Michael Maddox, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

They do not call me the Senior Scientist for nothing. I am the oldest technical person at HumanCentric. The practice of human factors is a combination of science, interpersonal communication skills, observational skills, knowledge of existing research, ability to use measurement instruments, empathy with users, and experience across many domains. With more than 30 years of professional experience in human factors, I have worked on products and systems in most of the domains for which human factors professionals are engaged from aircraft cockpits to nuclear power plants to mobile telephones to fast food point-of-sale terminals.

Because human factors is such a broad discipline, it typically takes many years of working in the field to acquire a good understanding of the issues that are common to different domains. One of my goals is to transfer whatever knowledge I've gained over the years to the younger staff members, who tend to have remarkable technical skills, but limited experience. In addition, of course, working with younger people allows me to keep up to date on music, fashion, and social conventions. A good trade.

I fancy myself to be a serious amateur musician (guitar and mandolin). That's my story, regardless of my true skill level. To quote that maven of acoustic music, Briscoe Darling (from the Andy Griffith Show), Got time to breathe? Got time for music.

Education

  • Ph.D. Industrial Engineering / Human Factors, Virginia Tech
  • M.S. Industrial Engineering / Human Factors, Virginia Tech
  • B.S. Physics, Virginia Tech

Certifications

  • Certified Human Factors Professional (CHFP)

Professional Involvement

  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
  • Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE)
  • Industrial Designer's Society of America (IDSA)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
  • Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • Society for Information Displays (SID)
  • Phi Kappa Phi (National Honor Fraternity)
  • Sigma Xi (National Research Society)

More about me

Copyright © 2010 HumanCentric