The wonderful Dr Susan Dray shares her journey from obtaining a PhD in experimental and physiological psychology at UCLA to becoming a pivotal figure in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Susan recounts her transition from academia to industry, including roles at Honeywell and American Express, and her eventual shift to independent consulting. She discusses the evolution of HCI and human factors, the significance of ethnographic studies, and the importance of listening with one's heart in diverse cultural contexts. Susan also reflects on the birth of SIGCHI, organizational challenges, and her expansive international work. Her insights provide a rich, historical perspective on the ongoing interplay between technology, human behavior, and organizational dynamics, and on the contextual and cultural nuances in technology adoption. She also demonstrates the power of curiosity, self reflection and a service mindset.
Overview
00:29 Episode Introduction
02:49 Susan's Background
03:52 Transition from Academia to Industry
05:37 Early Challenges at Honeywell
06:56 Gaithersburg Conference and SIGCHI Formation
10:15 Human Factors and Computing Systems
13:34 Human Technology Impacts at Honeywell
16:40 The Mindset of a Scientist
22:59 Mentorship and Career Advice
26:30 Career Transitions and Reflections
28:06 Early Challenges in Consulting
30:12 Setting Up a Consulting Business
31:59 International Projects and Usability Studies
38:22 Navigating Cultural Differences and Lessons in Challenges
45:24 Innovative Research in Korea and South Africa
49:26 Embracing Discomfort Curiousity and Self Reflection
52:17 Wrap up
Related Links
Susan Dray webpage and LinkedIn
ACM SIGCHI Special Interest Group On Computer-Human Interaction
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