Research
Bringing together the fields of computer sciences, vision science, neuroscience, and experimental psychology to bear on the problem of human performance breakdown in extreme environments, my Ph.D dissertation focused on investigating how cognitive design principles could be used to develop predictive models of human-computer interaction applicable to the design of mission-critical and safety-critical systems run in such environments. My current research continues this investigation.The research objectives are to discover design principles, define interaction design requirements, and instantiate both in interactive design tools that acknowledge users' information-processing constraints in extreme environments, in order to support optimal performance in the execution of perceptual-motor tasks without unnecessarily increasing cognitive load and the probability of critical errors.
Selected Publications
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An Experimental Study of Field Dependency in Altered Gz Environments
Le Pape, M. A. and Vatrapu, R. K. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction: CHI 2009, April 2009. pp. 1255-1264. • Best Paper Honorable Mention Abstract: Failure to address extreme environments constraints at the human-computer interaction level may lead to the commission of critical and potentially fatal errors. This experimental study addresses gaps in our current theoretical understanding of the impact of ±Gz accelerations and field dependency independency on task performance in human-computer interaction. We report the results of a controlled experiment, conducted in an aerobatic aircraft under multiple ±Gz conditions, showing that cognitive style significantly impacts latency and accuracy in target acquisition for perceptual-motor tasks in altered ±Gz environments and propose design guidelines as countermeasures. Based on the results, we argue that developing design requirements taking into account cognitive differences in extreme environments will allow users to execute perceptual-motor tasks efficiently without unnecessarily increasing cognitive load and the probability of critical errors. |
Teaching
| Fall 2009 | COM 480: Interaction Design Seminar |
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Syllabus: 
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| › Office hours: Thursday 8:00-9:00 & 11:30-12:30 & by Appointment | |
| Fall 2008 | COM 401: Research Methods |
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Syllabus:
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| › Office hours: Monday 5:30-7:30 & by Appointment |
Service
| 2009 |
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• Reviewer, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction:
ACM SIGCHI
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| 2008 |
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• President, University of Hawaiʻi Graduate Student
Organization Reelected April 2007 |
| • Member, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Search Committee |
| • Member, Dean of Natural Sciences Search Committee |
| • Member, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Graduate Council |
| • Member, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Council |
| 2007 |
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• President, University of Hawaiʻi
Graduate Student Organization Elected April 2006 |
| • Member Chancellor Search Committee |
| • Member, Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations Search Committee |
| • Member, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Graduate Council |
| • Member, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Council |