I started my career as a social psychologist, but working in industry for 12 years shifted my focus from disciplines to problems. My research concentrates on the design and social impacts of information technologies in small groups, in the home, and between organizations.

One research strand examines the challenges that groups face in performing social tasks, designs new technology to meet some of these challenges and evaluates the usefulness of the new technology. This cycle of needs-assessment, technological design and evaluation has both scholarly and applied products. For example, research on scientific communication examined the problems scientists must solve to accomplish their work and the technologies that might aid them. Data collection demonstrated the importance that informal communication has in moving scientific work forward and the importance of face-to-face interaction for scientific planning. This research led the construction of an experimental video teleconferencing system for informal interaction and computer software for collaborative writing. Current research is examing how small teams can collaborate at a distance on physical task.

Currently I am working with colleagues to understand the role that nationwide computer networks, such as Minitel in France or the Internet in the United States, might have on the interrelationships among firms. These networks increase the efficiency with which firms can search for or exchange information, but they also shift the type of information that can easily be exchanged, from personal to quantitative. We're examining how these shifts in the cost and quality of communication may influence interfirm loyalties and market relationships.

I am also conducting research on the impact of the Internet on the average US family. This project is a longitudinal field trial called HomeNet. We gave families computers and Internet access and then are carefully assessing how use changes over time and how people's lives incorporate the new media.

I am a Professor of Social Psychology and Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, with joint appointments in the Human Computer Interaction Institute and the Tepper School of Business.