What Studying Office Work Can Teach Us About Deep Space Robotics

Speaker
Scott Davidoff
Human Interfaces Group Manager, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

When
-

Where
Newell-Simon Hall 1305 (Michael Mauldin Auditorium)

Description

Deep space and office cubicles have more in common than you think.

Whether computing in the extremes of pressure, temperature, and radiation of space, or in the workplace, computing applications face the same fundamental bottleneck—the human. Designers of deep space robotics systems need to overcome the same fundamental human problems of asynchronous communication, spatial (dis-)orientation, more data than bandwidth or attention. This talk describes how the lessons that human-computer interaction draws from workplace collaboration to inform the design of natural user interfaces for tele-operation of complex space robots. I provide examples of how applications of HCI methods like rapid prototyping, and speed dating, are contributing to our exploration of the solar system, from the surface of Mars, to the development of future deep space missions.

Speaker's Bio

Dr. Scott Davidoff manages the Human Interfaces group at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His group develops the systems that scientists around the world use to plan the activities of every NASA space robot, from yesterday’s Voyager, to today’s Curiosity, and tomorrow’s future missions into deep space. His work draws upon the techniques of big data visualization, interaction, and Augmented Reality to develop detailed representations of spatio-temporal robotic plans. Dr. Davidoff has also developed domestic robots for Microsoft Research, and as Principal of Scott Davidoff Design, brought new concepts to life for companies like AOL, SBC Ameritech and TV Guide. Dr. Davidoff has a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction, an MS in HCI (Research), and an MHCI in Human-Computer Interaction (Practice), all from Carnegie Mellon.

Speaker's Website
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

Host
Sara Kiesler