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VEUPL has two state-of-the-art research labs for running empirical studies of human-human and human-computer interaction:

Usability Lab

We have a state-of-the-art usability laboratory modeled after the usability labs at Microsoft Corporation, where Hundhausen worked for two summers as a usability engineer intern. Our usability laboratory consists of two rooms:

  • a participant room in which research participants can perform individual and collaborative work. The room contains a workstation (pictured below), rear-project SmartBoard system (pictured below), and a table that seats six. A tripod-mounted camera and wall-mounted camera can be used to capture participant activities from different angles.
Participant Room Workstation
Participant Room SmartBoard
  • an observer room in which up to four observers can watch participant activities and record data. The room is relatively soundproof, allowing observers to talk to each other in a quiet voice without participants hearing them.

Observation Room

The two rooms are separated by a one-way mirror.

View of mirror from Participant Room
View of Mirror from Observer Room

Communication between the two rooms is facilitated by a two-way intercom system. In addition, the lab is outfitted with the state-of-the-art Techsmith Morae software,which enables us to digitally record and analyze participant activities. Most often, we capture lossless renditions of participants' computer screens, and combine them with picture-in-picture views from one of the cameras.

Studio-Based Learning Classroom

We have a state-of-the-art studio space for exploring innovative studio-based approaches to teaching computer science and engineering. Our studio-based classroom consists of seven circular tables, each of which can seat four to five people. The studio is outfitted with 30 adjustable height chairs, which can be easily wheeled from table to table to support flexible seating arrangements. A ceiling-mounted LCD projector provides a large display of a computer screen at the front of the room. The display can be either that of the instructors, or, as is often the case in studio courses, that of a student or student team. Finally, the classroom is outfitted with 20 HP Tablet PCs, which, along with the projection system, were provided by Hewlett Packard as part of a Technology for Teaching grant that Hundhausen received in 2007.

Studio-Based Learning Classroom

 

Last modified by C. Hundhausen on 25 May 2009.