Developing Effective Software: The Case for Strong Methods Training

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Speaker
Alonso Vera
Assistant Chief of the Human-Systems Integration Division and Chief of the Application and Process Integration Office for NASA’s Constellation Program

When
-

Where
Newell-Simon Hall 1305 (Michael Mauldin Auditorium)

Video
Video link

Description

The Human Computer-Interaction Group at NASA Ames Research Center is focused on developing large scale software systems for NASA’s space missions. For decades NASA has been a hardware (i.e., rockets) oriented organization where safety is critical. Software capabilities have therefore tended to evolve slowly, especially for human space flight where major new programs arise only every twenty to thirty years (e.g., Apollo, Shuttle, Space Station, Constellation). Over the past seven years, NASA Ames has built-up a significant Human-Computer Interaction capability. The HCI Group’s work on mission systems has had an impact across the agency and HCI has become a recognized competence at NASA. The effectivity of the HCI Group is due to having a shared “toolbox” of methods that work well in the field as well as a shared understanding how to turn user research into designs that actually address user needs. This talk will discuss the role that the application of HCI Methods has played in the development of systems for the Mars Exploration Rover missions, the Phoenix Mars Scout mission, the Mars Science Laboratory mission, the International Space Station, and the new Constellation Program.

Speaker's Bio

Alonso Vera has been at NASA ten years and leads the Human-Computer Interaction Group at NASA’s Ames Research Center. He is Assistant Chief of the Human-Systems Integration Division and Chief of the Application and Process Integration Office for NASA’s Constellation Program. Dr. Vera received his PhD from Cornell University in 1990 followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University.

Speaker's Website
http://hci.arc.nasa.gov/

Host
Jenna Date