Ernest Cross

Affiliation

Charles River Analytics

Biography

As a Senior Research Scientist at Charles River Analytics, my research interests span two interrelated tracks: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Human-Artificial Intelligence and Teaming (HAIT). These parallel paths share underlying themes, and my research has explored factors that can negatively impact people's ability to effectively use technology to augment their capabilities. For example, I've looked at how to improve the interaction of touch-enabled devices by presenting critical task information on small displays. Specifically, I am interested in how ineffective interaction design and overall poor system design can compromise the performance of users. My expertise includes prototyping, contextual inquiry, personas development, task analysis, information architecture, wireframes, regression analysis, multivariate analysis, ethnographic studies, user-centered design, ecological interface design, and usability studies. I'm also skilled in standards and requirement development. With these skills, I've tackled challenges such as measuring trust, using mixed-reality environments to evaluate HAIT, and improving human team performance by augmenting their capability and proficiency. My diverse research projects have explored multiple topics, from building models to measure and manage astronauts' trust in virtual agents through conversational analysis to developing mixed-reality environments for safely enabling Human-Artificial Intelligence and Teaming within Urban Air Mobility. I have also explored how mixed reality could be used as a training and testing facility for first responders. My work has led to exciting new opportunities for using mixed reality in HAIT. By improving the overall experience humans have with technology, my research topics improve their ability to use these systems optimally. Several government agencies, including NASA, AFRL, DARPA, and ARL, have funded this area of my research.