Resume Biography Awards Presentations Juried Conference Participation: Designing Pleasurable Products and Interfaces (DPPI03) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003 "Positive User Experience and Medical Adherence" Nonadherence to medical recommendations is a major contributor to therapeutic failure, a source of frustration for health care providers, and is considered by many to be one of the most serious problems facing medicine today. The average rate of adherence across diseases and medications is just 50%, highlighting the critical nature of this problem. The field of Psychology has developed sub disciplines, such as Health Psychology, that focus on the manner in which a patient's affect and cognitions influence their health-related behavior. Doctors have used insight gained in this research to develop strategies for increasing patients' adherence to medical recommendations. These theories may illuminate for designers how positive user experience can be linked to successful therapy. The critical proving ground for adherence is not the medical clinic, but away from the guidance of doctors. Computer-based medical devices designed for use out of the clinic have proven effective for improving patient understanding and subsequent adherence to medical recommendations. Therefore, interaction design and industrial design take on crucial roles in patient therapy. Because of the importance of positive affect, a pleasurable user experience with medical devices is a critical component in the process that leads to adherence to medical recommendations. Invited Lectures: Experience Design: Introduction lecture, presented at West Virginia University, CCA, 2002, Graphic Design This lecture is an introduction to the basic concepts and methods of Experience Design. A sub discipline of design, Experience Design deals with the relationships between people and the designed environment. It has become a strategic business advantage for developers and manufactures to understand the dynamic relationships people build with products and systems. Numerous case studies and examples are presented in this lecture. Interaction Design: Introduction lecture, presented at West Virginia University, CCA, 2002, Graphic Design Interaction Design is the study of the active symbolic relationship between people and information. Design as a communicative art can facilitate effective and enjoyable use of products, thereby increasing market acceptance and overall success. This lecture presents the basic concepts and methods of this discipline and sites numerous examples and case studies to support a fundamental understanding of Interaction Design.