About the RETRO Lab

RETRO Laboratory

What's Our Purpose?

The RETRO laboratory is dedicated to the academic study of virtual worlds, including their use for educational and training purposes. This multidisciplinary lab is comprised of members from far-ranging disciplines: from psychology to 3D-modeling, and from training to computer programming. Our diverse team and prime location — housed in the high-tech corridor of Orlando, Florida — gives RETRO a unique opportunity to excel in this area of research.

What does RETRO stand for??

R — Recent and

E — Emerging

T — Technologies

R — Research

O — Organization

faculty and staff team members

Jan Cannon-Bowers, Ph.D., Research Professor
OFFICE: (321) 217-0986
EMAIL: jancb at mail.ucf.edu

Dr. Cannon-Bowers holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. As the team leader for Advanced Training Research for the Navy, she was involved in a number of research projects directed toward improving performance in complex environments. These included investigation of training needs and design for multi-operator training systems, tactical decision-making under stress, the impact of technology on learning and performance, training for knowledge-rich environments, human-centered design, human performance modeling and development of knowledge structures underlying higher order skills. At UCF, Dr. Cannon-Bowers is continuing her work in technology-enabled learning and human performance modeling. Her goal is to leverage and transition DoD's sizable investment in modeling, simulation and training to other areas such as entertainment, workforce development and life-long learning and education. To date, she has been awarded several grants to support this work, including a recent award by the National Science Foundation under their Science of Learning Center program. Dr. Cannon-Bowers has been an active researcher, with over 100 publications in scholarly journals, books and technical reports, and numerous professional presentations. She is a Fellow of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Division 14 of the American Psychological Association).
Clint Bowers, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
OFFICE: (407) 882-1353
EMAIL: bowers at mail.ucf.edu

My chief interest is in the use of technology to facilitate teamwork. This takes several forms. The first includes basic research on the nature of effective teamwork and the factors that influence it. A second research thrust involves the training of teams. I am especially interested in the use of training technologies and simulation in training team skills. Finally, I'm interested in the use of technology to assist teams in their day-to-day tasks. This includes research in information visualization, groupware, and other hardware/software systems. Besides my interest in team performance, I am also involved in several student projects. These include the use of virtual reality to teach deaf children, the neuropsychology of spatial abilities, and the use of warnings to manage predictable non-compliance.
Anya Andrews, Ph.D., Instructional Systems Architect
EMAIL: aandrews at ist.ucf.edu

Dr. Anya Andrews provides instructional design and research expertise to the innovative efforts of the RETRO Lab. Anya earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from UCF and brings years of industry experience in the field of e-learning. Anya's areas of expertise include Instructional Systems Design (ISD), immersive learning simulations, serious games, and performance support solutions.
Lucas Blair, Ph.D. Candidate, Game ⁄ Instructional Designer
EMAIL: lucasblair at gmail.com

Lucas is currently employed as a research associate and is pursuing his PhD. in Modeling and Simulation at UCF. His interests include serious game design and instructional design. He has a MS in instructional technology from Bloomsburg University.
Danielle Chelles Campos, B.A., 2D & 3D Artist

EMAIL: dchelles.campos at gmail.com

Danielle is a UCF graduate with a Fine Arts background. She is currently working as a graphic artist in the research Retro Lab at UCF. Danielle's personal art works include medical illustrations and 3d medical animations.
James Bohnsack, B.S., Researcher
EMAIL: jimisack at gmail.com

James recently graduated from UCF with a B.S. in Psychology and > minored in the fields of Information Technology and the Cognitive > Sciences. He is currently employed as a research assistant, helping > conduct usability studies for the software RETRO develops. James > intends to pursue further education in both Industrial/Organizational > and Human Factors psychology in the near future. His favorite hobby > is regularly volunteering at Give Kids the World in Kissimmee, > Florida.
Yinghua Hu, Ph.D. Candidate, Researcher
EMAIL: yinghua.hu at gmail.com

Yinghua Hu is currently employed by RETRO lab as a research assistant. He uses statistical tools such as SPSS to extract information from survey responses of the lab's human performance studies. At the same time, he is a PhD candidate in Modeling and Simulation at UCF. His research interests are meta analysis and data mining. He holds a Masters degree in Computer Science from UCF and a Masters degree in Applied Computer Science from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Jamie Joyce, UCF Sociology Student/Administrative Assistant/Researcher
EMAIL: joyce dot jamie1 at gmail.com

Jamie joined the RETRO team in April of 2010, assuming many of the responsibilities that help maintain the overall operations of the lab. She is also a part-time researcher and a full-time student. She is currently an undergraduate Sociology student at UCF, but will continue her education to secure her PhD. Jamie is a published illustrator, scholarship award-winning artist, and enjoys exploring mediums of abstract and unconventional artistic expression as well as celebrating her cosmic appreciation for political and social satire.
Steve Nedely, Lead Flash Programmer

EMAIL: steve at ankhstudios.com

Steve is a multi-discipline developer, focusing currently on creating flash games. His interests include game design, game development, sculpture, traditional special effects, horror films, impulsive decisions and permanent art.
Greg Pardo, UCF Digital Media Student, Flash Programmer

More information on Greg coming soon!
Katelyn Procci, B.S., Researcher

EMAIL: kprocci at knights.ucf.edu

Katelyn graduated from VCU in Richmond, Virginia with a B.S. in psychology and is now a first year student in the applied experimental human factors Ph.D. program at UCF. She is currently employed by RETRO as a research assistant. Her interests include serious games research and game-based learning via video games.
Ben Repkay, UCF Civil Engineering Student, Researcher

EMAIL: benripper1289 at gmail.com

Ben Repkay is currently a civil engineering major at the University of Central Florida. He has been a research assistant for IST since September of 2008. He enjoys studies relating to psychological testing with gaming.
Brian Stabile, B.A., Programmer ⁄ Game Designer
UCF Digital Media Graduate
EMAIL: brianjstabile at gmail.com

Brian graduated from UCF with a BA in Digital Media and a minor in Computer Science. He joined RETRO during the Lunar Quest development cycle, and has gone on to help design and develop Insignia Searcher, Guardian Angel, and Select-A-Cell. Outside of the lab, Brian plays drums for the band Yogurt Smoothness.

Fun Fact: Brian speaks fluent Japanse!