Abigail Sellen facts for kids

Abigail Jane Sellen is a smart scientist from Canada. She studies how people use computers and other technology. She works at Microsoft Research in Cambridge, England. She also teaches as an honorary professor at the University of Nottingham and University College London.

Education

Abigail Sellen went to the University of Toronto. There, she earned a master's degree in industrial engineering. This field is about making systems work better for people. She then earned her PhD in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego. Her advisor was Don Norman, a famous expert in design.

Career and Research

Sellen's main work is in human–computer interaction (HCI). This field looks at how people and computers work together. She has worked at many important research places. These include Xerox PARC, Apple Inc., and HP Labs. In 2004, she joined Microsoft.

With Richard H. R. Harper, Sellen wrote a book. It was called The Myth of the Paperless Office. This book came out in 2001.

Awards and Honours

Abigail Sellen has received many important awards. These awards recognize her great work.

• She is a fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very old and respected science group.
• She is also a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). This group honors top engineers.
• She is a fellow of the British Computer Society.
• In 2011, she joined the CHI Academy. This group recognizes leaders in human-computer interaction.
• In 2016, she became a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). This award was for her work in designing technology that focuses on people.
• In 2020, she was chosen as a foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for her work in making sure computer systems are designed for human abilities.