Flexible user-guided network layout for biomedical applications. This project will develop techniques for automatic layout of biological network diagrams, allowing users to guide the layout while satisfying any required placement constraints and drawing conventions. As part of the project, these methods will be integrated into several real-world systems biology applications for network browsing and authoring.
Towards Invisibly Intelligent Appliances via Experience-based Computing. As computers become more pervasive, people will inevitably interact with a wide range of networked appliances. This proposal aims to develop prototype enabling technology to allow appliances to operate cooperatively and seamlessly with minimum human input - 'invisible intelligence'. Experience-based computing is the key concept underlying the technology. A prototype 'operating experience' will be developed to sit on top of ....Towards Invisibly Intelligent Appliances via Experience-based Computing. As computers become more pervasive, people will inevitably interact with a wide range of networked appliances. This proposal aims to develop prototype enabling technology to allow appliances to operate cooperatively and seamlessly with minimum human input - 'invisible intelligence'. Experience-based computing is the key concept underlying the technology. A prototype 'operating experience' will be developed to sit on top of existing operating systems that will allow appliances to join and leave networks, and interact with other appliances. Also to be developed are a modeling framework, language and methodology for specifying appliance behaviour, and allow learning from experience.Read moreRead less
Finding and exploiting interesting paths in multidimensional information spaces. This project will invent a new approach for searching within a large complex information space, finding interesting paths between points within the space, visualising the results, and supporting rich, human-centric user interaction with queries and results. This project will embody these techniques in a novel, internet-scale framework to support rapid development of large path search and visualisation applications. ....Finding and exploiting interesting paths in multidimensional information spaces. This project will invent a new approach for searching within a large complex information space, finding interesting paths between points within the space, visualising the results, and supporting rich, human-centric user interaction with queries and results. This project will embody these techniques in a novel, internet-scale framework to support rapid development of large path search and visualisation applications. Evaluation will be via development of several exemplar applications. The techniques and framework will be applicable to a broad range of economically important problems in areas as diverse as health, travel, scientific publication search, product marketing and software engineering.Read moreRead less
Software engineering of people-oriented technologies and services. This project will use role, goal, and activity modelling to improve technologies that enable older people in their homes to communicate with loved ones and support networks. The models will be evaluated to determine whether built technologies are indeed meaningful and helpful for the increasing number of older adults.
Assistive technologies for autism support harnessing social media. This project aims to tap social media to revolutionize early intervention therapy for children with autism. By creating open, extensible software for therapy delivery, and tools for parents to access high quality information and support, we will provide children a greater chance to achieve their potential and much-needed relief for parents and carers.
Sociophysical Interactions: understanding the role of social and tangible technologies in maintaining good habits into old age. How can technology help us 'age well'? The project will study, design and evaluate novel information systems that integrate and support social engagement and physical activity in order to build foundational knowledge about these technologies and maintain the opportunities for social engagement and physical activity in our ageing population.
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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Sonification for complex, mission-critical work environments. Human operators must often pay attention to an immediate task while monitoring background information, but intrusive alarms often capture operators' attention inappropriately. We investigate how continuous auditory information ("sonification") can provide low-level background information when all is normal, yet capture attention to abnormalities only when needed. The results of three experiments will determine the most effective combi ....Sonification for complex, mission-critical work environments. Human operators must often pay attention to an immediate task while monitoring background information, but intrusive alarms often capture operators' attention inappropriately. We investigate how continuous auditory information ("sonification") can provide low-level background information when all is normal, yet capture attention to abnormalities only when needed. The results of three experiments will determine the most effective combination of visual and auditory information delivery; how well sonification captures attention when needed; and whether sonification captures attention to deviations from expected changes. Our findings will help establish principles of attentional mapping that significantly extend current approaches to interactive systems design.Read moreRead less
Visualisation of large, complex networks through small, beautiful diagrams. Data is increasingly organised as networks. Visualisation is a key way to understand networks. This project plans to develop a new paradigm for this task. Using modern generic constrained optimisation techniques it will produce layouts for small graphs whose quality is similar to that produced by hand, something that is not possible with current approaches. These algorithms will then be used to visualise large graphs. In ....Visualisation of large, complex networks through small, beautiful diagrams. Data is increasingly organised as networks. Visualisation is a key way to understand networks. This project plans to develop a new paradigm for this task. Using modern generic constrained optimisation techniques it will produce layouts for small graphs whose quality is similar to that produced by hand, something that is not possible with current approaches. These algorithms will then be used to visualise large graphs. Instead of simply trying to visualise every node and link in the graph. The project will develop techniques to extract useful subsets or abstractions that are as small possible, yet sufficient to answer targeted queries. The techniques for producing small high-quality diagrams will then be applicable to presenting these focused visualisations.Read moreRead less
Assistive technologies for Autism support. Growing numbers of children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, leading to a massive financial burden on educational, medical and social service systems. This project aims to construct technological solutions to ease this cost with software frameworks for both children and parents. These novel tools and techniques address key issues: personalisation of early intervention, extension of interventions in alternate contexts, and parental support th ....Assistive technologies for Autism support. Growing numbers of children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, leading to a massive financial burden on educational, medical and social service systems. This project aims to construct technological solutions to ease this cost with software frameworks for both children and parents. These novel tools and techniques address key issues: personalisation of early intervention, extension of interventions in alternate contexts, and parental support through analysis of social media. The outcomes aim to include algorithms and prototype applications for flexible early intervention and support for parents and carers, including evaluation of the developed tools in real-world settings.Read moreRead less