Establishing a Culture of User Centred Design
This project aims to support and encourage a culture of user-centred
design in the Smart Internet Technology CRC. It follows on from
the User Needs Project and continues to address the key question
of how can the intended outcomes of the technology programs best
meet user needs. The project assists with the design and implementation
of research in the technology programs, and focuses on demonstrators
and products with commercial opportunities. At the same time,
we maintain a vital UCD group so that we can reflect on the learning
that is taking place in linkage projects and continue our user
studies and methodological research.
The UCD project has three subsidiary objectives:
- To develop and extend linkages with researchers in the
technology and demonstrator projects and corporate partners
in the Smart Internet Technology CRC. Currently, the focus
is particularly on health, emergency services, and the IE,
SPA, and Smart Internet Technologies Architecture Projects.
- To continue to conduct user research as in input into the
technology programs and future demonstrators. The initial
focus was on SMEs (including professionals and e-lancers),
young people, and people with disabilities and other special
needs. We have since extended our focus to include older persons
in regional areas, university students and their experience
of e-learning and virtual communication; aged health care
providers and recipients, and underserved communities in developing
countries.
User studies will help identify areas where smart internet
technologies may be constrained or have particular opportunity,
due to likely responses of potential users. Examples of key
areas include boundaries of acceptable natural language interaction,
trust, security, privacy, accessibility, cross-cultural considerations,
organisational characteristics, and application requirements
for particular activities.
- To continue developing the UCD methodology, extending it
from the discovery phase of design to product development.
Here, we have two points of focus: 1) Translating use to design:
We will draw on our experience working with researchers in
the technology and demonstrator projects to reflect on the
two way process that is needed to translate user needs into
design. 2) Cross-cultural UCD: We will explore how the cross-cultural
use of UCD shapes and is shaped by the design of technologies.
This will ensure that we have a wide range of users and markets
in mind and will help address the gap in the literature between
the cross cultural use of ICT and the design process. It will
also help us to develop relationships with groups doing similar
work overseas.
For further information regarding this project,
please contact Supriya Signh supriya.singh@rmit.edu.au
Amivox
The Amivox project is an exciting collaboration between the UE
and NAUI Groups.
Building on the functionality of the InCA speech interface prototype,
the project will create a conversational, portable, multimodal
interface that provides a range of communication and information
services. The resulting technology is designed for mainstream
use but is expected to become a “killer app” for blind
people. In fact, the user testing and evaluation will be mainly
conducted with blind people who are expert users of speech interface
devices.
The project also promises to be a test-bed for multimodal interfaces
and will offer insight into people’s ability to cope with
multimodal interaction, in particular the ability to accept keyboard
and speech commands at the same time.
For further information regarding this project, please contact
Gunela Astbrink on g.astbrink@gsa.com.au
or Waleed Kadous on waleed@cse.unsw.edu.au.
Nymity
The Nymity project is a collaboration of the SN/IE, NAUI/SPA and
UE Programs.
It will investigate, design, build, and demonstrate secure, personal
information and identity management enabled devices that are interoperable
with each other and other Smart Internet entities, while allowing
control of anonymity and identity within a variety of networked
Intelligent Environments.
The project will also develop intellectual property in the area
of secure, personal information and identity management, focussing
on the security-related aspects of network infrastructures and
protocols, cryptographic key management and ad hoc wireless networks.
John Zic from Motorola will lead the project and Assoc. Prof.
Supriya Singh will coordinate the UCD Group’s contribution.
For further information about the Nymity project, please contact
John Zic on John.Zic@motorola.com
I-Care
The I-Care Project is a collaboration between the Smart Internet
CRC, Telstra Broadband Laboratories, Cpact Pty ltd (a care management
software provider) and care staff at an aged care facility in
Launceston.
The project focuses on implementing and evaluating a wireless
hand-held clinical care management system at an aged care facility
in Launceston Tasmania. It involves the use of personal digital
assistants (PDA) connected to an 802.11 wireless network, itself
linked to an ADSL broadband connection and Oracle server.
Preliminary project findings indicate that, at a technical level,
handheld devices can be used clinically within a health care environment.
The wireless / ADSL network infrastructure performed well throughout
the trial. At an organisational level, PDAs can assist health
professionals conduct professional services with minimal impact
on organisational workflow and business processes. At an end-user
level, the ability to improve the accuracy, quality and quantity
of documentation is a significant factor, which potentially leads
to more time spent with patients.
For further information about the I-Care project, please contact
Paul Turner on Paul.Turner@utas.edu.au
DRM
The aim of this project, which is officially called Securing Multimedia
Content Delivery, is to design and analyse systems, and develop
enabling technologies that are required for securing distribution
of any content, any time and anywhere'. It will consider scenarios
in which a mobile user moves between different environments and
seamlessly accesses rich media content such as video clips or
games, whilst allowing the content ditributor to control access
through a purchased "license".
A unique aspect of the project is putting the user at the centre
of
the design process and investigating legal, social and economic
implications of deploying digital rights managemnet systems for
users. In
particular the project will explore usage and legal expectations
of
users of copyrighted material, including fair dealing, personal
use
and educational use.
For further information about the DRM project, please contact
Rei Safavi-Naini on rei@uow.edu.au
Multiplayer Gaming
This project, which is officially called Immersive Audio Communication
For Massively Multiplayer Games, is a collaborative Smart Internet
project that will develop the immersive communication service
for a multi-player game.
The first stage will involve researchers from the SN program,
UE program (UCD team based at University of Tasmania) and Telstra’s
Broadband Laboratory who will explore existing modes of communications
in the multiplayer online gaming environment. By conducting a
series of end user studies it is envisaged that a number of themes
will emerge which will ultimately outline benefits, potential
difficulties and opportunities for immersive audio within the
online gaming environment. The outcomes of the user and interface
studies will be to build a set of personas and scenarios to aid
in the development and functionality requirements of the immersive
audio environment.
The second stage of the project will assess the technology with
selected gaming enthusiasts in the Launceston area. Telstra’s
Broadband Laboratory has already identified over 180 individuals
that have indicated interest in the online gaming arena. It is
expected that the broadband multi-player gaming trial will run
over several months to evaluate the technology. The trial will
provide an evaluation of the technology and key insights into
the value proposition, feasibility and the potential end user
market for immersive audio technologies.
For further information about the Multiplayer Gaming Project,
please contact Paul Turner on Paul.Turner@utas.edu.au
Architecture
Clive Boughton, Annette Vincent and Chris Johnson, all from ANU,
are developing the specification for a reusable architecture that
incorporates most of the Smart Internet technological and user
requirements. To do so we are applying an approach which begins
with the identification of the separate areas of concern that
typical Smart Internet applications must incorporate.
To aid in this process, it has been decided that the SWARM requirements
should represent (perhaps) a typical Smart Internet application
and in doing so develop the specification for the SWARM and the
architecture at the same time. Christine Satchell of the UCD Project
has helped initiate the construction of a specification model
by providing known SWARM system requirements. At this stage there
are still several requirements that need clarification, but the
team has managed to progress quite well nonetheless.
A different prototypical approach is being undertaken simultaneously
to help provide further input into both the SWARM and the architectural
requirements and also to provide a proof of concept concerning
the SWARM. Chris Johnson (who is currently on sabbatical at Sydney
University) is working with Bob Kummerfeld, Sam Holden, Waleed
Kadous, Claude Sammut, John Zic, Justin Lipman and (potentially)
Paul Boustead, to put together a prototype that can be shown to
users for their feedback.
It is hoped that members of the UCD project team will be approached
in the near future for input regarding user interface and ultimately,
system usability. Whatever requirements and architectural concepts
are derived from this prototypical work, will be included in the
specification for the Smart Internet architecture.
For further information about the Architecture Project, please
view the Detailed Project Description
or contact Clive Boughton on Clive.Boughton@anu.edu.au
Nightingale
Project Nightingale is an exploratory research project aimed at
helping Australia's aging population reminisce for social and
intellectual fitness. In line with the Federal Government's National
Health Priority Area (NHPA) initiative and National Research Priorities,
the exercise is a joint project between the National ICT Australia,
the Smart Internet Technology Cooperative Research Centre and
the University of Sydney and will explore the needs of Australia's
aging population and the role of smart wireless networks and pervasive
computing in memory sharing and reminiscing.
As Australia's Baby Boomers flood into the country's aging population,
reminiscing provides an important stimulant for mental and physical
health. Nightingale aims to discover how technology can assist.
New innovations such as pen-and-paper interfaces, an interactive
and collaborative DiamondTouch table and smart wireless personal
servers are all being harnessed to see not only how they can encourage
and capture memories, but how they can integrate with the users'
natural environment and lifestyle. By removing the need for the
PC, keyboard and mouse, the benefits of new technology can be
delivered in a more familiar and natural way.
Michael Coburn, a PhD student with the UCD Project is currently
working with members of Project Nightingale in an effort to integrate
new understandings about representation and interaction design
into their work. As part of this effort, a user trial will be
undertaken before the end of the year in order to examine the
usability of some new user interface devices for reminiscence
applications and other information environments.
For further information about Project Nightingale, please contact
Aaron Quigley on aquigley@it.usyd.edu.au
