Research
My research experience and interests are largely within the realm of human-computer interaction (HCI) and human-robot interaction (HRI).
The systems and projects I help create often focus on populations or product niches with specific physical and cognitive needs, but many of the same design and user experience principles also apply to good design for the general population.
My research experience has helped me understand that quality technology innovation allows humans to express their potential, that the needs of the able bodied and the disabled are not so far apart, and that cross-cultural expertise also matters. These principles serve as a maxim for my work, which focuses on creating technology that's more usable and helpful for everyone, including people who may be affected by potential impairments such as age and disability.
Not Some Random Agent: Multi-person Interaction with a Personalizing Service Robot
Abstract:
Service robots often perform their main functions in public settings, interacting with more than one person at a time. How these robots should handle the affairs of individual users while also behaving appropriately when others are present is an open question. One option is to design for flexible agent embodiment: letting agents take control of different robots as people move between contexts. Through structured User Enactments, we explored how agents embodied within a single robot might interact with multiple people. Participants interacted with a robot embodied by a singular service agent, agents that re-embody in different robots and devices, and agents that co-embody within the same robot. Findings reveal key insights about the promise of re-embodiment and co-embodiment as design paradigms as well as what people value during interactions with service robots that use personalization.
Coauthored publication: a core team of three students (myself, a graduate student, and another undergraduate) conducted this research study in less than three months, so we all wore many hats, so to speak.
My contributions included study design, analysis, participant recruitment, literature review, paper writing and editing, etc. I also personally conducted a majority of user interviews/study sessions.
Additionally, I personally fabricated the vast majority of the study testing environment and related study equipment, including hardware, robotics, and electronics fabrication and assembly.
Full paper here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yr4ZZsRWgbbRFJlbRqQt8mb5RvZRch65/view?usp=sharing
Additional study materials can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1g7AJSRVfq7hoDTZoFXgR192e0ZZqu8l6?usp=sharing
The design, development, and evaluation of telepresence interfaces for aging adults: Investigating user perceptions of privacy and usability
Abstract:
Telepresence robots can be beneficial for older adults by helping them stay socially connected and to access telehealth services; both factors are vital in maintaining health and wellness while aging in place. For older adults to willingly use telepresence technology, it is important to ensure that they do not experience barriers to adoption, such as issues with usability and privacy. In this study, we present a two-part research endeavor. Firstly, we developed two telepresence user interfaces (UIs): (1) the control condition—a generic UI design based on currently available telepresence robots; and (2) the experimental condition—a modified UI that was designed specifically for older adults’ capabilities and limitations, which also incorporated enhanced privacy features. Secondly, we conducted an in-depth within-subjects mixed-methods assessment of both UIs with 30 older adults (aged M = 71.00, SD = 5.50, range = 61–84 years). Both qualitative and quantitative data yielded positive results, suggesting that older adults perceived the experimental condition to be more usable and private than the control condition. The older adult participants provided insight on which usability and privacy features were perceived as critical, specifying features such as obstacle detection, adjustable robot height, and the ability to restrict room access. By conducting this preliminary study, we investigated what usability features are deemed critical for older adult usage of telepresence. Our goal is to improve the ease of use of telepresence robots, and to enable older adults to remain socially connected while aging in place.
Coauthored publication: my contributions to the team included assisting with final paper writing and editing, user interface design, user studies, ethnography, and design/brand strategy.
Full paper here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qo-c_ymKV1E-loUiAqe21YdAx_xs5wIy/view?usp=sharing