Biography
Dr. Maria C.R. Harrington, holds a Ph.D. in Information Sciences. Since 2000 she has also been an Adjunct Professor/Visiting Lecturer for Human Computer Interaction, User Centered Design, Human Factors in System Design, and Introduction to Information Science at the School of Information Sciences (SIS), at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a MSIS from SIS, and a BS in Economics with a Minor in Art from Carnegie Mellon University.
Her research focuses on Simulated Ecological Environments, a type of spatial cognitive ecology, and the development of quantitative models representing the intersection of the child’s mental model, the virtual environment and the user interface. Her research may answer questions on how humans perceive, detect and identify objects in the natural world. They may also contribute to the development of search and navigation tools that support children in independent exploration and motivating intrinsic, deep learning and acts of creation.
Professional experience includes financial, strategic, information technology and human-computer interaction activities for global corporations and institutions such as: PNC Financial Services Group, The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Fidelity Investments, University of Toronto, Alias/Wavefront-Autodesk, DataViews–GE Fanuc, and Federated Investors. After more than ten years in software design and development of dynamic data visualization tools, and real time decision support tools for the international C3I and Financial markets, she continues to be interested in advanced graphical user interfaces. Current interests are in models of complexity, simulation, imagination and art, virtual and real spaces of nature, especially as sources for educational applications.
