Catherine Letondal

I am a researcher in the [Interactive Computing Laboratory](http://lii-enac.fr/en/index.html) at ENAC. My work on tangible interaction began with the exploration of the possibilities of digital pen and paper in various fields, such as [augmented laboratory notebooks](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.1) for biologists, [interactive scientific datasheets](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CN.5), [augmented scores of composers](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.5), [augmented strips of air traffic controllers](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.8) and job cards for aviation maintenance. Through each of these projects, the focus was first to understand why paper/pen devices and their very diverse properties particularly well align to the associated activities, and then to participatory co-evolve these devices by moving to mixed and digital properties. Based on our [work with Air traffic Controllers](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/projects.html#striptic_project), I have also contributed to the [reflection on tangible interaction models](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.8), by putting into perspective distributed cognition processes such as externalization and the use of interactive paper strips on the stripboard. Recently, I work on [meteorological visualization for the pilots](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/projects.html#stamp_project) undergoing rapidly developing thunderstorms. Currently, within the [AIRTIUS](http://airtius.net "AIRTIUS") project, we reflect on the [physical design space for situation awareness and performance in the interactive cockpit](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.9), where touch technologies are going to replace current electronic displays for flying and navigating instruments. My complementary experience in industry and research has also allowed me to pursue a reflection on software development processes. During my thesis, I have observed and analyzed the [programing practices](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CH.1) of biologists in the context of a biology research institute - the Pasteur Institute - and proposed a process paradigm: [participatory programing](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.3). I now focus on the quite different context of system engineering in aerospace, when applied to interactive system [design](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.6) and [teaching](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CN.7). In this context, participatory design brings to industrial processes - strongly based on models - an [opportunity](http://lii-enac.fr/%7Eletondal/publications.html#CI.10) for early validation and maintaining consistency among multi-disciplinary stakeholders all along the process.