BarkleyREI is an interactive agency that develops websites primarily for non-profits, tourism, and higher education.
The capstone project for the Master of Human-Computer Interaction degree at Carnegie Mellon is an eight month long project that involves a team of five students dealing with a real client in industry. My team worked on redesigning the DeltaV Process Automation software for Emerson Process Management.
The DeltaV software is a process control automation software that refinery, chemical, and power plant process operators sit in front of for 10 hour shifts.
As the User Research leader of my team of five, I coordinated observation of users at processing plants to figure out behaviors and needs. I assigned members of the team to write contextual inquiry guide, write notes during the contextual inquiries, ask questions and interact with the users, review notes, and create user roles and models.
I also coordinated the testing of our team's interface prototypes. I assigned members of the team to create a user test plan and create user test reports.
Methods used:
- Literature Research
- Contextual Inquiry
- Heuristic Analysis
- Affinity Diagram
- Contextual Design
- Data Needs Model
- Workflow Model
- Cultural Model
- Interface Prototypes
- User Testing
- Iterative Design
Project website:
http://deltav.missig.org/index.html
As the Interaction Designer, my task was to redesign Respironic's current sleep diagnostic software. This is used by lab technicians and doctors to monitor and diagnose patients with sleep problems
Respironics had been currently transfixed on making their sleep diagnostic hardware better, so I had an intense job of creating a more intuitive software interface that was much easier for the users and still just as accurate as the current product.
To develop an intuitive interface, I completed extensive research on sleep diagnostics by reviewing literature on sleep diagnostics, applied heuristic analysis on Respironic's sleep diagnostic software, reviewed and did heuristic analysis on competitor softwares, conducted contextual inquiries, created personas and models from the research, and designed prototypes. I presented my research and prototypes with the engineers so that we could collaborate to redesign Respironic's sleep diagnostic software.
Methods used:
- Literature Research
- Contextual Inquiry
- Heuristic Analysis
- Competitive Analysis
- Personas
- Data Needs Model
- Workflow Model
- Cultural Model
- Scenarios
- Interface Prototypes
Working for a PhD student in the Human Computer Interaction Institute, I helped out in creating an adaptable interface. The focus of the research was to to create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that automatically detect a user’s needs in order to automatically adjust the interface to accommodate them.
I researched literature on novice/expert differentiation and menu adaptation based on user's skills, assessed common software program's menu systems, and tested users with several common software programs to assist in creating a model of how different types of users interact with menus. This information was used to develop a prototype application that can detect "novice" or "skilled" use and, as a result, the interface gives the user dynamic application information based on his/her skill.
Methods used:
- Literature Research
- Heuristic Analysis
- Cognitive Walkthrough
- User Testing
As part of a project that had been going on at Carnegie Mellon University for the past 10 or more years, I was in a group to develop a wearable computer system for government aircraft maintenance workers.
I completed research on prospective users and their needs, created personas and scenarios, and developed guidelines for the construction of a software interface and physical input tool to guide the engineers in the construction of a software and hardware interface. I created a guide for the ideal input device and a usability report of the input device that was actually created for the class.
Methods used:
- Literature Research
- Personas
- Data Needs Model
- Workflow Model
- Scenarios
- Interface Prototypes
Westinghouse was in need of a wireless communication solution for their Nuclear Power Plant Maintenance workers. At that time, these workers were tethered in a radioactive chamber with many obstacles as they roamed in their large protection suits.
I worked in a multi-disciplinary group to develop a wireless communication system. As the Human Factors engineer I did research on users and their needs, created a prototype, and did testing of the prototype.
Methods used:
- Literature Research
- User Research
- Personas
- Interface Prototype
- User Testing
Carnegie Mellon HCI projects
Listed below are projects that I did while an undergrad and Master's student in the Human-Computer Interaction program at Carnegie Mellon University
Redesign of Flat Tire System
I applied Human Factors principles to redesign the current system of how a flat tire is replaced. I created a document that outlines what the problems are with the current system, results of user tests I performed of fixing a flat tire, and application of human factors in a final solution. Even though the subject of the project was my own car, the solution is very applicable to all cars.
Development of Palm Pilot
This project involved redesigning a part of the Palm Pilot interface. My group chose to work on the calendar part. By assessing the current interface, developing models of interaction, and testing of prototypes, this calendar interface was given a new and improved design.
Methods used:
- Heuristic Analysis
- Cognitive Walkthrough
- Data Needs Model
- Workflow Model
- Cultural Model
- Artifact Model
- Task Analysis
- Taskflows
- Prototypes
- Iterative Design
Rest Area Kiosk
For this project I developed a rest area kiosk, in Flash, that was designed to sit in the rest areas off the side of highways and provide users with information about nearby hospitals, lodging, restaurants, and gas. Heuristics and Cognitive Walkthroughs were performed to create an initial prototype and then the prototype went three different stages of testing, applying the technique of iterative design. Through these methods I was able to create an interface that gave the users the information they need in the most intuitive and helpful way possible.
Methods used:
- Heuristic Analysis
- Cognitive Walkthrough
- Prototypes - Flash
- User Testing
- Iterative Design
Microwave in VB.Net
For this project I designed a microwave interface in VB.Net. This is a system with many usability difficulties both from the user's and designer's standpoint. This project became a challenge when I realized how difficult it is to design a microwave due to so many different modes that must be taken into consideration.
I applied heuristics and performed Cognitive Walkthroughs to contsruct a prototype and then tested the prototype through three different phases, applying the technique of iterative design to develop the microwave interface.
Methods used:
- Heuristic Analysis
- Cognitive Walkthrough
- Prototypes - Paper, VB.Net
- User Testing
- Iterative Design
Copier in VB.Net
With this project I developed a copier interface, in VB.Net, that had to be black and white, restricted size, and have certain functions. The restriction in size of the interface and color led to very creative solutions. With this project I also I applied heuristics and performed Cognitive Walkthroughs to contsruct a prototype and then tested the prototype through three different phases, applying the technique of iterative design to make sure the interface was intuitive for users.
Also, I should mention, that through this project I also realized how difficult it is to implement cancel at all places within an interface.
Methods used:
- Heuristic Analysis
- Cognitive Walkthrough
- Prototypes - Paper, VB.Net
- User Testing
- Iterative Design
DJenerate MP3 Player
My group had to construct an MP3 Player that would work seamlessly and appeal to the same customers as an "indie-music" site, where users can download and browse music similar to iTunes. Our choice was to make a music player for the Pocket PC since the iPod was not all the rage during this project and the Pocket PC seemed to have a lot of potential. Through user research of needs and wants and models of interaction a visual solution for an MP3 Player was constructed.
Methods used:
- User research
- Personas
- Scenarios
- Workflow Model
- Task Analysis
- Taskflows
- Affinity Diagram
- Prototypes
Computer Mediated Communication - Integrating Video and Instant Messaging
I wrote a research paper on how video and instant messaging are used for social communication and if they can and should be integrated. Instant messaging has several breakdowns in conversational structure and video provides social cues that can aid with conversational structure, so the question my paper explores is whether these two forms of communication should be combined.
Implicit Learning and Incubation
I wrote a research paper on the concepts of Incubation and Implicit Learning. In the paper, I bring these two different theories together into a combined theory. This research gave me insight into how people solve problems and therefore opened up some ideas of how to help in problem solving.
