Technical Team

April McGee
MS, CUA
Project Director

Job at HFI

• Taking projects from inception to satisfaction
• Analysis and design of Web and GUI sites and applications
• Expert reviews
• Usability testing
• Coaching/mentoring clients in user-centered design
• Teaching HFI courses

Experience

The last 7 years I've managed, designed and evaluated numerous user interface projects. Breadth of experience includes web and GUI applications, internet/intranet web sites and hardware devices (e.g., medical imaging equipment, vehicular infotainment systems, home appliances). Domains include financial, government, ecommerce and medical information systems for hospitals and home health agencies.

Prior to that, I spent more than 20 years in human factors and usability in telecommunications research (voice and data). I even go back to the scary days of designing Unix and DOS command-line interfaces! I've worked in the areas of auditory localization, custom calling services, data network management, UIs for multi-modal collaboration and VOIP telephony services such as advanced voice messaging. Along the way, there've been several side trips into the world of quality assurance, system testing and systems engineering as well. I'm the recipient of several US Patents for a collaborative multimedia interface design.

I also enjoy teaching. Currently I love teaching the HFI courses. Before that I spent many years volunteering as a math and computer science instructor for budding young Black and Latino engineers (grades 9-12). I'm also certified as an ESL instructor with Literacy Volunteers of America.

Education

M.S. 1984, Industrial and Operations Engineering (Ergonomics)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,MI

B.S. 1976, Psychology
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Favorite Projects

I like those challenging projects that may seem overwhelming at first, but through close collaboration with the client, we all emerge at the other end with a solid sense of success!

Hobbies and Special Interests

I've been doing yoga off and on for the past 25 years, occasionally a little tai chi and qi gong (although not nearly often enough). Recently I've taken up bicycling (I'm a fun-rider, not a die-hard racer). I'm pretty good with houseplants, I have a tropical aquarium, and I *love* exploring cultures and meeting people around the globe. I'm a perpetual language student – Spanish is best, but I've briefly attempted French, German, Gujarati and Swahili in support of my travel adventures. Then, of course, there's my latest addiction: sudoku.

Favorite Food

• Häagen-Dasz
• Anything tasty from any corner of the planet
• Ben & Jerry's
• My husband's coconut cornbread (to die for)
• Uh... did I mention ice cream?

Character

Oh, undoubtedly! I'm a curious sort. I grew up in those hopeful, we-can-change-the-world-together times, so I'm ever the optimist with the rose-colored glasses: expecting the best, undeterred by the negative, seeking something good in every encounter.

Technical Team