Ryan P. McMahan
Ryan P. McMahan
Assistant Professor
  • : 972-883-6610

The University of Texas
USA

Education

Ph.D., Computer Science, Virginia Tech, December 2011

  • Dissertation: “Exploring the Effects of Higher-Fidelity Display and Interaction for Virtual Reality Games”
  • Committee: Doug A. Bowman, Rachael B. Brady, Yong Cao, Chris North, Nicholas F. Polys

Computer Science, Virginia Tech, June 2007

  • Thesis: “Exploring and Evaluating Task Sequences for System Control Interfaces in Immersive Virtual Environments”
  • Committee: Doug A. Bowman, Chris North, Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones

Computer Science, Virginia Tech, May 2004

  • Graduated magna cum laude
  • Minor: Mathematics

 

Biography

Dr. Ryan P. McMahan is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and of Arts and Technology at UT Dallas. He directs the Future Immersive Virtual Environments (FIVE) Lab. His research focuses on using immersive VR technologies to promote learning and to provide training solutions that are better than real-world exercises. His other research interests include portable immersive technologies, multimodal sensory displays, natural 3D interaction techniques, and principles of human-computer interaction. He has several publications on his VR research, including articles in the Communications of the ACM and IEEE Computer. Prior to joining UT Dallas, he was the Interim Director of the Duke Immersive Virtual Environment (DiVE) at Duke University. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech in December 2011. He also received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech in 2004 and 2007.

 

Research Interest

  • Virtual reality (VR)
  • Training transfer
  • Portable immersive technologies
  • Multimodal sensory displays
  • 3D user interfaces (3DUIs)
  • Human-computer interaction (HCI)

 

Professional Activities:

Professional  Appointments

  • Assistant Professor, Arts and Technology Program, University of Texas at Dallas, October 2013 – Present
  • Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Texas at Dallas, August 2012 – Present
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, Duke University, August 2012 – Present
  • Interim Director, Duke Immersive Virtual Environment (DiVE), Duke University, June 2012 – July 2012
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, February 2012 – July 2012
  • Research Assistant, Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, Virginia Tech, August 2008 – January 2012
  • Research Assistant, Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, Virginia Tech, January 2006 – August 2008
  • Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, August 2004 – May 2005

 

Publications

Journal Papers:

  1. E. D. Ragan, D. A. Bowman, R. Kopper, C. Stinson, S. Scerbo, and R. P. McMahan, “Effects of Field of View and Visual Complexity on Virtual Reality Training Effectiveness for a Visual Scanning Task,” IEEE Transactions onVisualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 21, iss. 7, pp. 794-807, 2015.
  2. D. A. Bowman, R. P. McMahan, and E. D. Ragan, “Questioning Naturalism in 3D User Interfaces,” Communicationsof the ACM, vol. 55, iss. 9, pp. 78-88, 2012.
  3. R. P. McMahan, D. A. Bowman, D. J. Zielinski, and R. B. Brady, “Evaluating Display Fidelity and Interaction Fidelity in a Virtual Reality Game,” IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 18, iss. 4, pp. 626-633, 2012.
  4. T. Ni, D. A. Bowman, C. North, and R. P. McMahan, “Design and evaluation of freehand menu selection interfaces using tilt and pinch gestures,” International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, vol. 69, iss. 9, pp. 551-562, 2011.
  5. R. P. McMahan, E. D. Ragan, A. Leal, R. J. Beaton, and D. A. Bowman, “Considerations for the use of commercial video games in controlled experiments,” Entertainment Computing, vol. 2, iss. 1, pp. 3-9, 2011.
  6. R. Kopper, D. A. Bowman, M. G. Silva, and R. P. McMahan, “A human motor behavior model for distal pointing tasks,” International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, vol. 68, iss. 10, pp. 603-615, 2010.
  7. D. A. Bowman and R. P. McMahan, “Virtual Reality: How Much Immersion Is Enough?,” Computer, vol. 40, iss. 7, pp. 36-43, 2007.

Conference Papers:

  1. C. Lai and R. P. McMahan, “Virtual Reality Ladder Climbing for Mine Safety Training,” in 37th International Symposium on the Application of Computers and Operations Research in the Mineral Industry (APCOM), 2015, pp. 754-760.
  2. C. Lai, R. P. McMahan, and J. Hall, “March-and-Reach: A Realistic Ladder Climbing Technique,” in IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (3DUI), 2015, pp. 15-18.
  3. F. Tang, R. P. McMahan, and T. T. Allen, “Development of a Low-Cost Tactile Sleeve for Autism Intervention,” in IEEE International Symposium on Haptic, Audio and Visual Environments and Games (HAVE), 2014, pp. 35-40.
  4. D. J. Zielinski, R. Kopper, R. P. McMahan, W. Lu, and S. Ferrari, “Intercept Tags: Enhancing Intercept-based Systems,” in ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST), 2013, pp. 263-266.
  5. E. D. Ragan, A. Wood, R. P. McMahan, and D. A. Bowman, “Trade-Offs Related to Travel Techniques and Level of Display Fidelity in Virtual Data-Analysis Environments,” in Joint Virtual Reality Conference of ICAT – EGVE – EuroVR, 2012, pp. 81-84.
  6. D. A. Bowman, C. Stinson, E. D. Ragan, S. Scerbo, T. Höllerer, C. Lee, R. P. McMahan, and R. Kopper, “Evaluating effectiveness in virtual environments with MR simulation,” in Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), 2012, p. 12075.
  7. D. J. Zielinski, R. P. McMahan, and R. B. Brady, “Shadow Walking: An Unencumbered Locomotion Technique for Systems with Under-floor Projection,” in IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR), 2011, pp. 167-170.
  8. R. P. McMahan, A. J. Alon, S. Lazem, R. J. Beaton, D. Machaj, M. Schaefer, M. G. Silva, A. Leal, R. Hagan, and D. Bowman, “Evaluating Natural Interaction Techniques in Video Games,” in IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (3DUI), 2010, pp. 11-14.
  9. P. Macedo and R. P. McMahan, “Virtual Student Center: Connecting e-Learning Students to Virginia Tech Resources,” in 25th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning, 2009, p. 20375.
  10. T. Ni, R. P. McMahan, and D. A. Bowman, “Tech-note: rapMenu: Remote Menu Selection Using Freehand Gestural Input,” in IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (3DUI), 2008, pp. 55-58.
  11. J. D. Lucas, R. P. McMahan, R. Engle, D. A. Bowman, W. Thabet, and S. Schafrik, “Improving Health and Safety Through Conveyor System Training in a Virtual Environment,” in First International Future Mining Conference and Exhibition, 2008, pp. 161-166.
  12. R. P. McMahan, D. A. Bowman, S. Schafrik, and M. Karmis, “Virtual Environment Training for Preshift Inspections of Haul Trucks to Improve Mining Safety,” in Proceedings First International Future Mining Conference and Exhibition, 2008, pp. 167-174.
  13. R. P. McMahan and D. A. Bowman, “An Empirical Comparison of Task Sequences for Immersive Virtual Environments,” in IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (3DUI), 2007, pp. 25-32.
  14. R. P. McMahan, D. Gorton, J. Gresock, W. McConnell, and D. A. Bowman, “Separating the Effects of Level of Immersion and 3D Interaction Techniques,” in ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST), New York, NY, USA, 2006, pp. 108-111.

Workshop Papers:

  1. J. C. Eubanks, C. Lai, and R. P. McMahan, “Portable Virtual Reality: Inertial Measurements and Biomechanics,” in IEEE Workshop on Everyday Virtual Reality (WEVR), IEEE, 2015, pp. 1-4.
  2. D. J. Zielinski, R. P. McMahan, S. Shokur, E. Morya, and R. Kopper, “Enabling Closed-Source Applications for Virtual Reality via OpenGL Intercept-Based Techniques,” in IEEE Workshop on Software Engineering andArchitectures for Realtime Interactive Systems (SEARIS), IEEE, 2014, pp. 59-64.
  3. N. S. Herrera and R. P. McMahan, “Development of a Simple and Low-Cost Olfactory Display for Immersive Media Experiences,” in 2nd ACM International Workshop on Immersive Media Experiences, ACM, 2014, pp. 1-6.
  4. D. A. Bowman, R. P. McMahan, C. Stinson, E. D. Ragan, S. Scerbo, T. Höllerer, C. Lee, and R. Kopper, “Evaluating effectiveness in virtual environments with MR simulation,” in Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Workshop on Physiological Measures of Immersion, US Marine Corps, 2011.

Refereed Abstracts:

  1. A. G. Moore, M. J. Howell, A. W. Stiles, N. S. Herrera, and R. P. McMahan, “Wedge: A Musical Interface for Building and Playing Composition-Appropriate Immersive Environments,” in IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces(3DUI), IEEE, 2015, pp. 205-206.
  2. F. Tang, R. P. McMahan, E. D. Ragan, and T. T. Allen, “A Modified Tactile Brush Algorithm for Complex Touch Gestures,” in IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR), IEEE, 2015, pp. 295-296.
  3. A. G. Moore, N. S. Herrera, T. C. Hurst, R. P. McMahan, and S. Poeschl, “The Effects of Olfaction on Training Transfer for an Assembly Task,” in IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR), IEEE, 2015, pp. 237-238.
  4. B. Izatt, K. Scholberq, and R. P. McMahan, “Super-KAVE: An Immersive Visualization Tool for Neutrino Physics,” in IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR), IEEE, 2013, pp. 75-76.
  5. D. J. Zielinski, R. P. McMahan, W. Lu, and S. Ferrari, “ML2VR: Providing MATLAB Users an Easy Transition to Virtual Reality and Immersive Interactivity,” in IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR), IEEE, 2013, pp. 83-84.
  6. R. P. McMahan, M. Steele, R. Fink, D. Turner, and J. Taekman, “Identification of Subject-Matter-Expert Effort Required for the Development and Validation of Healthcare Training-Based Virtual Environments,” in 13th Annual International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Society for Simulation in Healthcare, 2012, vol. 7, p. 431.

Book Chapters:

  1. R. P. McMahan, R. Kopper, and D. A. Bowman, “Principles for Designing Effective 3D Interaction Techniques,” in Handbookof Virtual Environments: Design, Implementation, and Applications, Second Edition, K. S. Hale and K. M. Stanney, Eds., CRC Press, 2014, pp. 285-311.
  2. R. P. McMahan, S. Schafrik, D. A. Bowman, and M. Karmis, “Virtual Environments for Surface Mining Powered Haulage Training,” in Extracting the Science: A Century of Mining Research, J. F. Brune, Ed., Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, 2010, pp. 520-528.

Edited Volumes:

  1. Advances in Visual Computing: 10th International Symposium, ISVC 2014, Las Vegas, NV, USA, December 8-10, 2014,Proceedings, Part I, G. Bebis, R. Boyle, B. Parvin, D. Koracin, R. P. McMahan, J. Jerald, H. Zhang, S. M. Drucker, C. Kambhamettu, M. El Choubassi, Z. Deng, and M. Carlson, Eds., Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014, vol. 8887.
  2. Advances in Visual Computing: 10th International Symposium, ISVC 2014, Las Vegas, NV, USA, December 8-10, 2014,Proceedings, Part II, G. Bebis, R. Boyle, B. Parvin, D. Koracin, R. P. McMahan, J. Jerald, H. Zhang, S. M. Drucker, C. Kambhamettu, M. El Choubassi, Z. Deng, and M. Carlson, Eds., Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014, vol. 8888.

 

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