Research
My research interests lie within the field of Human-Computer Interaction, especially health-centered systems. My work is focused on Relational Agents and how the use of these agents can positively impact patient care. In particular, I am interested in how the use of these agents can improve patient activation – patients becoming more involved in their health – and patient-doctor communication.
Projects |
Virtual Nurse
We are developing a "virtual nurse" that is able to teach patients what they need to know before leaving the hospital. The bedside agent interacts with patients prior to discharge and teaches patients about their medication regimen, follow-up appointments and medical conditions, in an effort to reduce re-hospitalizations. This project is in conjunction with Boston Medical Center. |
Document Explanation
How do people explain documents to each other? In this project we are examining verbal and non-verbal strategies used to explain documents, especially to low-literacy individuals. |
Health Behavior Change Ontology
In this effort, we are formalizing counseling strategies and techniques for health behavior change into an ontology-driven dialogue system. |
Museum Agents
We have developed a virtual museum guide agent that interacts with visiters at the Museum of Science in Boston, MA. The agent uses a biometric identification system to reidentify users and continue conversations over time. |