Gesture-controlled interaction to enrich information access. This project is a study of gestural computing (enabled by sensors such as pressure mats, infra-red sensors and video tracking) which aims to move away from desk-bound, restrictive computing environments and towards computing that is more integral to the building structure and space itself. Linking gesture controllers and information sonification delivers a unique bridge between data and human interaction. Enriching the capacity to acce ....Gesture-controlled interaction to enrich information access. This project is a study of gestural computing (enabled by sensors such as pressure mats, infra-red sensors and video tracking) which aims to move away from desk-bound, restrictive computing environments and towards computing that is more integral to the building structure and space itself. Linking gesture controllers and information sonification delivers a unique bridge between data and human interaction. Enriching the capacity to access information in dense workplace environments is central to improved efficiency across the Australian workforce. Greater accuracy and enhanced techniques for controlling information in visually-overloaded work environments contribute to Australia's competitive leadership in a global marketplace.Read moreRead less
Beamforming with acoustic vector sensors for audio user interfaces. We aim to create new Audio User Interfaces (AUIs) for the automatic separation and annotation of audio from complex sound scenes using acoustic vector sensor beamforming technology. Specifically, we will develop: speech AUIs for noisy, multi-talker, reverberant environments; and sound transcription AUIs for the deaf. Ultimately, users will be able to walk into a room, hold conversations and leave with a searchable, automatically ....Beamforming with acoustic vector sensors for audio user interfaces. We aim to create new Audio User Interfaces (AUIs) for the automatic separation and annotation of audio from complex sound scenes using acoustic vector sensor beamforming technology. Specifically, we will develop: speech AUIs for noisy, multi-talker, reverberant environments; and sound transcription AUIs for the deaf. Ultimately, users will be able to walk into a room, hold conversations and leave with a searchable, automatically-generated transcript of the audio events, tagged with metadata. The application of these technologies will create new possibilities for recording audio in the music, radio, TV industries, and future home based audio communication systems.Read moreRead less
Broadcasting 3D Audio: Recording, Transmission, and Playback. With the current state of the art, a performance at the Sydney Opera House cannot be recorded and broadcast such that you can listen to it as if you are in the best seat of the house. The goal of our project is to develop the ultimate form of multi-channel audio broadcasting to create this experience. We will develop and implement effective systems for recording, broadcasting and playback of 3D audio in three different scenarios: indi ....Broadcasting 3D Audio: Recording, Transmission, and Playback. With the current state of the art, a performance at the Sydney Opera House cannot be recorded and broadcast such that you can listen to it as if you are in the best seat of the house. The goal of our project is to develop the ultimate form of multi-channel audio broadcasting to create this experience. We will develop and implement effective systems for recording, broadcasting and playback of 3D audio in three different scenarios: individual headphone reproduction; small loudspeaker array reproduction; and large loudspeaker array reproduction. We will create optimal recording techniques and broadcasting software for each of these playback techniques.Read moreRead less
Robotics for the Real World: A Museum Tourguide Robot. This project will develop a tour guide robot for deployment into a real-world situation: providing tours at the Questacon museum in Canberra. Previously developed tour guide robots have all been limited in nature, similar to one-off laboratory experiments. This project aims to develop a world first: a truly robust and autonomous mobile robot that is continuously in service. This is a vital area for the future of robotics and has potential ....Robotics for the Real World: A Museum Tourguide Robot. This project will develop a tour guide robot for deployment into a real-world situation: providing tours at the Questacon museum in Canberra. Previously developed tour guide robots have all been limited in nature, similar to one-off laboratory experiments. This project aims to develop a world first: a truly robust and autonomous mobile robot that is continuously in service. This is a vital area for the future of robotics and has potential for spin-offs. The project will also develop necessary research results in the areas of mapping of dynamic environments, demonstrable safety, human-robot interaction, robot robustness and reliability, and Internet-based teleoperation.Read moreRead less
Mobile spatial-audio telecommunication systems. We will develop an inter-personal electronic spatial-audio telecommunication system that works outdoors in a mobile environment. Talkers using the system will be acoustically aware of other talkers? locations because the communication channel is rendered as 3D audio. The system provides situational awareness useful during activities such as fire fighting, search and rescue, surveillance, audio/video teleconferencing. The research investigates syste ....Mobile spatial-audio telecommunication systems. We will develop an inter-personal electronic spatial-audio telecommunication system that works outdoors in a mobile environment. Talkers using the system will be acoustically aware of other talkers? locations because the communication channel is rendered as 3D audio. The system provides situational awareness useful during activities such as fire fighting, search and rescue, surveillance, audio/video teleconferencing. The research investigates system implementations using wearable computing with personal location sensors (differential GPS) and personal orientation sensors (hybrid gyroscopic/magnetic system). The work will result in fundamental data relevant to the development, testing and validation of a mobile telecommunication system with individualised spatial audio.Read moreRead less
Cross-Community Information Systems: Understanding Technology-Practice Fit in Healthcare. This project addresses unsolved issues of usability of e-health information systems across diverse stakeholder communities that need to coordinate to deliver the expected revolution in patient-centred health care. The project will help realise the Nation's large investment in e-health by improving the likelihood of system acceptance, thus making a significant contribution to facilitating the important insti ....Cross-Community Information Systems: Understanding Technology-Practice Fit in Healthcare. This project addresses unsolved issues of usability of e-health information systems across diverse stakeholder communities that need to coordinate to deliver the expected revolution in patient-centred health care. The project will help realise the Nation's large investment in e-health by improving the likelihood of system acceptance, thus making a significant contribution to facilitating the important institutional transformations expected of these systems. The timeliness, depth and breadth of the study will yield outcomes that will enhance Australia's research reputation. This project directly addresses the 'smart information use' and 'promoting and maintaining good health' national research prioritiesRead moreRead less
Understanding the impact of enterprise system use on system performance. To optimise organizational benefits, resource intensive enterprise systems must be appropriately used by all user cohorts. This study investigates the impact of system-use on system success. System-use patterns derived for all key user cohorts across the lifecycle phases will create management matrices to assist organizations maximise system-use.
Enhancing computer user productivity of integrated enterprise wide systems: an intervention study. This project addresses a critical issue in IT investment and productivity. Current theoretical models of user training and acceptance have not contributed to the effectiveness of implementing new integrated enterprise wide systems. This study will identify key indiviudal differences that predict user motivation to learn and utilize such systems under mandatory conditions. A longitudinal study in ....Enhancing computer user productivity of integrated enterprise wide systems: an intervention study. This project addresses a critical issue in IT investment and productivity. Current theoretical models of user training and acceptance have not contributed to the effectiveness of implementing new integrated enterprise wide systems. This study will identify key indiviudal differences that predict user motivation to learn and utilize such systems under mandatory conditions. A longitudinal study in two field settings will test the impact of selected interventions on task performance following training. The outcomes will inform Australian industry on models of effective implementation and provide guidance to increase the productivity of personnel using software systems.Read moreRead less
Humanising the Convergence of Information and Communication Technology. The convergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) enables delivery of multiple services by a single mobile device. Frequently ICT convergence is driven by the capabilities of the technology. However, if technologies are to be appropriated, that is enter into long-term use, they must be compatible with that use.
The University of Melbourne and Novell will establish a way of identifying opportunities f ....Humanising the Convergence of Information and Communication Technology. The convergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) enables delivery of multiple services by a single mobile device. Frequently ICT convergence is driven by the capabilities of the technology. However, if technologies are to be appropriated, that is enter into long-term use, they must be compatible with that use.
The University of Melbourne and Novell will establish a way of identifying opportunities for ICT convergence based on an understanding of appropriation. Our research project will examine the social and personal use of mobile ICTs by young people 16 to 22 years as the basis for understanding the human drivers of convergence.
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Automated Interaction Technologies for Mobile Hand-held Devices. This project is concerned with developing intelligent technologies that support human interaction through handheld devices, connected to wireless digital networks. Intelligent software assistants running on these devices will interact with one another in order to coordinate the activities of multiple users. Such automated coordination may facilitate scheduling of meetings, collaboration among different members of a team, and negoti ....Automated Interaction Technologies for Mobile Hand-held Devices. This project is concerned with developing intelligent technologies that support human interaction through handheld devices, connected to wireless digital networks. Intelligent software assistants running on these devices will interact with one another in order to coordinate the activities of multiple users. Such automated coordination may facilitate scheduling of meetings, collaboration among different members of a team, and negotiating conflicts that may arise between the activities of different connected users. This will enable context-dependent task support and coordination of workers involved in industrial applications involving mobility and dynamism.Read moreRead less