PhD Study : Designing New Worlds: Design, evaluation and specification of user experiences within immersive technology environments

Summary

In recent years, immersive technology applications have become widely available.  Users have experienced a range of technology from cardboard VR viewers to higher technology AR/VR headsets.

There have been many reports of motion sickness and much content provides merely entertainment value. However, head-mounted displays have become untethered and are light enough to be worn for extended periods of time, see-through displays allow the user to remain in their environment while interacting with digital content. Until now users were mainly considered as passive observers of the environment and had limited ability to interact and directly manipulate the system.

An increase in popular interest raises questions about the use of the new medium for communication.

Research shows that this VR technology can be used for other areas, such as Healthcare.

Across Cardiovascular Medicine, many groups are taking advantage of these advances for education, pre-procedural planning, intraprocedural visualization, and patient rehabilitation.

Nevertheless, how do you design for something that has no established design guidelines?

How does a designer transition from flat 2D screen-based design to the 3D worlds of VR and AR?

How does a user engage with this environment while avoiding novelty and spatial distraction?

While there are many similarities to screen-based design, immersive worlds require thinking about the user in new ways.

Technical challenges exist due to graphics processing of stereo rendering, motion sickness and so on.

Research identifies the need for content standards (Routhier 2016) and most recently IEEE have established the VRAR Working Group towards this goal (IEEE P2048). Drawing on knowledge from other domains, the researcher will develop radical innovations which show promise for designing user experiences for immersive interaction.

They will work explore state-of-the-art user interface design and user experience and technology by exploring a range of innovative case studies for instance in Healthcare, heavy engineering and the Internet applications.

These proof of concept prototypes will be tested for user engagement, sense of presence and immersion using eye-tracking technology as well as more traditional usability testing, with a range of stakeholders.  These tests will lead to the development and evaluation immersive technology UX guidelines.

The project will be carried out at the Belfast School of Art.

This work relates to Future Screens NI, which is one of eight national research partnerships across the UK, funded under the AHRC Creative Clusters initiative.

It is envisaged that industrial or healthcare collaborations will support the development of this project.

Objectives

Specifically, we will:

1. Investigate the user experience of immersive reality platforms
2. Evaluate case studies where the technology has been adopted in Healthcare, Heavy engineering and the Internet, to understand and measure immersive effectiveness
3. Identify and evaluate a series of guidelines for designing immersive technology user-experiences.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living