Team Hyrax

Our group is affectionately known as Team Hyrax: Michele Clarke, Bryan Crowe, Nicholas Jitkoff, Colleen Koranda, and Laura Treichler. Our team comprises three designers, four computer scientists, two mathematicians, a social scientist, a businesswoman, and a pair of philosophers.

Michele Clarke believes that properly used technology holds the key to a brighter future. Her previous work with the blind showed her how technology can empower people by opening doors to new opportunities. This discovery was her first glimpse into the innovative study of human computer interaction, and right away, she was hooked.

Michele finished her masters degree in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon in August 2006. With a strong interest in both interaction design and user research, she is now working as a user interface designer in the bay area.

Bryan Crowe graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in Applied Mathematics. It was here that he got his first taste of Human-Computer Interaction and he was immediately intrigued. A desire to gain more experience and knowledge in the field led him to CMU. His current interests include context-aware computing, mobile devices, and designing user interfaces that are easy to use. When not immersed in the realm of Human-Computer Interaction he enjoys watching sports and working on his golf game.

Colleen Koranda graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI in May of 2005, with an individualized major that combined Computer Science and Graphic Design, and a minor in Philosophy. Her deep interest in the integration of these disciplines with user-centered design led her to study Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon. Colleen strives for a synthesis of aesthetics and functionality in art: interfaces must be designed, and they must be usable! Her background gives her a unique position to design and analyze interfaces from multiple perspectives, and she is always looking for a new challenge.

J. Nicholas Jitkoff

Laura Treichler graduated with a BA in psychology from the University of California San Diego in 2002. Afterwards, she completed an MBA at Santa Clara University in 2005, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Managing Innovation and Technology, and Leading People and Organizations. During the course of her MBA, Laura was exposed to Doug Englebart's ideas about the as-yet unfulfilled potential of technology and computing to assist and empower knowledge workers. Her nascent interest in this subject, engendered by an undergraduate class in Human Factors, quickly matured into a fascination with the field of Human Computer Interaction. She is currently a full-time Masters student at Carnegie Mellon University's Human Computer Interaction Institute, and upon graduation expects to make ample use of her education by gaining employment at a suitably innovative company that will allow her to continue the quest to make technology useful.

	Carnegie Mellon University HCII \| 2006 MHCI Capstone Projects

PROJECT Overview Team PROCESS Research User Studies Design SOLUTION Socialstream Scenario Features	Team Hyrax Our group is affectionately known as Team Hyrax: Michele Clarke, Bryan Crowe, Nicholas Jitkoff, Colleen Koranda, and Laura Treichler. Our team comprises three designers, four computer scientists, two mathematicians, a social scientist, a businesswoman, and a pair of philosophers. Michele Clarke believes that properly used technology holds the key to a brighter future. Her previous work with the blind showed her how technology can empower people by opening doors to new opportunities. This discovery was her first glimpse into the innovative study of human computer interaction, and right away, she was hooked. Michele finished her masters degree in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon in August 2006. With a strong interest in both interaction design and user research, she is now working as a user interface designer in the bay area. Bryan Crowe graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in Applied Mathematics. It was here that he got his first taste of Human-Computer Interaction and he was immediately intrigued. A desire to gain more experience and knowledge in the field led him to CMU. His current interests include context-aware computing, mobile devices, and designing user interfaces that are easy to use. When not immersed in the realm of Human-Computer Interaction he enjoys watching sports and working on his golf game. Colleen Koranda graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI in May of 2005, with an individualized major that combined Computer Science and Graphic Design, and a minor in Philosophy. Her deep interest in the integration of these disciplines with user-centered design led her to study Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon. Colleen strives for a synthesis of aesthetics and functionality in art: interfaces must be designed, and they must be usable! Her background gives her a unique position to design and analyze interfaces from multiple perspectives, and she is always looking for a new challenge. J. Nicholas Jitkoff Laura Treichler graduated with a BA in psychology from the University of California San Diego in 2002. Afterwards, she completed an MBA at Santa Clara University in 2005, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Managing Innovation and Technology, and Leading People and Organizations. During the course of her MBA, Laura was exposed to Doug Englebart's ideas about the as-yet unfulfilled potential of technology and computing to assist and empower knowledge workers. Her nascent interest in this subject, engendered by an undergraduate class in Human Factors, quickly matured into a fascination with the field of Human Computer Interaction. She is currently a full-time Masters student at Carnegie Mellon University's Human Computer Interaction Institute, and upon graduation expects to make ample use of her education by gaining employment at a suitably innovative company that will allow her to continue the quest to make technology useful.