People + Technology + Culture
My research investigates the dynamic interplay between technology and human identity, social relationships, and connection. With over two decades of experience, my industry portfolio includes leading end-to-end UX research studies for a major social media platform, extensive user research in human-robot interaction, and consulting on an award-winning digital voice innovation
I conduct and publish original research and engage in science communication examining the cultural construction of identity through technology, with a strong emphasis on the ethical and social implications of these advancements. My recent book, The Naked Android: Synthetic Socialness and the Human Gaze, explores the stories people create about AI and robots, their expectations of robotic behavior, and how these cultural beliefs influence the design and use of real-world robots.
I have given invited talks at California Polytechnic State University, Designskolen Kolding, Haus der Elektronischen Künste, Loyola University, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, TEDxEAL-Sweden, UX Design Week San Francisco, and others. Since 2015, I have also served as an External Fellow in the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at California Polytechnic State University, a non-partisan organization dedicated to examining the ethical, social, and risk implications of emerging technologies.