Norman Makoto Su recently graduated in 2009 with his PhD from the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. His research interests include human-computer interaction, computer-supported collaborative work, and ubiquitous computing. Fundamentally, he is interested in how people, in their everyday social spheres, are appropriating and shaped by technology. His PhD thesis, Temporal Patterns of Communication, utilized a mixed-methods approach to discern how information workers temporally appropriate communication mediums to deftly accomplish work. For example, he examined the relation between communication chains—interactions (IM, email, face-to-face, and phone) that happen one after another in quick succession—and worker stress. Norman’s recent fieldwork drawing from sociological perspectives has looked into the diverse everyday practices of nomadic workers, knowledge management professionals, and head-to-head fighting video game players. In these works, he draws heavily from actor-network theory and social constructionist lenses.
A Californian native, Norman is looking forward to actively collaborating with colleagues and interacting with students at the University College Dublin. He plans to take advantage of the rich cultural heritage in Ireland by conducting fieldwork in spaces unique to the country.
