Research
In my research, I study how the interfaces, interaction techniques, and context-aware infrastructures at the foundation of the next generation of computing systems can better respond to the critical, real-world challenges associated with managing mental health, stress, and professional burnout, and minimizing information overload. What makes my research unique within the domains of HCI and personal health informatics is that I take two, complementary approaches in my work:
- I conduct qualitative and quantitative empirical studies of people's real-world information management and self-tracking practices as they relate to mental health, from stress resulting from information overload to serious mental illness. Drawing from a variety of cognitive science theories, I translate the findings from these studies to design guidelines for novel interfaces and systems.
- I design, implement, and perform in situ evaluations of novel personal and mental health informatics systems. In my research, I focus on building robust systems that I can deploy and evaluate in situ. It is essential to deploy these systems with representative users using their own data and over extended periods of time in order to study how these tools affect people's technology adoption, data practices, and well-being. This approach requires time-intensive investments in designing systems that can be used on people’s own devices, on (and within the constraints of) real operating systems, and alongside real applications. While I have also employed lab-based and online survey studies to evaluate interface designs in controlled contexts, most of my research involves getting systems into people’s hands and examining technology use immersed in everyday life.
Together, these approaches help me to examine the relations among interaction design, information management, and mental health, and to carry out end-to-end HCI research, from investigation to design to implementation. My research takes lessons learned from studying people’s existing data practices—often instantiated in personal information management tools (e.g., e-mail, file and folder hierarchies) or their use of personal informatics (i.e., self-tracking) systems—and applies them to novel system designs. Finally, I examine how these new technologies change existing practices, attitudes, and social contexts when introduced into the real world.
Research Project Portfolio
Personal Health Informatics and Wellness Technologies
 Technology to Support Individuals with Bipolar (2012–Present) |  Multitasking, E-mail & Stress (2010–2012) |
Empirical Studies of Information Work
Systems that Re-examine Existing Interface Metaphors
 WikiFolders (2008) |  Giornata (2006–2008) |
Novel Interfaces for Emergent and Ubiquitous Computing Systems
Information- and Awareness-Sharing Systems
 InterruptMe (2010–2011) |  Artifact Buddy (2009) |  MEdia Space (2007–2008) |  Sharing Palette (2004–2005) |
Other Research Projects
 Charitable Technologies (2006–2007) |
Primary Research Sponsors
