Brad Fain, PhD
Principal Research Scientist
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Brad Fain, PhD, is a principal research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), with more than twenty two years of experience in human performance research. He currently leads the human factors program and human systems integration efforts for both military and industrial customers at GTRI.
Fain is experienced in military and civilian system human factors analysis, anthropometric analysis, design, human performance testing and evaluation. He previously the technical portion of the Military Heroes voting project and served as the technical director for the Accessible Voting Technology Initiative (AVTI).
He is also the director of Georgia Tech’s HomeLab. Fain established the Accessibility Evaluation Facility (AEF) at Georgia Tech and has pioneered evaluation techniques designed to measure accessibility and usability of products and services for people with disabilities. The AEF serves industry and government customers by evaluating products to measure conformance with disability related technical guidelines. The AEF also serves as the independent test lab for the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use commendation program and similar programs for Arthritis Australia, Arthritis New Zealand and the Arthritis Society of Canada.
Using/Coordinating Multiple Research Methods to Guide Design
Disability is a product of the interaction of a person’s functional capabilities and the environment. It is important that design professionals be able to identify and remove barriers to use for individuals experiencing diminished, functional, cognitive sensory or physical functional abilities because of chronic diseases. Brad Fain and David Cowan will discuss research methods and inclusive design practices that help ensure individuals who are managing chronic diseases, are considered during the design process.
