A Beginning

Who I Am & Where I’m Headed

My name is Rustam (Russ), and I’m a graduate student in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at San Francisco State University. My story so far has been about curiosity and growth—moving from my roots in Azerbaijan and Turkey to studying and working in the U.S., balancing school, research, and work.

I’ve always been drawn to understanding how people interact with technology. My long-term ambition is to become a designer and researcher who builds AI systems that are not just powerful, but also intuitive, ethical, and human-centered. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) feels like the bridge between technology and the people it serves—and I want to stand on that bridge.

Why HCI Excites Me

At first glance, HCI might sound technical, but to me, it’s really about people. It’s the study of how humans and computers communicate with each other—through screens, buttons, gestures, or even voice.

What excites me most is that HCI combines design, psychology, and technology. It’s not just about building cool gadgets, but about making everyday life smoother, more inclusive, and even more joyful. I’ve realized that small design choices—like how a button looks or how an app responds—can make the difference between frustration and delight.

HCI in My Life: Three Positive Impacts

Navigation Apps
When I moved to San Francisco, I often felt lost in the city. Navigation apps like Google Maps not only gave me directions but also predicted traffic, suggested public transit, and adapted to walking. This interface gave me confidence to explore and feel at home faster.



Fitness Trackers

As someone passionate about fitness, I rely on heart-rate monitors and apps to track workouts. The design of these interfaces—color-coded graphs, weekly summaries, simple notifications—helps me push harder at the gym and rest when I need it.






Restaurant Work Tools

Working in a restaurant, I use a digital system to take orders and split tips. It’s fast, simple, and prevents mistakes that would happen with pen and paper. That’s HCI in action—design that reduces stress and keeps work flowing smoothly.

HCI & My Personal Growth

Learning about HCI is helping me grow into the version of myself I dream about—someone who can combine empathy with innovation.By studying how people interact with technology, I’m becoming more sensitive to frustrations and needs I may have overlooked before. Designing interfaces requires imagination, not just coding. In my future career, I hope to lead projects where technology adapts to humans, not the other way around. In short, HCI is teaching me to see technology not as an end, but as a tool to empower people.

Introducing My Project

This semester, my team and I are developing an AR Cooking Assistant, starting with sushi. Cooking tutorials and recipe videos are often hard to follow in real time, especially when precision is required—like slicing fish, rolling sushi, or plating neatly. Our solution is a smartphone AR overlay that gives step-by-step, real-time guidance directly in your kitchen, showing things like knife angles, rice portions, and presentation tips.

We’ll test it with beginner and intermediate home cooks, measure how easily they follow instructions, and refine based on feedback. If successful, this approach could expand beyond sushi to make cooking more accessible, fun, and confidence-building for everyone.

Looking Ahead

By the end of the semester, I want to not only have built my project but also have grown as a thinker, designer, and researcher in HCI.

For me, HCI isn’t just a subject—it’s a way of reimagining how humans and technology can grow together. I’m excited to take you along on this journey. 

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