← prototype docs overview | research and development (r&d)
Research and Development (R&D)
Dr. Celeste Groenewald
Yep, I’ve got a PhD in Thinking and Reasoning from the Interaction Design Centre (IDC) Lab in the Computer Science Department at Middlesex University (London, UK).
What’s thinking and reasoning got to do with computer science?
Well, software’s pretty useless if people don’t understand how to use it or if it doesn’t align with their mental model of how things should work to reach a goal. So, I went and researched how criminal intelligence analysts think and reason in high-stakes environments where information is often:
- fragmented,
- missing,
- misleading, or
- ambiguous.
My work explores how people make sense of this kind of complexity and how systems can be designed to support that.
Why it matters
This research informs system designers working in areas like:
- investigative software,
- decision support tools,
- and AI systems that need to reason with or explain uncertainty.
It also taught me a lot about cognitive biases, mental models, and how to design for real-world reasoning and not just ideal workflows.
Why it made me a better technical writer
- 💭 I know how people think.
- 😵💫 I know where they get stuck.
- 💡And I write with that in mind.
Although I can dive deep into complex detail, I aim to make my documentation:
- clear,
- easy to follow,
- and genuinely helpful.
That means better onboarding, less confusion, and a smoother product experience for your users.
Prototype in Progress
I’m currently developing a lightweight web prototype that applies this research in practice. It supports analysts in structuring their reasoning process and auto-generating reports based on their logic.
Research & Publications
Here’s some of the work I’ve published along the way:
Reasoning in Criminal Intelligence Analysis through an Argumentation Theory-Based Framework
- Overview: You’ve seen those high-action films where analysts swipe data across transparent walls, connecting dots in mid-air. This research steps back from the sci-fi and digs into how criminal intelligence analysts actually make sense of complex, messy information and how software could genuinely support that reasoning process.
- Skills Explored: Research Methods, Sensemaking, Thinking & Reasoning, Cognitive Biases, Argumentation Schemes & Critical Questions.
- Funding: My research contributed to the VALCRI research project and received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme under the EC Grant Agreement N° FP7-SEC-IP-608142.
Understanding 3D Mid-Air Hand Gestures with Interactive Surfaces and Displays: A Systematic Literature Review
Short Description
- Overview: Ever wonder why we still use keyboards and mice? Yeah, we did too. Turns out mid-air gestures aren’t quite ready to replace them, especially when it comes to precision tasks like text editing. Everyone had their own idea of what things like a "closed hand" or an "open hand" gesture meant, and consistency was all over the place. So, we reviewed the research; classified the gestures, checked who actually tested them, and mapped the landscape. You're welcome.
- Skills Explored: Systematic Literature Review, Human Computer Interactions, 3D Gestures, Mid-Air Hand Gestures, Interaction Gestures.
What comes next?
