UI/UX design for security, usability, and compliance
Introduction
In Spring 2016, I joined the Trustworthy Data Engineering Lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant under the aegis of Dr. Eric Rozier. The lab conducted research on three main areas Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Cyber Security. My focus was on studying and creating User Interfaces/User Experiences (UI/UX) for systems pertaining to these fields. Since the world of data needs to be very secure, the user interface is required to be designed in such a way that protects the data while retaining the user experience.
I have always been interested in designing UIs that help bring the technology to the people and this research opportunity provided me that. While I pursued my interest of design and development, I also learned new facets of university research. This was my first time working under a professor and interacting with other Masters and PhD level students.
The research experience ended prematurely as Dr. Rozier left the University of Cincinnati. This reflection accounts for the time I actually did in the lab before it moved based somewhere else.
The Research
As mentioned earlier, I conducted research on usable and secure UIs for data engineering. The first task assigned to me was to read and study papers on Modeling Cyber-Human Systems and give recommendations to improve the user experience on our current projects. Since the projects were sponsored by and conducted for agencies like the NSA, I cannot talk about the specifics of what I presented or what the recommendations were. Below are the links for the papers I read on Modelling Cyber-Human Systems.
Paper 1 : https://www.perform.illinois.edu/Papers/USAN_papers/11ESK01.pdf
Paper 2 : https://www.perform.illinois.edu/Papers/USAN_papers/12ESK02.pdf
Takeaway and Conclusion
I would have loved to see this experience to an end but alas, could not. Having said that, it was one of the most interesting times in college. As a freshman, I initially felt overwhelmed when I came to the lab. Everyone was either a Master's or a PhD level student and here I was, a high school graduate. I used to feel scared to talk during seminars and lab meetings. Fortunately for me, everyone in the lab was humble and patient. The grad students helped me learn important topics that were proving difficult for me to grasp. Dr. Rozier made time for me for our weekly meetings to help with the reflection of this experience.
I no longer felt out of the place and learned to voice my opinion infront of people very senior to me. This learning particularly helped me when I went to Silicon Valley. There, everyone is on the top of their game when it comes to technology. I did not feel like an impostor over there since I was used to working in environments like these.
Also, I had fun learning how big field of data engineering is. My time in the lab exposed me to many elements in the field that outsiders don't know. I feel this was a great opportunity for me to learn, especially as a freshman when I am still exploring career and personal interest options. The best part was I combined something old (my knowledge of UI design) and something new (data engineering) to get a new perspective on how things work. I was able to implement my design skills in a completely new way. Something that I never knew even existed before.
In Spring 2016, I joined the Trustworthy Data Engineering Lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant under the aegis of Dr. Eric Rozier. The lab conducted research on three main areas Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Cyber Security. My focus was on studying and creating User Interfaces/User Experiences (UI/UX) for systems pertaining to these fields. Since the world of data needs to be very secure, the user interface is required to be designed in such a way that protects the data while retaining the user experience.
I have always been interested in designing UIs that help bring the technology to the people and this research opportunity provided me that. While I pursued my interest of design and development, I also learned new facets of university research. This was my first time working under a professor and interacting with other Masters and PhD level students.
The research experience ended prematurely as Dr. Rozier left the University of Cincinnati. This reflection accounts for the time I actually did in the lab before it moved based somewhere else.
The Research
As mentioned earlier, I conducted research on usable and secure UIs for data engineering. The first task assigned to me was to read and study papers on Modeling Cyber-Human Systems and give recommendations to improve the user experience on our current projects. Since the projects were sponsored by and conducted for agencies like the NSA, I cannot talk about the specifics of what I presented or what the recommendations were. Below are the links for the papers I read on Modelling Cyber-Human Systems.
Paper 1 : https://www.perform.illinois.edu/Papers/USAN_papers/11ESK01.pdf
Paper 2 : https://www.perform.illinois.edu/Papers/USAN_papers/12ESK02.pdf
Takeaway and Conclusion
I would have loved to see this experience to an end but alas, could not. Having said that, it was one of the most interesting times in college. As a freshman, I initially felt overwhelmed when I came to the lab. Everyone was either a Master's or a PhD level student and here I was, a high school graduate. I used to feel scared to talk during seminars and lab meetings. Fortunately for me, everyone in the lab was humble and patient. The grad students helped me learn important topics that were proving difficult for me to grasp. Dr. Rozier made time for me for our weekly meetings to help with the reflection of this experience.
I no longer felt out of the place and learned to voice my opinion infront of people very senior to me. This learning particularly helped me when I went to Silicon Valley. There, everyone is on the top of their game when it comes to technology. I did not feel like an impostor over there since I was used to working in environments like these.
Also, I had fun learning how big field of data engineering is. My time in the lab exposed me to many elements in the field that outsiders don't know. I feel this was a great opportunity for me to learn, especially as a freshman when I am still exploring career and personal interest options. The best part was I combined something old (my knowledge of UI design) and something new (data engineering) to get a new perspective on how things work. I was able to implement my design skills in a completely new way. Something that I never knew even existed before.