Research

Our Research Program​

How people process information provides fundamental knowledge about how their thoughts and perceptions are formed. As such, investigating information processing behavior serves as foundational research not only in neuroscience but also in behavioral studies such as those involved in user experience design. Eye tracking is an advanced technique for investigating information processing behavior. By recording the location and timing of people’s gazes on objects unobtrusively and continuously, eye tracking has become a gold standard for measuring cognition. As such, eye tracking has wide-ranging research and practical applications across many industries. In UXDM lab we use eye tracking in three major research programs: ​
  • Designing effective human-technology interactions and associated user experiences (e.g., dashboards, smartphone applications, human-robot interfaces) to support human agents and decision makers.​
  • Developing smart neuro information systems (NeuroIS) to support decision makers in real-time.
  • Developing eye tracking biomarkers in medical applications (e.g., in detecting pain or depression).

Our Research Framework​

In today’s crowded markets consumers continually demand for innovation, and they will accept nothing less than an outstanding user experience (UX). The continual demand for innovative digital products and services places UX as a major driver of business strategy for market competition. The UX Driven Innovation (UXDI) framework addresses this market need by focusing on UX-centered design through an innovation lens to address the rapidly growing market demand for innovation. This framework combines the top-down scientific hypothesis driven approach with the bottom–up generative research approach that creates business value. By combining information from various sources and through an iterative process, this framework uses the UX innovation design space to explore, identify, and define opportunities for developing novel digital technologies. ​In UXDM lab we use the UXDI framework to conduct research and to provide education and training for a competitive workforce through UX courses, workshops, and seminars.
Recent Projects

System for Detecting Health Experience from Eye Movement

The objective of this research project is to identify eye movements that can serve as reliable biomarkers of chronic pain. We will use these objective biomarkers to develop smart clinician support systems that can provide practitioners with a comprehensive view of their patient’s pain experience to assist them in developing treatment and management interventions for their patients.

Collaborators: Soussan Djamasbi, Diane Strong, Javad Norouzi-Nia, Doaa Alrefaei, and https://www.wpi.edu/pages/evidence-based-predictive-pain-integrative-center/research-team​

Read more:

  1. Patent application
  2. Chronic Pain and Eye Movements: A NeuroIS Approach to Designing Smart Clinical Decision Support Systems

Decision Support for Surrogate Decision Making​ ​

Every day, surrogate decision-makers face the difficult “goals of care” decision in intensive care units (ICUs) to continue or withdraw life support while considering the patient’s long-term prognosis. The objective of this NIH-funded project is to develop and test a medical decision and communication tool to support family members of patients who are in intensive care units due to a brain injury. Our tool is designed to help them make goals of care decisions (survival vs comfort) for their loved ones.

Collaborators: Susanne Muehlschlegel (University of Massachusetts Medical School), Bengisu Tulu, Soussan Djamasbi (WPI)​

Read more: Visual Hierarchy and Communication Effectiveness in Medical Decision Tools for Surrogate-Decision-Makers of Critically Ill Traumatic Brain Injury Patients​

Evaluation and Evolution of Human-AI and Human-Robot Interfaces

The objective of this DoD funded project is to develop a novel framework for the evaluation of human-AI and human-robot interfaces at a cognitive level using multimodal UX research. The proposed framework will be used to provide insight and design guidelines for developing and refining human-AI and human-robot interfaces for use in various human-AI teaming situations.​

Collaborators: Jane Li, Jing Xiao, Soussan Djamasbi, Gaayathri Sankar (WPI)​

Robotic Interfaces and Assistants for the Future of Work ​ ​

FORW-RD is an NSF funded interdisciplinary research training program led by a team of WPI faculty from Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Material Science, Business School, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Biomedical Engineering. This research program focuses on designing robotic interfaces and assistants that are successfully used in the workplace.​

Collaborators: (know more about the team https://wp.wpi.edu/forwrd/)

Read more: Developing Personas for Designing Health Interventions

Technology-assisted Systems Change for Suicide Prevention (TASCS) ​ ​ ​

TASCS is an NIH founded research program led by a team of UMASS and WPI researchers. The objective of this research program is to develop and test a suite of technologies designed to facilitate the delivery of the Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation (EDSAFE) intervention into clinical practice. ​

Collaborators: Edwin Boudreaux, Cline Larkin (University of Massachusetts Medical School), Bengisu Tulu, Soussan Djamasbi, Fatima Varzgani (WPI)​

Read more: Technology-Assisted Systems Change for Suicide Prevention (TASCS) - Celine Larkin (grantome.com)​

IKE

IKE is a software platform for developing and managing user-centered R&D. IKE allows research teams to learn from and collaborate with other teams (UX, marketing, HR) on UX R&D in an organization.

Link to IKE​

Collaborators: Ryan LaMarche, Mike Osei, Chris Chagnon, Soussan Djamasbi

Read more: Innovation through Knowledge and Experience (ike): Enabling Value Creation by Developing a Group Decision Support System for User Experience Research & Development

Collaborative Persona Development for User Experience Research With IKE

ERIN Chatbot

The goal of this project was to develop and test the first prototype for the ERIN chatbot, which can help WPI students find resources for sensitive issues such as Title IX and mental health anonymously using a conversational UI.

Link to ERIN​

Collaborators: Brandon Parsons, Chris Chagnon, Soussan Djamasbi​

Read more: Designing the Empathetic Research IoT Network (ERIN) Chatbot for Mental Health Resources

Contact Us

(508) 831-5555
uxdm@wpi.edu

Opportunities

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