About Me
How do we design online social platforms that encourage prosocial behavior? How does technology shape our beliefs? When are sociotechnical systems too effortless to be meaningful?
My name is Mateo and I am a Master of Computer Science student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. My passion for computer science is driven by a fascination of technology and a strong care for others. In addition to my HCI studies, I am the current president of the UIUC Philosophy Club and help Professor Geoffrey Challen with his Technology and Society course.
I am determined to start a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction in the Fall of 2026, where I can research and develop sociotechnical systems that encourage people to communicate and collaborate more intentionally and meaningfully. I am particularly interested in using friction as a design element in computer interfaces to encourage reflection, and I am eager to join a research group where I can collaborate on humanistic projects.
When I'm not studying CS or Philosophy, you might find me polishing my kickflips at the skatepark, on my CAT S22 flip phone, or practicing jazz exercises on my trumpet.
Research Interests
Sociotechnical Systems That Encourage Prosocial Behavior
I am deeply interested in researching and developing technologies support collaboration and prosocial behavior. At UIUC, I have taken several graduate-level research-oriented classes to further this interest, such as Social Spaces with Professor Karrie Karahalios and Advanced Social and Information Networks with Professor Hari Sundaram.
Designing Interfaces For Reflection and Intention
I am also very interested in how to design technology that supports personal agency, reflection, and effective choice-making. I have also taken graduate-level research-oriented at UIUC to support this interest, such as Computing and Wellbeing with Professor Koustuv Saha.
Publications
Campoverde-Fordon, M., & Andersen, B. (2023). "Analysis of LoRaWAN and NB-IoT for Critical and Massive Communication"
In The Seventh International Conference on Safety and Security with IoT (SaSeIoT 2023).
More publications coming soon...
Creative Projects
Outside of my academic research, I enjoy writing and creating digital experiences that meditate on our relationship with technology.
The Doomscroll Machine
To highlight our problematic relationship with short-form content and AI, I used Google Gemini to create The Doomscroll Machine. This combines philosophical ideas from Marshall McLuhan ("The medium is the message") and emerging AI technologies (Google Gemini).
The Difficulty Collective
The Difficulty Collective is a series of infographics that describes the benefits of friction and noise in sociotechnical systems. Drawing from biology, architecture, philosophy, and prior computer science research, I explore the ramifications of an incessant push towards efficiency.
Curriculum Vitae (Currently updating...)
Download CV (PDF)Contact
I am actively seeking PhD opportunities for Fall 2026 and am open to discussing potential research collaborations. Please feel free to reach out.