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hci interests

user research  ~  agent-based modeling  ~  process & instructional UX  ~  distance collaboration & learning  ~  performance- & community-centered design  ~  HCI & GIS

classes

Foundations of HCI  ~  Research Methods  ~  User-Centered Design  ~  Usability Engineering  ~  Advanced Topics in HCI  ~  Usability Testing  ~  Performance Support Systems  ~  Fundamentals of Instructional Technology  ~  Intelligent Computer-Based Instruction  ~  Interactive Courseware  ~  Agent-Based Modeling

papers

~  The Beauty in HCI
~  Credible Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs)
~  The Living Sales Toolkit
~  New Discoveries in Online Relationships
~  The Practicality of Organic User Interfaces
~  Community-Centered Design

thesis & projects

~  Thesis: UCD for Partially-Distributed Synchronous Learning
~  Usability Testing of an Adaptive Learning Tool
~  Interactive Job Aid: Virtual Meeting Setup
~  7 Action Steps: Glass Case Vending Machines
~  Self-Discipline Tutorial Using an ECA

Keita Del Valle
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
2009 AAUW Grant Recipient

    From engineer to computer tech to business owner, web designer & consultant. From that journey, I've built a collection of intellectual souvenirs and fireside stories. Now, on to new challenges!

    I recently completed classes for the Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Southern California—the Inland Empire, in particular—is not a hotspot for those who want to think and research HCI. In fact, though the West Coast is home to Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and Silicon Valley, this interactive map shows there are very few choices for HCI degrees in the Western U.S.:

    I'm getting my Master's from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York but prospects for an HCI-related PhD in Cali are slim.

    Fortunately, I'm involved in the Usability Professionals Association, SIGCHI, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Anita Borg Institute, and MentorNet—all great supporters of those studying, researching and working in science and technology in general, including HCI. Their programs and events allow me to find and learn from HCI & UX peers all over the world. I'm loving this new journey!