Benjamin Davies

I have experience with the full range of activities. I have designed and setup a usability lab and designed and executed formal and informal studies. I have written surveys, conducted interviews, and worked with paper prototypes. I have graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a MDes in Communication Planning and Information Design. My principle interests lie in the human side of technology, particularly usability and how technology can increase the agency, awareness, and dignity of its users. During my studies I evaluated the usability of desktop signs, or icons and applied semiotic theories to them to find ways to increase their utility and efficiency. As part of my thesis work I designed a hand-gesture syntax for glove based human-computer interaction that focused on ease of use and the health of the user.
I have exceptional analytical abilities with a collegiate minor in philosophy, experience with programming languages, and a perfect score of 800 on the analytic section of the GRE. My bachelor's degree is in English and I have strong written and oral communication skills. I am equally comfortable working in teams or on independent projects. In my opinion, people are fabulous mysteries and I love investigating how and why people make decisions, what troubles them and what pleases them, and how I can improve their lives. Finally, I have a need to work in a field that I feel improves people's quality of life. If I can reduce the amount of frustration and dissatisfaction for users' of a service I will feel good. If I can add pleasure and dignity to the users I will feel honored....