their eagerness, we set up two committees to prepare for the conference, i.e. the organizing committee whose chair is Akira Okamoto and the programme committee whose chair is Michitaka Hirose and the vice-chair Haruo Takemura. Above these committees, there is a steering committee that frequently gives us kind supports. I should also like to mention the strong support by the IFIP/TC13 chair, Judy Hammond and the IFIP/TC13 INTERACT conference advisor, Brian Shackel. Their advice has helped us in making INTERACT 2001 a genuine TC13 conference. In addition to the committees mentioned above, there also is an international program committee (IPC) with notable HCI specialists worldwide as members. Without their help and support, the quality of the conference could not have been qualified as a world famous HCI conference.

Based on the rigid and well-balanced review process, high quality presentations have been selected for the conference. So I can recommend you INTERACT 2001 as a top level HCI conference. In order to keep track of the fast moving HCI world today, you should not miss the chance to participate in this conference.

Finally I would like to suggest that this would be an excellent opportunity for you to visit Japan which has so many modern and classic features. If you plan to stay in Tokyo one or more days before or after the conference, you can enjoy sightseeing, food, and other aspects of Tokyo and its vicinity.

So why not register now for INTERACT 2001 and come to Tokyo?

I look forward to receiving your participation.