Patrick A. Carrington

Patrick A. Carrington is an Associate Professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. His research focuses on accessibility, wearable technology, and assistive technologies, exploring how technology can understand human ability and support empowerment, independence, and improved quality of life for people with diverse abilities.

His research interests span multiple areas of accessibility and human-computer interaction. He investigates user needs and designs technology systems that enhance and leverage the full potential of users with diverse abilities, with particular focus on non-visual interfaces, wheelchair computing (which he terms "chairables"), and social media accessibility. His work combines technical innovation with deep user understanding to create meaningful assistive technologies.

Dr. Carrington's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to the field of accessibility research. His work shows a clear trajectory from foundational studies on wheelchair computing and chairables to more recent explorations of non-visual cooking interfaces, social media accessibility, and the application of large language models for communication assistance. His research consistently addresses real-world accessibility challenges through carefully designed user studies and novel technological interventions.

Scientific recognition for his work includes:

• Best Paper Award (Top 1%) at CHI 2019 for "Occupational Therapy is Making"
• Best Student Paper at ASSETS 2024 for "WheelPoser"
• Multiple Best Paper Honorable Mentions (Top 5%) across CHI and ASSETS conferences
• Recognition for innovative work in Twitter accessibility, wheelchair sports technology, and non-visual interfaces

As an educator, Dr. Carrington teaches courses including "Designing Human-Centered Software" (FA2022-FA2024, SP2025), "Special Topics: Accessibility" (SP2021, FA2021, SP2022, FA2024), and "Programming Usable Interfaces" (SP2020, FA2020). He leads the AXLE Lab, mentoring numerous students including Franklin Mingzhe Li, Yunzhi Li, and others who have become co-authors on his publications. His lab focuses on designing human-centered software that addresses real accessibility challenges through innovative technical solutions combined with deep user understanding.