Master of Human Interface Technology

Project Outline

The objective of this project is to develop a mobile software application that enables grazers to assess biomass across their pastures for technology enabled precision grazing management. The app will take input from an Active Optical Sensor (AOS) and convert the reading into a biomass value based on a mathematical model and calibration, so that the grazers could manage the grazing based on its value. The application will allow users to choose different calibration information of the mathematical model to reflect temporal and spatial context of the use, or even develop their own calibration and share with other users through a server. The application will need an intuitive and easy to use user interface so that the novice end users could easily learn and use the tool.

The Master of Human Interface Technology (MHIT) student will take a role in the project of designing, implementing and evaluating the user interface of the app, as a part of his/her Master thesis. Throughout the project, the student will apply the knowledge of the human interface design, prototyping, and evolution techniques learned and acquired from taking the course of the MHIT programme. The outcome of the project (user interface) will be integrated with other functional software modules developed by research collaborators, and with close collaboration with industrial partners, there will be opportunities of gathering feedback from end users in the farming industry.

Skills Needed: The student should have good knowledge and skill in software development including software design and programming (preferably in Java or C++). Previous experience in mobile application development (e.g. Android or iOS) and/or web development would be beneficial, but not mandatory.
Value: NZD$12,000 p.a (MHIT Fees) Approx. ￡6000 p.a
Company: CRCSI (Australia)

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £6000p.a

Eligibility

The student should have good knowledge and skill in software development including software design and programming (preferably in Java or C/C++). Previous experience in mobile application development (e.g. Android or iOS) and/or web development would be beneficial, but not mandatory.

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17

Find out more

This project will involve researching how to use depth sensors to capture natural gesture input for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces, and methods for supporting natural gesture interaction. Recently a number of depth sensors have become commercially available, such as the Microsoft Kinect or Intel RealSense camera. Several research groups have show how these sensors can be mounted on head mounted displays and used to allow people to interact with virtual content in AR and VR applications using their bare hands. This project will try to reproduce this work, but extend it by using more accurate hand tracking and more natural gesture interaction. This part of a bigger project being conducted by a consortium of Korean and New Zealand universities to develop cinematic AR and VR experiences. The company partners for the project are the special effects company Weta and immersive film company 8i.

Skills Needed: Unity3D or Ureal Engine development experience is desirable, interest in Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality, C/C++ Programming experience, Computer Vison experience, Interest in user interface development
Value: $24,000
Company: Weta (NZ)

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £12,000p.a

Eligibility

Skills needed: Unity3D or Ureal Engine development experience is desirable, interest in Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality, C/C++ Programming experience, Computer Vison experience, Interest in user interface development

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17

IkeGPS (see https://ikegps.com/ has development the Spike hardware and software that makes it easy for users to measure distances and areas using their mobile phone or tablet. This project will how to improve the user experience from unboxing the device and installing the software, to making measurement. This will include looking at the user experience of measuring distances and areas on photos taken with the mobile device, and providing initial tutorials and learning experiences for the user, such as using tool tips. The project will include evaluating the current interface and suggesting improvements that can be included in the next interface. The interface concepts should be evaluated with a rigorous user evaluation and analysis of behaviour. Part of the project will also include improving the user experience through the measurement screen and working on the mathematics behind the alignment process that aligns the virtual content with the real world. This is an exciting opportunity to significantly improve the user interface of a device that will have a big impact in the market.

Skills Needed: Some familiarity with user interface development, mathematics, interest in user evaluation.
Funding: $10,000 NZD
Company: IkeGPS

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £5000p.a

Eligibility

Skills Needed: Some familiarity with user interface development, mathematics, interest in user evaluation.

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17

IkeGPS (see https://ikegps.com/ has development the Spike hardware and software that makes it easy for users to measure distances and areas using their mobile phone or tablet. One of the applications for this technology is in the power and utilities industries where people want to capture their assets. This project will explore how several photographs of a utility pole, with associated range data, could be combined together to create a 3D model of the pole (or other asset). The focus of the project will be on the power industry, but the application developed could also be used in other industries such as telecommunications, or water utilities. It could also be extended to creating building models from several pictures of buildings, or similar applications. The project will involve developing the algorithm for 3D model creation run on a server, but also the user interface that will provide information back to the user, such as if they have enough picture coverage to create a 3D model. Overall, the project should provide insight into how details can be extracted from the photos people take and value added.

Skills Needed: Computer vision experience, mathematics, interest in user interface/user experience
Funding: $10,000 NZD

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £5000p.a

Eligibility

Skills Needed: Computer vision experience, mathematics, interest in user interface/user experience

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17

IkeGPS (see https://ikegps.com/ has development the Spike hardware and software that makes it easy for users to measure distances and areas using their mobile phone or tablet. The existing software focuses on measuring the area of flat surfaces, however in many cases the user will have a pile of material that they want to estimate the volume of. For example, knowing the volume of a pile of gravel, or an irregular stack of boxes. This project will explore how photogrammetry techniques can be used to estimate volume from several pictures and range measurements. The project will involvement developing the computer vision techniques and mathematics necessary to calculate volume from images, and also the user interface that will allow a user to do it in an interactive manner. The overall problem being solved is the being able to answer the question “What is the size of that pile?”.

Skills Needed: Computer vision experience, photogrammetry, mathematics, interest in user interface/user experience
Funding: $10,000 NZD
Company: IkeGPS

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £5000p.a

Eligibility

Skills Needed: Computer vision experience, photogrammetry, mathematics, interest in user interface/user experience

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17

The HIT Lab NZ is collaborating with the Communication Disorders Department and the NZILBB on a cross-linguistic research in acquired communicative disorders. The specific goal is to create a prototype for a cross-linguistic audio-visual corpus of dysarthric speech. We are developing a website and app for participants to upload their own speech recordings. These will then be analysed using existing ASU and NZILBB metrics. What is needed is a user-friendly interface for the website/app. The design should be visually-appealling and easy to use that can be accessed by registered users.

This scholarship is associated to the Masters in Human Interface Technology Program (MHIT). The student will work on this project as part of his/her thesis.

Amount:
$13,700 NZD

Supervisors:
Dr. Christoph Bartneck, Dr. Megan McAuliffe

Value of Scholarship(s)

Approximately £7000 p.a

Eligibility

This scholarship is associated to the Masters in Human Interface Technology Program (MHIT). The student will work on this project as part of his/her thesis.

Application Procedure

Applications will be only accepted via HITLab NZ official Website.
Apply at: http://hitlabnz.org/index.php/jobs/posting?id=17