Applied Human Factors  

Russell Branaghan

I am a cognitive psychologist in the Applied Psychology Department at Arizona State University. Our department is housed on the Polytechnic campus (adjacent to Williams Gateway airport) where we have access to outstanding resources and equipment (flight simulators, flight instruction, pilots, Air Force Research Lab, Cognitive Engineering Research Institute, and the like). Additionally, I teach Human Factors in the Master of Product Development Program at Northwestern University. I joined ASU just this year after working in industry (Hewlett-Packard and IBM) and consulting for fifteen years.

My applied research and consulting focuses on cognitive human factors - identifying ways to make things (products, computer programs, instructions, signs, etc.) understandable. That is, how do we make things easy to learn, efficient and satisfying to use, and easy to remember? My favorite topics include:

  • Small screen and hand held devices
  • Medical devices such as programmers for pacemakers/defibrillators and external defibrillators (those devices you see hanging in public buildings everywhere).
  • Aviation such as the design of cockpit displays and controls.
  • Technology products from printers to cell phones to data storage devices
  • Web applications from medical applications for heart patients to banking and human resources.
  • Consumer psychology of branding and brand personality
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    Contact Information

    Russell Branaghan, Ph.D.

    Department of Applied Psychology
    Arizona State University Polytechnic

    7001 E Williams Field Rd, 340 E Sutton (Building 140)
    Mesa, AZ 85212

    Russ.Branaghan@asu.edu

    (480) 727-1390

    Office Hours

    Tuesdays & Thursdays
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    or by appointment.

    ASU