Hello my name is Daniel Mayes and I am originally from Savannah, Georgia. Currently, I live in Orlando, Florida, where I am a graduate student in the Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology program. At this point, I am in the midst of writing, running, and defending my dissertation. My topic is concerned with whether fidelity and control usability impacts the emergent strategies of video game players. An example might help explain this to those who are both interested and untrained in my particular flavor of psychology. Imagine that a person buys a garden hose at a local hardware store and is on the way home when struck with the misfortune of running out of gas. Under normal circumstances, the garden hose is thought of as a means to water the lawn. However, because of the circumstances, the person might improvise and decide to use the hose to siphon gas. The unintended and yet useful application of a garden hose as a siphon is an emergent strategy. I believe, that the clarity and function of the objects in a video game environment impact the strategies people are able to develop while playing the game. Further, if the controls of the video game are too difficult or clumsy, the full potential of the player will not be realized.

Of course, my life is not all about research. In fact, it would not be as meaningful without the love and support of a few wonderful people. First, I want to mention my darling fiancée, Kimberly, whom I love exorbitantly and equitably. She's the cat's pajamas. Also, my parents have provided an enormous amount of compassion and caring over the years, for which I am eternally grateful. On top of that, I am fortunate enough to have a fantastic and delightful pair of siblings in my brother and sister.