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Research One of the most important things that
happened during the Industrial Revolution was the invention of machines that
enhanced the physical capabilities of human beings. Whereas previously we
needed to use our limbs to manipulate our environment and perform tasks,
machines extended and enhanced our physical capabilities and transformed the
nature of the physical tasks that were performed. They allow us to do much
more, in a more efficient and speedy manner. Now, we live in the Information
Age. In this age, the ability to produce knowledge and reason with
information are crucial. We now need tools that extend and enhance our mental
capabilities to perform data-intensive activities. Scientists, analysts,
decision makers, doctors, learners, and other knowledge workers are
constantly engaged in performing data-dependent activities. The par
excellence machine to support knowledge workers is the computer. My research is broadly concerned with
interactive technologies and environments that support how people work with
data/information. I am particularly interested in studying interactive visual
tools (IVTs) that support the execution of information-based, data-intensive
cognitive activities. Example of IVTs include: ·
Health and medical
informatics tools ·
Visual analytics
tools ·
Information
visualization tools ·
Genome analysis
tools ·
Cognitive, learning,
and knowledge technologies ·
Drug analysis tools ·
Decision support
tools ·
Library and research
collection tools ·
Knowledge mapping
tools ·
Digital
cognitive/mind games ·
Financial analysis
tools ·
Mathematical
visualization tools ·
Social network
visualizations ·
Geovisualization tools ·
Crime analysis tools Examples of cognitive activities that
people perform include: ·
Exploring large
bodies of research documents ·
Learning about scientific
phenomena ·
Making sense of
global health data ·
Navigating
mathematical structures ·
Reasoning about
trends and patterns in data ·
Interpreting
molecular cytogenetic findings ·
Diagnosing complex
diseases ·
Communicating
knowledge-based stories ·
Studying causes of
natural disasters ·
Monitoring climate
change patterns ·
Solving scientific
problems ·
Analyzing financial
markets ·
Triaging a large set
of documents My research synthesizes models and concepts
from such areas as: computer science; information science; design;
human-computer interaction; visualization; cognition, learning, and
motivation sciences; general systems theory; and game studies. Over the years I have worked to
develop a systematic, coherent body of knowledge that guides the
conceptualization, analysis, design, and evaluation of different components
of IVTs. My research involves: ·
Use of relevant
theories to derive appropriate conceptual frameworks ·
Design and
implementation of IVTs and techniques using these theories and frameworks,
and ·
Empirical evaluation
and validation of frameworks, tools, and techniques. To design computational tools, I use a
human-centered approach with a particular focus on how to best support human
cognitive needs and activities. In most cases, due to the complexity of the
tasks involved, the volume of data, the variety of sources, and numerous
other factors, computational tools and humans need to form joint, coordinated
cognitive systems. This means that interaction and collaboration between
humans and computers leads to the completion of overall activities, where
information processing is divided between them and they both share the load
of executing different tasks in these activities. My research is concerned with the
dynamics of such human-computer systems, specifically with respect to the
following: ·
Human-data
interaction ·
Interactive
cognition ·
Visual reasoning ·
Interaction and
interactivity design ·
Data and information
visualization ·
Information presentation
and design ·
Data analytics ·
Visual interface
design ·
Task and activity
analysis and design Questions that my research explores
include: ·
How do humans
perform complex cognitive activities with interactive visual tools? ·
How should relevant data
and information be visually represented (i.e., 'visualized') to best support
the performance of tasks and activities? ·
What are the factors
that contribute to a tight coupling and effective coordination of the
human-computer cognitive system? ·
What interactions
should be made available to best support human tasks and activities with
visual data? ·
What are the factors
that affect the quality of interaction in such systems? ·
How should tasks be
divided between humans and tools? ·
How should IVTs be
designed and evaluated? All of these questions are approached
from a whole-systems perspective—in which the unit of analysis is the
human-computer cognitive system—rather than focusing on humans or computers
in isolation. I am the director of the Insight Lab
at Western University. For more about my research and publications and that
of my students, please visit insight.uwo.ca. |
