Judy Olson

Judy Olson is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Her research centers on how distance—geographic, organizational, and cultural—affects collaboration, productivity, and trust in technology-mediated work environments.

Her work explores the challenges of remote collaboration, showing that even small physical distances (e.g., different floors) can impair team performance. She also investigates telepresence robotics in education, enabling homebound children to attend school virtually and interact socially with peers. This research has led to nationwide collaborations with school districts.

Her publications, including the book Working Together Apart, have significantly influenced the fields of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). In 2006, she was jointly awarded the CHI Lifetime Achievement Award with her husband and collaborator, Gary M. Olson.

Scientific Awards:

• CHI Lifetime Achievement Award (2006, shared with Gary M. Olson)

Research Focus: Her work spans collaborative technologies, distributed teamwork, and the design of systems that support effective long-distance interaction. She emphasizes real-world applications, from corporate environments to K-12 education.

Labs & Teams: While specific lab affiliations are not mentioned, her work is deeply connected to the broader HCI and CSCW research community at UCI, where she has contributed to shaping the Department of Informatics' vision in human-centered computing.