Career Advisor Symposium 201017 March 2010

Professor Young J. ChoiFounder, HIT Lab Australia

James RiggallHuman Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab)

School of Computing & Information SystemsUniversity of Tasmania

Human Interface Technology Lab Australia

• In partnership with the world-renowned HIT Lab US, University of Washington, Seattle, in conjunction with the HIT Lab NZ, University of Canterbury, Christchurch

• Shared goals of developing revolutionary interfaces that transforms how people interact with computers and improve the human experience

• First of its kind in Australia

• Under UTAS Launceston Blueprint Funds– Distinctive, national and international centre– Specialist teaching and research centre

Mission of HIT Lab Australia

• Building advanced human-computer interface technology that will unlock the power of human intelligence, improve quality of life and link minds globally

• Attracting local and international students to Tasmania

• To serve as an economic engine for Tasmania– Establishment of a HIT Lab Company to facilitate the funding of

commercial projects

• International collaboration in teaching, research and commercialisation, esp USA, NZ, China, Korea

HIT Lab Australia

• HIT Lab AU is to introduce cutting-edge visualisation, immersive virtual reality and augmented reality technologies which will underpin many high quality collaborative training & education, research & development programs and commercial development

• Focus on design, creative arts, simulation and training, interactive entertainment and games

• Trans-disciplinary studies, research and projects involving Computing, Visual & Performing Arts, Architecture & Design, Nursing & Rural Health, Human Movement, Education, Aquaculture & Fisheries, Maritime Simulation at AMC, …

HIT Lab Foundation Technologies

• Virtual Reality (VR) allows a user to interact with computer simulated environment, be it real or imagined one

• Augmented Reality (AR) is the combination of real world and computer generated objects

• Mixed Reality (MR) where 3D computer generated objects inter-mingle with real-life world

• Magic Book technology allows readers to read through a viewfinder and “crawl” into virtual worlds

• Head Mounted Eyewear (Goggles)

Reality – Virtuality Continuum

Mixed Reality

RealEnvironment

AugmentedReality (AR)

AugmentedVirtuality (AV)

VirtualEnvironment

Application Areas

• In many fields requiring users to have virtual sensory experience without actually being in the situation or augmenting physical environment with virtual objects

• Interactive entertainment & theatre, including animation, film

• Next generation games • Design & Architecture• Medical treatment & Healthcare• Mining, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Environmental areas• Simulation (eg nursing and bridge simulators)• Training & Education

HIT Academic Programs

• First and Only kind in Australia• Undergraduate Major in Human Interface Technology

(2009)• Postgraduate Programs and PhD

– Honours in HIT (2009)– Graduate Certificate in Creative Media Technology (2010)– Graduate Diploma in Creative Media Technology (2010)– Master of Creative Media Technology (2010)

• A 2-year conversion master program

– PhD in HIT (2009)

• University College option for Year 11 & 12 (2010)

HIT Program Structure

• Introductory– Introduction of Creative Media Technologies

• Intermediate– Introducing contents using Interactive Entertainment

• Advanced– Building Immersive Virtual Worlds– Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Interactive Entertainment

• No pre-requisites, require no previous computing study and are available to students with any background

International Collaboration in Teaching

• Professor Tom Furness– Foundation Director, HIT Lab US, University of Washington– Known as “Grandfather” of Virtual Reality

• Professor Mark Billinghurst– Director, HIT Lab NZ, University of Canterbury– Inventor of Magic Book technology

• Wanda Gregory– Former Group Product Manager, Xbox Platform/Live, Microsoft– Creative Director

• Barbara Mones– Animation expert from University of Washington– Story teller

• HIT Lab AU academics

Student Profile in First HIT Lab Unit

• Bachelor of Computing and Bachelor of Information Systems• Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Teaching• Bachelor of Arts• Bachelor of Science• Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Fine arts and Music)• Bachelor of Environment Design (Architecture and Interior Design)• Bachelor of Business• Master of Information Technology• Maritime Studies coordinator, AMC• Nursing staff

Multi-Disciplinary Studies

HIT Course Structure

• Bachelor of Computing with a HIT Major• Any Bachelor degree program with a HIT Major, a HIT Minor, or

Electives

• Graduate Certificate/Diploma and Master in Creative Media Technology– For teachers and Graduates of any degree program

VisionSpace Studio

• VisionSpace Studio constructed

• A three-screen immersive stereo projection system that enables groups of people to view and intuitively interact with a computer-generated world, as if it were real

• Immersive Virtual Reality studio

Career Prospects

• Spin-off companies

• Specialist in mixed reality technology– visualisation expert, virtual world designer, simulation

expert, interaction designer, researcher, entrepreneur …

• Combining cutting-edge technologies with your own background or expertise– scientist, researcher, performing artist, creative designer

and producer, teacher, sport trainer, engineer, architect, interior designer, story teller, game designer, advertising, exhibition planner, tourism, theme park builder, animator, entertainment industry, psychology, bioinformatics, …

Contact Details

Associate Professor Aaron Quigley

Director, HIT Lab AustraliaLocked Bag 1359, Launceston Tas 7250

Email aaron.quigley@utas.edu.au