HALO Lab UT Austin

People

Meet the people who work towards producing accessible user experiences in technology.

Principal investigator

Dr. Earl W. Huff, Jr.

Assistant Professor, Department of Information (iSchool) · Director, HALO Lab

Earl Huff, Jr. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information and the Director of the HALO Lab. His research sits at the intersection of human–computer interaction, human–AI interaction, accessibility, and learning technologies. He investigates how artificial intelligence can help make learning more accessible and support learning across people's lifespan.

Earl employs participatory and co-design methodologies, engaging populations most often overlooked and underserved — including students with disabilities, the educators who support them, and older adults — as active partners throughout the design and development process. This work spans two connected areas: advancing the accessibility of education for learners with disabilities, and advancing the adoption of AI technologies for the populations who stand to benefit most.

Earl explores these areas through the design, implementation, and evaluation of AI-driven systems, with particular attention to accessibility, usability, and trust. His work has been published in venues such as ASSETS, CHI, SIGCSE TS, ITiCSE, and CUI.

Human–computer interaction Human–AI interaction Accessibility Learning technologies
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Researchers

The team

Monica Zhou

Information Studies Doctoral Student

Monica Zhou is a PhD student in the Department of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, working with Dr. Earl Huff. Her research explores how to design technologies that support the learning of blind students and older adults with vision loss.

Human–computer interaction Accessibility computing Human-centered design
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Shaini Nanayakkara

Information Studies Doctoral Student

Shaini Nanayakkara is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, advised by Dr. Earl Huff Jr. Her research explores human–AI interaction, with a particular focus on conversational AI, anthropomorphic AI, trust in AI systems, and accessible AI technologies. She is especially interested in how AI design influences user perceptions, decision-making, and interaction experiences across diverse populations.

Human–AI interaction Trust in AI AI for accessibility
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Kurugamage (Pravinda) Perera

Research Fellow

Pravinda Perera is an engineering leader, software architect, and researcher with nearly a decade of experience across large-scale software systems, artificial intelligence, software architecture, and human–computer interaction. He leads the architecture and operational reliability of large-scale digital transaction systems at Sysco while researching the reliable, trustworthy, and responsible integration of AI into software systems.

Trustworthy AI AI governance Software architecture
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Alumni

Where people go next.

Former members of the lab, including those from its years as the REALITY Lab.

Dr. Angela D. R. Smith

Co-Founder & Co-Director, REALITY Lab

Angela co-founded the lab and served as its co-director through the years it was known as the REALITY Lab.

  • Dr. Eunhye Grace Ko Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2024–2026
  • Taylor Smith Information Studies Doctoral Student, 2023–2025
  • Saloni Sharma Informatics Undergraduate Student, 2023–2026
  • Hansika Murugu Visiting Scholar, 2024–2026 now HCI Master's Student, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Akshat Shah Visiting Scholar, 2026 now Undergraduate Student, The Ohio State University
Work with us

Interested in joining HALO?

We welcome prospective graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and collaborators who care about access as much as they care about the technology.

Opportunities in the lab