James Landay -- Research Summary

Degrees Held:
Carnegie Mellon University
M.S. Computer Science, December 1993

University of California, Berkeley
B.S. Electrical Engineering/Computer Science with High Honors, May 1990

Advisor:
Brad Myers

Research Interests:
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Interfaces, Programming by Demonstration, Visual Programming, Mobile Computing, Multimedia, Computer Supported Cooperative Work

Description of Research:
Current interactive user interface builders are often more of a hindrance than a benefit during the early stages of user interface design. Many interface designers, especially those with a graphic design background, prefer to sketch early interface ideas on paper or a white-board. I am creating an interactive tool that allows designers to quickly sketch an interface using an electronic pad and pen. Unlike a paper sketch, this electronic "sketch" can easily be tested and modified. When the designer is satisfied with this early prototype, the system will transform the sketch into a more finished interface in the specified look-and-feel. This transformation takes place with the guidance of the user. The interface can then be edited with a standard user interface builder. By supporting the early design phases of the software life-cycle, this tool will both ease prototyping user interfaces and improve the speed with which a final interface can be created.

As a member of the GARNET project, I have implemented our gesture recognition engine and training application: AGATE. All of my other publications are also online. Other GARNET papers can be found via the GARNET papers page.