The Humane Technology Artisan

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Where I'll Be Hangin' at CHI 2012

I've been spending the better part of the week reviewing the CHI 2012 conference schedule. Man, I wish I could bring an Amaya Clone because there are many times I'd like to be in two, or even three, places at once! That being said, below is a schedule of where I'll be likely to be during the conference.

Friday, May 4 -

Travel

Saturday, May 5 -

9:30-6PM - Invited Workshop on Defamiliarization in Innovation and Usability, 13B

Sunday, May 6 -

Sightseeing and visiting with old colleagues

Monday, May 7 -

11 - 12:50 - Touch in Context, 16AB
2:30 - 4 - Practical Statistics for Usability, Course
2:30 - 3 - Brain and Body (Touche paper), Ballroom E
4:30 - 6 - Hot Moves and Shape Changing Interfaces, Ballroom E

Tuesday, May 8 -

9:30-12:30 - UX Evaluation in Games and Entertainment, Course
11:30 - 1 - Personas in Design, 16AB
11:30 - 1 - Tools and Stats in Evaluation Studies, 12AB
2:30 - 4 - Promoting Educational Opportunity, (McSig paper, 1st) 18AB
2:30 - 4 - Tools of the Trade (Chronoviz Paper, UCSD, 3rd) 16AB
5:30 - 7 - Interactivity Session

Wednesday, May 9 -

9:30-11 - Future Design, 18AB
11:30 - 1 - Sensory Interaction Modalities, Ballroom E
11:30 - 1 - Beyond Paper, 16AB
4:30-5:50 - Tablets, Touch, Tables, 17AB
6:30-8:30 - Hospitality Dinner Off-Site

Thursday, May 10

Flight home

What is a humane technology artisan?

I spend my time crafting inspiring experiences with technology. So often, technology is not humane because it frustrates us, doesn't allow us to do the work that's important to us, and distorts our social relationships. My goal is to help build technology that is useful, personally relevant, and responsive to our needs.

I have formal training in anthropology and cognitive science (Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, UC San Diego), and I did my dissertation using ethnographic methods applied to study HCI design. In the past, I've worked in UX consulting, studying collaboration technologies for Cisco Systems, and managed a UX team at a security software company. I am currently Senior UX Research Analyst at Immersion Corporation, where I'm helping define the future of tactile and embodied interfaces.

Things I do in my work life: Usability Research, UX Research, UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction design, Ethnography, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Focus Groups

Other things I've been up to lately: Crafting, building wearable electronics and light-up accessories, belly dancing, hula hooping, acrylic and watercolor painting, making soft stitch toys, collages, building a fairy garden.