John Edison Muñoz Cardona

The main focus of my research is on advancing human-centered design in digital environments, particularly through serious games, VR simulations, and the integration of social robots. I explore how physiologically adaptive interfaces can enhance user experience by responding to real-time data such as heart rate and brain activity. My work also emphasizes inclusive design, ensuring that digital technologies are accessible and effective for diverse populations. By blending theoretical research with practical applications, my projects aim to push the boundaries of user experience design and contribute to the development of more intuitive and impactful digital interactions.

Research for Impact. Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Aeronautics Fund 2023. Data platform and information technologies transforming general aviation pilot training (107K, CAD). University of Waterloo, Canada. Co-Applicant.

Waterloo Interdisciplinary Trailblazer Fund 2019. Designing Adaptive Virtual Reality Exergames for People living with Dementia (107K, CAD). University of Waterloo, Canada. Project coordinator.

Age-Well Postdoctoral Award in Technology and Aging 2019. Virtual Reality Enhanced Exercise Training for People Living with Dementia (20K, CAD). University of Waterloo, Canada. Recipient.

I am willing to supervise graduate students in human-computer interaction projects, especially involving games and simulations and/or physiological signals for applications in healthcare and training.

Muñoz, J. E., Lavoie, J. A., & Pope, A. T. Psychophysiological Insights and User Perspectives: Enhancing Police De-escalation Skills through full-body VR Training. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1390677.

Basharat, A., Mehrabi, S., Muñoz, J. E., Middleton, L. E., Cao, S., Boger, J., & Barnett-Cowan, M. (2023). Virtual reality as a tool to explore multisensory processing before and after engagement in physical activity. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, 1207651.

Munoz, J. E., Ali, F., Basharat, A., Mehrabi, S., Barnett-Cowan, M., Cao, S., ... & Boger, J. (2023). Development of Classifiers to Determine Factors Associated With Older Adult's Cognitive Functions and Game User Experience in VR Using Head Kinematics. IEEE Transactions on Games.

Ghafurian, M., Muñoz, J., Boger, J., Hoey, J., & Dautenhahn, K. (2022). Socially interactive agents for supporting aging. In The Handbook on Socially Interactive Agents: 20 years of Research on Embodied Conversational Agents, Intelligent Virtual Agents, and Social Robotics Volume 2: Interactivity, Platforms, Application (pp. 367-402).

Muñoz, J., Mehrabi, S., Li, Y., Basharat, A., Middleton, L. E., Cao, S., ... & Boger, J. (2022). Immersive virtual reality exergames for persons living with dementia: user-centered design study as a multistakeholder team during the COVID-19 pandemic. JMIR Serious Games, 10(1), e29987.

Muñoz, J. E., Montoya, M. F., & Boger, J. (2022). From exergames to immersive virtual reality systems: Serious games for supporting older adults. In Smart home technologies and services for geriatric rehabilitation (pp. 141-204). Academic Press.

Montoya, M. F., Muñoz, J., & Henao, O. A. (2021). Fatigue-aware videogame using biocybernetic adaptation: A pilot study for upper-limb rehabilitation with sEMG. Virtual Reality, 1-14.

Muñoz, J. E., & Dautenhahn, K. (2021). Robo ludens: A game design taxonomy for multiplayer games using socially interactive robots. ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (THRI), 10(4), 1-28.

• UX600: Intro to Human Centered Design
• UX100: Design Thinking I: Foundations

1. Chad L. Stephens, John E. Munoz Cardona, Alan T. Pope, Marsha J. Turner, Olafur S. Palsson. Biocybernetic de-escalation training system. USA Patent, National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, 2024.
2. John E. Munoz Cardona, Chad L. Stephens, Olafur S. Palsson, Alan T. Pope. Pervasive and Ubiquitous Decentralized Biocybernetic Adaptation and Biofeedback Training System. USA Patent, National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, 2024.