I am a research scientist with expertise in human‑computer interaction and human‑AI interaction.

I have more than 10 years experience working in industry research labs, including Reality Labs Research (Meta), Autodesk Research, and Chatham Labs, an HCI research startup that I co-founded. I have authored 40 peer-reviewed publications, which have been collectively cited over 1100 times, and my work has resulted in 17 patents.

My research includes work on user interfaces for generative AI, adaptive and intelligent user interfaces, and interactive help and learning systems. My primary research approach involves designing, prototyping, and evaluating novel interactive systems. In the process, I employ quantitative and qualitative study methods, human-centered design, and data science techniques.

Selected Publications

See my CV or Google Scholar for a complete listing.

• Authoring LLM-Based Assistance for Real-World Contexts and Tasks
  Hai Dang, Michelle Li, Tovi Grossman, Kashyap Todi, Ben Lafreniere
  ACM IUI 2025 (to appear)
• MR-Driven Near-Future Realities: Previewing Everyday Life Real-World Experiences Using Mixed Reality
  Florian Mathis, Brad A. Myers, Ben Lafreniere, Michael Glueck, David P. S. Marques
  ICMI 2024 [38% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Body Language for VUIs: Exploring Gestures to Enhance Interactions with Voice User Interfaces
  Liwei Wu, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, Thomas White, Stephanie Santosa
  DIS 2024 [27% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Interactive Mediation Techniques for Error-Aware Gesture Input Systems
  Rawan Alghofaili, Naveen Sendhilnathan, Ting Zhang, Tovi Grossman, Michael Glueck, Tanya R. Jonker, Ben Lafreniere
  GI 2024 [41% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Exploring Visualizations for Precisely Guiding Bare Hand Gestures in Virtual Reality
  Xizi Wang, Ben Lafreniere, Jian Zhao
  CHI 2024 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Talk
• FrameKit: A Tool for Authoring Adaptive UIs Using Keyframes
  Jason Wu, Kashyap Todi, Joannes Chan, Brad A. Myers, Ben Lafreniere
  ACM IUI 2024 [24% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, HTML, Video

  Best paper award (top 2 papers)
• XR Input Error Mediation for Hand-Based Input: Task and Context Influences a User's Preference
  Tica Lin, Ben Lafreniere, Yan Xu, Tovi Grossman, Daniel Wigdor, Michael Glueck
  IEEE ISMAR 2023 [28% Acceptance Rate] Paper
• Detecting Input Recognition Errors and User Errors Using Gaze Dynamics in Virtual Reality
  Naveen Sendhilnathan, Ting Zhang, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, Tanya R. Jonker
  UIST 2022 2022 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Gaze as an Indicator of Input Recognition Errors
  Candace E. Peacock, Ben Lafreniere, Ting Zhang, Stephanie Santosa, Hrvoje Benko, Tanya R. Jonker
  PACMHCI (2022) [38% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Investigating Cross-Modal Approaches for Evaluating Error Acceptability of a Recognition-Based Input Technique
  Jay Henderson, Tanya R. Jonker, Edward Lank, Daniel Wigdor, Ben Lafreniere
  ACM IMWUT (2022) Paper, PDF, Talk
• TwoTorials: A Remote Cooperative Tutorial System for 3D Design Software
  Sultan A. Alharthi, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, George Fitzmaurice
  GI 2022 Paper, PDF
• False Positives vs. False Negatives: The Effects of Recovery Time and Cognitive Costs on Input Error Preference
  Ben Lafreniere, Tanya R. Jonker, Stephanie Santosa, Mark Parent, Michael Glueck, Tovi Grossman, Hrvoje Benko, Daniel Wigdor
  UIST 2021 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video, Talk
• PatchProv: Supporting Improvisational Design Practices for Modern Quilting
  Mackenzie Leake, Frances Lai, Tovi Grossman, Daniel Wigdor, Ben Lafreniere
  CHI 2021 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Workflow Graphs: A Computational Model of Collective Task Strategies for 3D Design Software
  Minsuk Chang, Ben Lafreniere, Juho Kim, George Fitzmaurice, Tovi Grossman
  GI 2020 [52% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video, Talk
• DreamRooms: Prototyping Rooms in Collaboration with a Generative Process
  Ariel Weingarten, Ben Lafreniere, George Fitzmaurice, Tovi Grossman
  GI 2019 [52% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Blocks-to-CAD: A Cross-Application Bridge from Minecraft to 3D Modeling
  Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman
  UIST 2018 [21% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video, Talk
• Maestro: Designing a System for Real-Time Orchestration of 3D Modeling Workshops
  Volodymyr Dziubak, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, Andrea Bunt, George Fitzmaurice
  UIST 2018 [21% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video, Talk
• ElectroTutor: Test-Driven Physical Computing Tutorials
  Jeremy Warner, Ben Lafreniere, George Fitzmaurice, Tovi Grossman
  UIST 2018 [21% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video, Talk
• Investigating How Online Help and Learning Resources Support Children's Use of 3D Design Software
  Nathaniel Hudson, Ben Lafreniere, Parmit Chilana, Tovi Grossman
  CHI 2018 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Leveraging Community-Generated Videos and Command Logs to Classify and Recommend Software Workflows
  Xu Wang, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman
  CHI 2018 [26% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Investigating the Post-Training Persistence of Expert Interaction Techniques
  Ben Lafreniere, Carl Gutwin, Andy Cockburn
  TOCHI (2017) Paper, PDF
• No Need to Stop What You're Doing: Exploring No-Handed Smartwatch Interaction
  Seongkook Heo, Michelle Annett, Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, George Fitzmaurice
  GI 2017 [50% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Crowdsourced Fabrication
  Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, Fraser Anderson, Justin Matejka, Heather Kerrick, Danil Nagy, Lauren Vasey, Evan Atherton, Nicholas Beirne, Marcelo Coelho, Nicholas Cote, Steven Li, Andy Nogueira, Long Nguyen, Tobias Schwinn, James Stoddart, David Thomasson, Ray Wang, Thomas White, David Benjamin, Maurice Conti, Achim Menges, George Fitzmaurice
  UIST 2016 [21% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Faster Command Selection on Touchscreen Watches
  Ben Lafreniere, Carl Gutwin, Andy Cockburn, Tovi Grossman
  CHI 2016 [23% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Peak-End Effects on Player Experience in Casual Games
  Carl Gutwin, Christianne Rooke, Andy Cockburn, Regan Mandryk, Ben Lafreniere
  CHI 2016 [23% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video

  Best of CHI honorable mention (top 5%)
• HandMark Menus: Rapid Command Selection and Large Command Sets on Multi-Touch Displays
  Md. Sami Uddin, Carl Gutwin, Ben Lafreniere
  CHI 2016 [23% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• These Aren't the Commands You're Looking For: Addressing False Feedforward in Feature-Rich Software
  Ben Lafreniere, Parmit Chilana, Adam Fourney, Michael Terry
  UIST 2015 [24% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• Testing the Rehearsal Hypothesis with Two FastTap Interfaces
  Carl Gutwin, Andy Cockburn, Ben Lafreniere
  GI 2015 [38% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• CheatSheet: A Contextual Interactive Memory Aid for Web Applications
  Layton Vermette, Parmit Chilana, Michael Terry, Adam Fourney, Ben Lafreniere, Travis Kerr
  GI 2015 [38% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Task-Centric Interfaces for Feature-Rich Software
  Ben Lafreniere, Andrea Bunt, and Michael Terry
  OzCHI 2014 [48% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Investigating the Feasibility of Extracting Tool Demonstrations from In-Situ Video Content
  Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, Justin Matejka, and George Fitzmaurice
  CHI 2014 [23% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF

  Best of CHI honorable mention (top 5%)
• TaggedComments: Promoting and Integrating User Comments in Online Application Tutorials
  Andrea Bunt, Patrick Dubois, Ben Lafreniere, Michael Terry, and David Cormack
  CHI 2014 [23% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Understanding the Roles and Uses of Web Tutorials
  Ben Lafreniere, Andrea Bunt, Matthew Lount, and Michael Terry
  ICWSM 2013 [21% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• Community Enhanced Tutorials: Improving Tutorials with Multiple Demonstrations
  Ben Lafreniere, Tovi Grossman, and George Fitzmaurice
  CHI 2013 [20% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF, Video
• “Then Click OK!” Extracting References to Interface Elements in Online Documentation
  Adam Fourney, Ben Lafreniere, Richard Mann, and Michael Terry
  CHI 2012 [24% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF
• AdaptableGIMP: Designing a Socially-Adaptable Interface
  Ben Lafreniere, Andrea Bunt, Matthew Lount, Filip Krynicki, and Michael Terry
  UIST 2011 Adjunct 2011 Paper, PDF, Poster
• Characterizing Large-Scale Use of a Direct Manipulation Application in the Wild
  Ben Lafreniere, Andrea Bunt, John Whissell, Charles Clarke, and Michael Terry
  GI 2010 [41% Acceptance Rate] PDF
• Perceptions and Practices of Usability in the Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) Community
  Michael Terry, Matthew Kay, and Ben Lafreniere
  CHI 2010 [22% Acceptance Rate] Paper, PDF