About Me

Originally from Taiwan, I am a new doctoral graduate in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin.

I was awarded a graduate research assistantship (2004~2008) to conduct a Microsoft funded research project to study the effects of ClearType, a font rendering technology on LCD monitors under the supervision of my mentor, Dr. Randolph G. Bias. I also worked as a teaching assistant for courses regarding software usability and user experience design in the iSchool. Right now, as the technician of the Information eXperience Lab, I help students conduct usability evaluations of websites and software applications for their class projects.

My research interests have focused on users' behaviors and cognitive mechanisms that affect the success and failure of design and usability. My current research is using neuroimaging methods (fMRI) to study icon recognition to investigate whether people process icons as pictures or logographical words.

As a HCI researcher, I study how people make mistakes with machines and how machines would cause people to make mistakes. As a user advocate, I speak for usability, accessibility, and user-centered design that can make consumer products wonderful and successful. As a brain scientist, I know principles of cognitive psychology and neuroscience that would make brain-computer interfaces a reality in the future. My current goal is to help companies understand their customers' needs, define/develop innovative products, and become interested in human brains.

Research Interests:

• Human factors in human-computer interaction (HCI)
• User experience research and usability assessment
• Semiotic analysis for information systems
• Icon recognition in social media and context
• Applications of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in information science research

Dissertation (Power Point Presentation)

Dissertation Committee:

• Dr. Randolph Bias – Chair
• Dr. David Schnyer (Department of Psychology)
• Dr. Harvey Sussman (Department of Linguistics)
• Dr. Luis Francisco-Revilla
• Dr. Andrew Dillon

Other than being an overly analytical doctoral student, I am just a regular guy trying to enjoy and find the meaning of everyday life. I like to play guitar, be creative with LEGO bricks, criticize poorly designed video games, and serve as an assistant instructor (Shodan, 1st degree black belt) at Aikido of Austin. I am also an active member of the UT Archery Club, an occasional snowboarder, and a fan of Ricoh cameras.

Sheng-Cheng (Hans) Huang, Ph.D.

IX Lab Technician
Information eXperience Lab
School of Information
The University of Texas at Austin