Call For Teachers
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The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) has the following vacancy PhD position on QUASID: Quantitative Spatial Interaction Design (V51.015)
at the User-Centered Engineering group, Department of Industrial Design.
The TU/e department of Industrial Design applies a unique, innovative
education model of competence-based learning, in which a professional
design environment is simulated. Apart from the central focus on design,
various areas of technology are an integral part of the curriculum.
These areas are: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering,
computer science, technology management and user-centred engineering.
Man as user is the starting point for any design activities. Our
Bachelor programme started in September 2001. Industrial Design is
building a research programme focused on the relationship between users
on the one hand and future intelligent products, systems and services on
the other. The main fields of research are 'Designed Intelligence' and
'User Centred Engineering'. In short, TU/e Industrial Design department
distinguishes itself through its unique education model, ambitious
research goals and an excellent working environment and atmosphere.
The research in the User-Centered Engineering group focuses on advanced
interaction concepts and user-centered design methodology. It takes a
constructive approach ("research through design"). The aim is to develop
interfaces that support natural interaction, both in the context of
single-user single-system interaction and multi-user multi-system
interaction and their cross-combinations. Main research questions are
what constitutes natural interaction and how it can be realized. Topics
that are addressed are multimodal interaction, perceptive interfaces and
aware environments. The research focuses both on developing new
interaction concepts and implementing them in prototypes, as well as the
connected design and evaluation methodology.
The project: QUASID: Quantitative Spatial Interaction Design - Tasks
and Metrics for Spatial Interaction
Although the experimental validation of spatial interaction techniques
is gaining interest internationally, many virtual reality researchers
still consider it an 'art' rather than a 'science'. In the design cycle
of spatial interaction techniques, which contains phases of concept
formulation, implementation and evaluation, the evaluation part is most
often addressed in a qualitative way, rather than being based on firm
quantitative evidence. In those cases where evaluation of spatial
interaction techniques is performed, the experimental set-up is usually
derived from ad-hoc assumptions about the relevance of the task, the
environment and other conditions that have an effect on the outcome.
This Ph.D. project is part of a multi-disciplinary project, called
QUASID, that consists of three related Ph.D. (sub)projects. The overall
project has two main objectives. First, to develop a more quantitative
approach to the design of spatial interaction techniques. Second, to
apply and test this quantitative approach in the design of new spatial
interaction techniques for mixed-reality desktop environments. The
proposed project therefore combines research at three complementary
levels:
1. at the methodological level, by developing classifications and
metrics that can be used in the
evaluation of spatial interaction techniques for desktop mixed-reality
environments (main focus of this Ph.D. project),
2. at the device level, by developing robust and effective methods for
creating tangible interfaces, and by evaluating the effect of the
physical shape of interaction devices on interaction efficiency and
effectiveness,
3. at the system level, by studying the usability of tangible interfaces
that are based on both (fully) manual and semi-automated spatial
interactions.
The latter two sub-projects have already been filled in.
Tasks
The QUASID project is multi-disciplinary, in the sense that both a
technology-oriented (computer science) and a user-oriented (human
factors) perspective are represented. More specifically, the goals of
this Ph.D. (sub)project are threefold:
1. To develop a taxonomy (i.e., a formal categorization) for spatial
interaction techniques in desktop mixed-reality environments. The
taxonomy will structure generic tasks, such as selection and
positioning, as well as more composite and specific tasks, such as
pursuit tracking and tracing.
2. To develop metrics, in addition to Fitts' law (i.e., time and
accuracy), that can be used as dependent variables to quantify
interaction. The specific goal is to explore new perceptual and
cognitive criteria for evaluating interaction, based on an existing
expertise in quantifying aspects such as coordination and subjective
judgements.
3. To develop a test-bed based on the taxonomy and the developed
metrics. The test-bed will be used to collect and document experimental
data, including all independent variables, such as relevant system,
user, and environment aspects, and dependent variables, such as
efficiency, effectiveness and appreciation parameters. Experiments on a
number of diverse systems will be conducted in order to verify the
validity and reliability of the test-bed methods.
The Ph.D. student will conduct his/her research project within the
J.F.Schouten School for User-System Interaction Research (see
http://fp.tm.tue.nl/jfschouten for more information). This project is
sponsored by NWO (Dutch National Science Foundation). The Ph.D. student
will be required to closely co-operate with the other two Ph.D. students
within the QUASID project.
Requirements
The candidate should have a MSc degree in one of the following areas:
human-system interaction, computer science, electrical engineering or
industrial design. He/she should be interested in both virtual/augmented
reality and experimental research, and able to co-operate in a
multidisciplinary team.
Appointment and Salary
We offer a position for a period of 4 years. PhD students will receive a
monthly salary of 1.813,00 euro in their first year, which will rise to
2.394 euro (gross) in the final (fourth) year. Eindhoven University of
Technology has an excellent package of attractive benefits for
employees, a child-care facility, and a modern sports complex.
Information
More information can be obtained from:
- about the position (including an extended project description):
Prof.dr.ir. Jean-Bernard Martens, phone +31 (0)40 247 5208; e-mail:
j.b.o.s.martens at tue.nl;
- further information: Ms. Julma Braat, personnel assistant, phone +31
(0)40 247 5883, e-mail:
j.a.c.l.braat at tue.nl
Application
Please send a written application, including a letter explaining your
specific interest in the project and extensive curriculum vitae, to the
following address, mentioning the vacancy code V51.015:
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
Department of Industrial Design
Attn. Ms. J. Braat, room HG 3.92
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
The Netherlands
E-mail: j.a.c.l.braat(a)tue.nl
Job applications can be submitted until December 23, 2005, but will be
processed on a first-come-first-serve basis (i.e., the first suitable
candidate will be selected).
