HCII Seminar Series - Postdocs
Speaker
4 HCII Postdocs
When
-
Where
Newell-Simon Hall 1305 and livestream
Video
Video link
Description
Pallavi Chhabra
CMU Postdoc, faculty advisor Ken Koedinger
Title: Improving Motivation and Learning Outcomes in Math in an Intelligent Tutor Environment
Abstract: Digital technologies in education can create engaging learning environments that can help in reducing the achievement gap for diverse student populations. How can teaching, specifically one-to-one tutoring interactions personalize learning outcomes and motivate every student for learning math. In this talk, Pallavi will present about her postdoctoral experience where she is using qualitative approaches to understand learners’ experiences in the context of the Multiplier Effects in Math Education (MEME) project, particularly student use of the MEME intelligent tutor. This tutor aims to improve motivation and learning in math by combining previously validated motivational and cognitive interventions.
Bio: Pallavi Chhabra earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and has a Masters in Computer Application and B.Ed. from India. Her research has examined ways to improve technology-rich contexts for teaching and learning and she is committed to work toward building and promoting equitable learning environments. She is currently researching the design and implementation of interventions in digital learning platforms that aim to improve achievement and motivation for diverse student populations through tutoring and training on these platforms. She is also an enthusiastic gardener, a yoga instructor, and an amateur artist.
Adriane Fernandes Minori
CMU Postdoc, faculty advisor Lining Yao
Title: Patternable Smart Materials for Actuation of Mesoscale Soft Machines
Abstract: In nature, organisms such as ladybugs and jumping gal maggot fleas can inconspicuously adapt their body to achieve locomotion through folding and their soft body, respectively. Inspired by this feature, self-folding and soft robots have been developed by exploring the intersection between rapid fabrication and soft materials. However, it is still challenging to achieve mesoscale actuation (i.e., a motion that is triggered by a signal/stimulus) that can be easily integrated into these systems while still leveraging their advantages towards more compact, lightweight, scalable, and deployable robots. In this talk, I will discuss methodologies that leverage the patternability of the artificial muscle liquid crystal elastomer when combined with lightweight composites to enable new types of compact and modular systems (e.g., reversible self-folding machines and power amplification devices for soft jumping robots).
Bio: Adriane F. Minori is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California San Diego, advised by Professor Michael T. Tolley. During her Ph.D., she leveraged the advantages of smart materials such as liquid crystal elastomer to achieve patternable actuation for mesoscale self-folding and soft robots. She is currently interested in applying these techniques to enable reconfigurable and interactive devices with embodied intelligence. Before her doctoral degree, she received a B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering from Amazonas State University, Brazil. Previous affiliations include ModLab, Penn Complex Fluids lab, Samsung Electronica da Amazonia, and Sony Brazil (AM).
Yongsung Kim
CMU Postdoc, faculty advisor Niki Kittur
Title: Skeema: Supporting Complex Sensemaking on the Web
Abstract: People spend approximately a trillion hours a year worldwide trying to make sense of the web for complex research tasks such as deciding on a new digital camera, learning about a new scientific domain, or making sense of a medical symptom. While search engines are good at helping people find useful sources, the subsequent activities of sensemaking – collecting, extracting, and structuring information – remain poorly supported by today’s tools such as browser tabs, spreadsheets, and docs. Furthermore, after each sensemaking episode in which an individual develops a useful mental representation of the domain for themselves, their work is essentially lost, with no one else benefiting. To put this in perspective, about twice the amount of effort put into creating all of Wikipedia is being lost every hour online. In this talk, I will talk about the Skeema platform that helps people collect information, synthesize it into useful structures, and manage the myriad sensemaking tasks that users engage in every day.
Bio: Yongsung Kim is a postdoctoral fellow in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute and a Swartz Innovation Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. He received a PhD in Technology and Social Behavior from Northwestern University, a M.S in Computer Science from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), and a B.E in Computer Science from Tsinghua University. The goal of his research is to develop systems that transform how people and their communities simultaneously advance their individual and collective goals. His recent work focuses on developing platforms to lower the costs for individuals in making sense of the web for complex research tasks while simultaneously capturing their work processes to help the community of future users with similar interests.
Craig Shultz
CMU Post-Doc, faculty advisor Chris Harrison
Title: Skincentric User Interfaces
Abstract: The skin is our largest sensory organ, with over 250,000 mechanical nerve sensors, yet haptic interfaces have largely been limited to buzzers and shakers. I envision a future where complex haptic interactions exist between humans and devices and where interfaces are tailored to the biomechanics of our bodies. In my work, I pioneer practical methods to interface with the skin in rich and meaningful ways.
Bio: Craig Schultz is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University in the Future Interface Group. His research lies at the intersection of haptics, electromechanical systems and human computer interaction. His work has won various awards at various haptics and HCI venues, and led to several patents on new actuation mechanisms.