PhD in Human Factors Psychology

Over ten years of professional experience as a human factors engineer with specializations in human-computer interaction (HCI), skills-based interface design and assessment, prototyping and evaluation, and research involving mobile and web-applications.

Research Design Portfolio

Skills and Experience

Research design methods: task analysis, cognitive walkthroughs, A/B design, heuristic analysis, card sorting, affordance testing, interviewing, and prototype evaluation.

Software: Axure, Visio, Adobe Suite (Photoshop and Illustrator), Morae software, and wireframing design.

Display Design and Research

Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Involved in developing Human-Systems Integration requirements. Conducted task-oriented evaluations using prototypes and mockups.

• Crew module internal layout architecture

• Display and controls design

• Software display formats

Orion internal layout mockup (left) and an image showing the baseline architecture (right).

Orion Display and Controls Evaluations

Develop tasks and metrics to measure performance with displays (workload,

errors, task time, surveys)

Provide UX expertise to early display designs

Conduct evaluations and analysis of results, and provide feedback to

designers

Create display prototypes based on display designs for evaluation

Steps in the research process

Early display designs (top) and working prototypes developed in the human factors lab (bottom).

Development of Displays for Complex Systems

FAA Flight Controller Displays Project was to explore the feasibility of a semi-autonomous system for aircraft in order to reduce runway incursions and increase environmental safety.

Given the complexity of the system, an Ecological Interface Design (EID) technique was used to develop an Abstraction Hierarchy and Work Domain Model (WDM).

Based on results of the WDM, the currently employed ASDE-X system was redesigned based on the following strategy:

• Build upon an already existing system and layout to allow for transfer of training and match with existing schema of interface operations

• Use commonly known interface elements

• Create a better use of color

• Use typography to create hierarchy and clarity

• Make sure the system communicates current status appropriately and without confusion (contradiction) – salient nominal and emergency states

Abstraction Hierarchy

ASDE-X System Redesign

Redesigned system has a cleaner layout, reduced number of colors for clarity and

lower mental workload, slightly larger and more readable fonts, and added information

to aid in decision-making, while reducing display density.

Human Factors of Vehicle Architecture

Constellation Program Surface Exploration Vehicle (SEV) Applying human factors principles and evaluation of critical tasks to the configuration and placement of the displays and windows

Human factors aided engineers in redesign of the interface as well as placement of displays for optimal situational awareness.

Testing of different window configurations followed by a CAD design of the recommended changes.

Human Factors of Vehicle Architecture

Constellation Program Surface Exploration Vehicle (SEV) From conceptual design through iterative evaluation, designers and human factors personnel work together on development of SEV interior configurations to enhance safety, performance, usability, and comfort

The development of the internal space of the SEV from concept to reality. Development begins with initial concept drawings of SEV interior (far left), followed by building of a mockup, once tested and redesigned with HF input, the final vehicle gets built.

User Interfaces in Extreme Environments

EVA Displays and Informatics Evaluations of various methods for information presentation and communication. Worked with engineers at Glenn Research Center on selection of suitable technologies for the presentation of EVA procedures.

Evaluation of a cuff-display (left) and head-mounted display (right) for presentation of EVA procedures and operations.

Provide feedback and recommendations for improvement to design engineers

Creation of prototype interfaces and operations

Development of evaluation metrics and conduction of evaluations

Research Responsibilities

User Interfaces in Extreme Environments

Processing of visual information under high-g and vibration

The placards used during flight are shown at post-MECO for STS-119 (left) and pre-flight for STS-128 (right).

Fine motor performance in 0-g for touch-interfaces

Various test of motor performance are currently being used to examine fine motor control on the ISS.

UX Evaluations of Mobile Applications

Application for signing up potential employees Responsibilities included:

• Developing test plan and metrics for evaluation of mobile applications.

• Created prototypes using baseline designs.

• Quantitative data was collected based on performance using prototypes.

• Qualitative data was collected using surveys and interviews.

• Define user groups and worked with customer to schedule participants.

• Results were presented to customer in the form of a presentation.

• Worked with UX Designers to refine designs.

On the opening screen, users did not notice this was a sign-in screen, rather than a sign-up

screen.

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Based on UX design principles, a mock-up (wireframe) was created

to be given to designers.

Example from evaluation

Development of Advance HCI

Gesture and Voice Input Gestures and voice control are new and exciting computer input modalities for the Natural User Interface (NUI). The goal of NUI is to develop interfaces that do not have a steep learning curve and the interaction with these interfaces that are “natural” and intuitive to the user.

Prototype interfaces developed to test the feasibility of using gestures for Office operations.