This special issue is the first opportunity to introduce the research activities of the Human Interface Society. The first article gives a microworld approach to identify design requirements for better situation awareness. Next, a focus on evaluation of organizational structure in emergency situations from the communication viewpoints is examined, followed by a presentation of a speech-driven embodied interactive actor that activates human interaction and communication. The fourth paper describes two new additions to a Remote Infrared Audible Signage System for use by people with visual disabilities. Next, this special issue focuses on the design of an interactive skill-transfer agent for parameter tuning of an image sensor used to distinguish inferior goods from regular goods in a production line. Finally, a proposed embodied virtual communication system that provides a virtual face-to-face communication environment is discussed in the sixth article, followed by an outline of information on the usability activities in Japan with a focus on the last 10 years.