In this dissertation, I seek to understand factors beyond users’ initial use of an artifact that influence how we learn to use it. This learning both evolves over the entire time that a user uses an artifact and is personally meaningful for its users. In this paper, I outline a study that inquires about these factors to understand one’s “learning-in-use” of an interactive artifact. This dissertation will contribute both to designers by providing one type of foundation for understanding how fit evolves over time for users and to researchers by providing a new perspective on our understanding of learning to use interactive artifacts.

I am working on this project with Samantha Merritt and my dissertation committee members Dr. Martin Siegel, Dr. Erik Stolterman, Dr. David Hakken, Dr. Elizabeth Boling, and Dr. Yvonne Rogers.

More information will follow as the dissertation is completed.

A fuller description is to come.

I am working on this project with Dr. Erik Stolterman, Dr. Martin Siegel, Heekyoung Jung, Tonya Thompson, and Heather Wiltse.

There is more to come.

I am working on this project with William R. Hazlewood and Kevin Makice.

Sample Twitterspace for iConference 2010  

This project was for the student competition at CHI 2005. The stated problem was to design an artificial companion for senior citizens to promote their social well-being. Our group interpreted that problem very liberally and attempted to define a community gathering center whether it is an actual community center, place of worship, or other organized location with a special focus on senior citizens as the artificial companion. Included below are the paper that was accepted at the competition, an early version of the poster that gives an idea of the system layout, and a very early prototype of the main display that would be placed in the community center. Each member of the group contributed equally to this project and most of the areas of the project were done together as a group, including writing the paper, designing the paper, and designing the system.

The concept was to expose the fringe of communities to activities at a community center by sharing pictures from a repository of photos taken by others who are more active in the community. By seeing these pictures, it is hoped then that these fringe members would be more enticed to stay active and get more involved in the community. This develops around a centralized location in the center where seniors could share the pictures they have taken with each other and see what others in the community have been up to.

I worked on this project with Kynthia Brunette, Erik Pukinskis, and Matthew Eisenstadt.

Paper  |  Poster  |  Power Prototype

This art piece was meant to explore the boundary between user and tool. There is a strong connection to cybernetic organisms here, where both user must work within the constraints provided by the digital counterpart. The exhibit was shown in the IU DART show as well as online Flash gallery 33 Collective. Chris Matusek created much of the artwork for the piece.

I worked on this project with Chris Matusek.

Digital Artpiece  

This was a massive project started about 3 months before I joined—I worked on it for about 2 years. Massive is a bit of an understatement. Though we had a core of about 15 people handling most of the main artwork, programming and audio, the entire team of contributors was probably closer to around 60 people, many of whom were spread out at other universities across and outside the country. I was in the core part of the team and handled a great deal of the interface programming. My responsibilities included pretty much all of the actual game interface, with the exception of the cards and their construction. I designed and implemented all of the GUI components that appeared in the game. I was also responsible for some more minor details on all of the other interfaces in the game. I also created the installer for the game using the NSIS scripting language. This was easily the largest project I ever worked on and working with as many different people as I have was a valuable experience. The game is no longer active, but the game website is posted. We were finalists in several competitions including IDEAsfest 2005, FuturePlay 2005, and Slamdance 2006.

I worked on this project with Steven Cornette and about 20 other contributers.

Game Website