Research
My primary research area is in the field of Human Computer Interaction with a focus on designing and evaluating applications for the Web and mobile devices.
Current Research
Currently, I am working with a team to design tablet based natural user interfaces (NUIs) prototypes to help hospital staff in Brazil perform their workflow more effectively, and to help them record, manage and visualize large quantities of patient data. At Dalhousie University we are exploring techniques that considers ways of protecting privacy and security of patient data in the hospital while staff use tablets and other devices in their everyday activities, as well as to explore different ways technology can help to connect people in the hospital and to the community (e.g., between the patients and their families). I continue to work on a project with Boeing - Mobile graphics that is focused on increasing the efficiency of the Boeing mechanics who build and maintain aircraft. We are investigating novel visualization models, and innovative navigation and interaction aids for using 3D models that can be accessed on mobile devices by the mechanics while directly working on the aircraft.Mobile Devices
Previously, at the IWK, I worked with Dr. Anna Huguert on the Wireless Headache Initiative. Using content provided by the medical community and feedback from headache sufferers, we designed and are in the process of evaluating a useful Smartphone and web application that young headache sufferers can use to track their headache episodes and to receive treatment. In addition, my research with mobile devices includes viewing and interacting with 3D models on handheld devices and tablets, determining the most appropriate model for viewing web pages on small screen devices, and how to help users wayfind using mobile devices.
Web Behaviour
I am interested in how user behaviour on the Web. In particular, I want to better understand how people perform "multi-session web tasks". A multi-session task is goal-based, requires more than one web session to complete, and has a definable point as to when the task is over, such as a specific date, an event that occurs (e.g., you finally purchase the computer), or that it is abandoned. The main goal of this research is to learn about the type of tasks that cross multiple web sessions, to find out how users are performing these tasks (i.e., what browser tools they are using), to determine what problems they encounter while performing these tasks, and to find new tools to help users with these tasks. I am also interested in how people perform multi-session tasks on their mobile devices.