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Human Interface Technologies – (M.Sc.)
University of Birmingham
Department of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering| Location: | Birmingham / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | Anytime |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of University of Birmingham
The Human Interface Technologies Team, formed in 2003, brings together multidisciplinary researchers within the Department who focus on human-centred research issues related to future interactive technologies, including task and usability analysis, human factors integration, ergonomics, design and evaluation of advanced interfaces, user and open learner modelling and artificial intelligence in education.
Areas of expertise
Historically, the team's areas of expertise have evolved from the pioneering efforts of the Pervasive Systems Research Group. From the delivery of educational material via domestic appliances to the distribution of spatial information in forensic archaeology, there are countless human-centred applications waiting to benefit from pervasive computing. Human factors issues are crucial to the success of pervasive computing, helping to ensure that the component technologies – be they portable, wearable or embedded in familiar, everyday objects and equipment – are not only dependable and adaptable to all situations of use, but are also intuitive and non-invasive to the many thousands of potential users. Members of the team have also been instrumental in forming a new UK initiative – Learner Modelling for Reflection (LeMoRe) – together with the Universities of Glasgow and Leeds.
The aims of LeMoRe are to advance the theoretical study and the application of approaches to opening the learner model to learners and others involved in the learning process, such as teachers and peers. In doing this, researchers hope to promote an awareness of the potential of this field as a valuable contribution to building hardware and software solutions across a range of learning contexts, such as lifelong learning, training, school and higher education and in the understanding of pedagogical issues in resource-based learning, problem-based learning, instruction and assessment-based learning.
The team also has a particular interest in virtual or synthetic environments, in particular the application of emerging games engine and web-sourced 3D modelling/run-time resources to real-world problems and the exploitation of VR, augmented reality and related technologies to applications in defence, health care, psychology and archaeology.
Contents
Key facts
Type of Course: Doctoral research
Duration: PhD - 3 years full-time; MSc by Research - 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Start date: Registration for PhD and MSc by Research study can take place at the beginning of any month
Research involvements
The team is involved with the international Virtual Heritage Network (and the Institute for the Visualization of History (and has been involved in such exciting projects as the Cuneiform tablet writing system study (and the reconstruction of parts of the North Sea basin as they existed (and were populated) over 10,000 years ago. This project combines the very best in VR modelling and run-time practice, using seismic survey data from the oil and gas industry for reference topography, but also introduces artificial life (ALife) – the propagation of fauna based on geographical, geological and meteorological knowledge – driven by microscopic elements (such as pollen) extracted from seabed core samples.
This research has been extended to include the modelling of complex marine ecosystems, as they colonise Europe's first artificial reef, the scuttled Royal Navy Frigate HMS Scylla. Working together with colleagues from the National Marine Aquarium, the Marine Biological Association, the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Limited, a dynamic virtual model of the Scylla is being developed. The relationship with these institutions has also recently been boosted as a result of the HIT Team’s collaboration with the new European Centre for Environment & Human Health. The Team is undertaking a unique research programme addressing the exploitation of virtual rural scenarios to achieve similar positive mental health and well-being effects to those found when exposing individuals to their real-world counterparts. The project, called VRET (Virtual Restorative Environment Therapy), sets out to model forested and coastal regions and to investigate the importance of visual, auditory and olfactory fidelities on a range of subjective and objective (psychophysiological) parameters.
The team is also involved in a large-scale 12-partner Eurpoean FP7 project, leading the work on learner modeling for 21st Century skills, aimed at school-level stakeholders. It has a strong focus on formative assessment and feedback, and supporting teachers’ decision-making in the classroom.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
* The normal entrance requirements for MPhil or PhD study are a first degree of at least good UK upper second-class Honours standard, an appropriate standard of English and adequate financial support.
* The requirements also allow for entry based on comparable ability, as indicated by a good UK MSc performance or a lower first degree performance plus substantial relevant experience.
* IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band.
* TOEFL 550 Paper- based test / 213 Computer-based test.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade A (Score: 80) |
Ask a Question
You can contact Professor Bob Stone to ask a question about Human Interface Technologies at University of Birmingham.
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