About the instructor

My answers to the survey questions:

9. What is your name, and what do you like to be called?

   My name is Janet Davis. For this class, please call me Ms. Davis or Professor Davis.

10. What is your major (or intended major)?

    My undergraduate major was computer science (though I originally wanted to study physics). I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering. My dissertation was in the area of human-computer interaction; I also studied networks and operating systems.

11. What courses are you taking this term? Please provide titles.
    

    I am also teaching a special topics course in Human-Computer Interaction (CSC 295) and an independent study on the FreeBSD operating system, taking Psychological Measurement (PSY 337), and trying to do some research.

12. Tell me a little bit about your background with computers.
    

    I've always been curious about computers. My family had a TI/994A when I was growing up, where I learned to program a bit of Basic. It had plug-in cartridges like a Nintendo, and you could store your own problems on cassette tape! I also learned to program in Logo in 4th grade at school. My family got its first real PC when I was in middle school, and I took a couple of computer programming classes (in Basic and Pascal) in high school. 
    

    But, I didn't consider computing as a career until college. I took a class like this one my first semester, and the rest is history!

13. What do you hope to learn or gain from this course?
    

    I'm looking forward to working with an exciting new application domain, media computation! Sam Rebelsky, Matt Kluber, and I will be disseminating the work we do for this class, so that high school teachers in the Midwest and CS professors from all around can use the materials we develop. We started using these materials last semester, but I'm looking forward to working out some of the kinks.
    

    I'm also looking forward to working with a new group of students. I always learn something new.

14. What are your biggest concerns for this course?
    

    It's going to be a busy semester for me, and I'm concerned about keeping up with grading. We are also making some changes to how assessments (homework, quizzes, etc.) work for this class, and I hope those changes work out.

15. Tell me something you'd like me to ask you more about later (e.g., your hometown, a hobby, a story, a goal).
    

    Ask me about my pedometer, my cats, or my current craft or homemaking projects. Or just about anything, really.

My answers to your questions:

I would like to hear more about your research and what human-computer interfaces you are/have worked on.

A big interest of mine is the relationship of human values (privacy, democracy, autonomy, etc.) to the interaction design.  My dissertation was on building new interfaces for a large-scale urban simulation system, with an eye towards supporting a democratic urban planning process.  If you're really interested, my paper that appeared in IEEE Computer is pretty accessible. 

As for now... I am getting really interested in environmental sustainability and the use of technology to persuade people to change their behavior.  I am planning some work with the EcoCampus committee, and hope to have students working with me over the summer.

Why are you a computer professor and not working for a company such as Microsoft or Google?

Because I like to teach! I like being at a college instead of a company. And I like having the freedom to decide how to spend my time and to do what is interesting to me, rather than what is important to the company.

Why are you taking Psych Measurement?

Because my research is in human-computer interaction, and I want to learn more about designing good interview and survey questions. Professor Sinnett suggested the class.

Where did you go to university?

I went to Harvey Mudd College, which likes to call itself "the liberal arts college of engineering and sciences."  It is even smaller than Grinnell, less than 900 students, and is part of the Claremont Colleges in southern California.  My postgraduate degrees are from the University of Washington, in Seattle.

Was it a shock to find yourself living in Grinnell, IA?

It was a big change. I think the biggest shocks were not having any mountains (I am gradually getting used to looking at the horizon and not freaking out) and the cold weather (much better now that I have a big poofy down coat).

Do you like Grinnell?

Yes, I like Grinnell a lot! It's really different from any place I've ever lived before---the smallest, and the furthest from the ocean and the mountains. But I like being able to walk everywhere, I like running into people I know downtown, and I'm starting to think the seas of corn are kind of pretty...

What is your favorite book?

I have way too many favorite books. Over break, I seem to have read a lot of books involving vampires.  My favorite of those was Sunshine by Robin McKinley---it was exciting, and funny as well. My childhood favorite was probably A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L'Engle, and of course the two books that come before it. I was sad when she died last fall. The most beat-up book on my shelf is a Star Trek novel about a race of sentient cats, Uhuru's Song by Janet Kagan. I also like mysteries, and young adult fantasy in general. 

I probably have a favorite serious book as well, but I would have to think too hard about what it is.

I would like to hear all about your cats.

I have two cats. Sprite is all black and he's almost 10 and has arthritis, but he likes to roll around like a kitten. Our other cat, Eliza, is a calico. She's only about two years old and she's very active. 

Janet Davis (davisjan@cs.grinnell.edu)