I am a PhD trained human-computer interaction researcher and industry trained user experience researcher specializing in the design of data-driven software. My academic experience taught me to think deeply, explore widely, and communicate clearly while my industry experience taught me to add value, control scope, and meet deadlines.
I have an extensive qualitative and quantitative research toolkit and build custom software to collect and visualize data from people interacting with complex systems over time, both in the lab and in the wild.
My PhD focused on how people use computational notebooks and electronic medical records to document and communicate work involving large amounts of data. I also have prior experience visualizing medical equipment inventories and testing online shopping interfaces
Qualitative Methods
Contextual Inquiry, Usability Testing, Eye-Tracking, Field Studies, Task Analysis, Heuristic Evaluation, Personas
Prototyping & Design
Axure, Sketch
Software Development
Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
Analysis & Visualization
Python, R, SQL, D3
2018
University of California, San Diego
PhD Cognitive Science
Thesis: Design and Use of Computational Notebooks
2013
University of Washingon
MS Human Centered Design & Engineering
2011
University of Illinois
BS Industrial Engineering - Highest Honors
Journal
[j1]
Using Visual Histories to Reconstruct the Mental Context of Suspended Activities
Adam Rule, Aurelien Tabard, Jim Hollan
Human-Computer Interaction 2017
Conference
[c5] - To Appear
Aiding Collaborative Reuse of Computational Notebooks with Annotated Cell Folding.
Adam Rule, Ian Drosos, Aurélien Tabard, Jim Hollan
CSCW 2018
[c4] - Honorable Mention (top 5% of submissions)
Exploration and Explanation in Computational Notebooks.
Adam Rule, Aurélien Tabard, Jim Hollan
CHI 2018
[c3]
Validating free-text order entry for a note-centric EHR.
Adam Rule, Steven Rick, Michael Chiu, Phillip Rios, Shazia Ashfaq, Alan Calvitti, Wesley Chan, Nadir Weibel, Zia Agha
AMIA 2015
[c2]
Restoring the Context of Interrupted Work with Desktop Thumbnails.
Adam Rule, Aurelien Tabard, Karen Boyd and Jim Hollan
Cog Sci 2015
[c1] - Honorable Mention (top 5% of submissions)
Designing interfaces for multi-user, multi-robot systems.
Adam Rule, Jodi Forlizzi
HRI 2012
Workshop
[w2]
Traces: A Flexible, Open-Source Activity Tracker for Workplace Studies Adam Rule, Aurelien Tabard, Jim Hollan CSCW 2016
[w1]
Visualizing Computer Activity to Support the Resumption of Long-term Creative Work
Adam Rule
Creativity + Cognition 2015
Poster
[p3]
Design Thinking in Radiation OncologyAdam Rule, Erin Gillespie, Nadir Weibel, Todd PawlickiHFES Healthcare 2016
[p2]
Thinking in 4D: Preserving and Sharing Mental Context Across TimeAdam Rule, Aurelien Tabard, Jim HollanCSCW 2016
[p1]
Human Values in Tracking and Sharing Computer-Mediated Activity at WorkKaren Boyd, Adam Rule, Aurelien Tabard, Jim HollanCSCW 2016
2013 - 2018
UC San Diego
Graduate Student Researcher - Employed a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to study the design and use of data-driven software. The three projects included in my dissertation were:
Summer 2012
Amazon
Design Intern - Conducted a half-dozen usability studies with customers of shopping interfaces for clothing and home goods. These included remote, field, and in-person studies of mobile and web interfaces.
Summer 2012
PATH
Technology Solutions Intern - Evaluated usability of inventory software for medical equipment in resource-constrained environments. Created interactive data visualizations for the same tool.
Summer 2011
Carnegie Mellon University
User Research Intern - Conducted contextual inquiries with robot team controllers. Crafted design guidelines for interfaces that control robot teams.
Summer 2010
Intel Research
User Research Intern - Conducted ethnographic study of a young man's experience with quadriplegia. Designed interactions with assistive robot.
2014-17
National Library of Medicine Training Grant - 3 years tuition & stipend
2012
Microsoft Design Expo - Best Presentation
2011
University of Illinois Bronze Tablet - Top 3% GPA
2010
IESE Departmental Awards - Outstanding IE Junior
Spring 2018
Teaching Assistant - COGS 10 - Cognitive Consequences of Technology
Winter 2017
Teaching Assistant - DSGN 1 - Design of Everyday Things
Winter 2016
Teaching Assistant - COGS 120 - HCI Design - Outstanding Teaching Award
Winter 2015
Teaching Assistant - COGS 102b - Cognitive Ethnography
Spring 2014
Teaching Assistant - COGS 102c - Cognitive Design Studio
Undergraduate Students
Kendall Youngstrom - Now at Google
Ram Dixit - Now MS a student in Biomedical Informatics at UT Houston
Karen Boyd - Now a PhD student at UMD's iSchool
Regina Cheng - Now a PhD student in HCDE at UW
Nathan Hassanzadeh
Reviewer
CHI 2016
AMIA 2015 - 2016