Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

This ARTI project is the first of two planned phases. The first phase will focus on the development of our tools and AR&ED processes pertaining to UX design and evaluation within our current facilities. A second phase is planned to enhance our infrastructure.* We request funding to purchase tools that will enhance our capacity to perform user experience (UX) design and evaluation services that have been requested by our industrial partners. UX is a broad area comprised of research and practical methods spanning human-computer interaction, usability analysis, human factors and ergonomics, and user-centred design. UX design and evaluation methodologies are used to develop of products and services that people can use safely, easily, and effectively. Over forty years of research and practice has shown that proper utilization of UX methodologies is a necessary component of successful innovation.* UX design and evaluation services are critical to (1) helping our NSERC-IRCC partners and other organizations identify potential user interaction and problem-solving capabilities offered by new UX technologies; and (2) to helping them identify and address serious design challenges posed by new UX technologies. As new UX technologies emerge, AR&ED activities are also required to develop design principles for their effective use, including the identification of tolerances, design parameters, risks, and other unforeseeable design issues. NBCC-MU must have tools to maintain a vigilant and continuous program of AR&ED to help companies (1) invalidate new UX technologies or (2) validate and leverage them successfully within their product and service development programs. The tools requested in this proposal will help the NBCC-MU meet these needs.* The principal investigator (PI) for this project, William McIver Jr., is NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing (NSERC-IRCC) at New Brunswick Community College (NBCC).*