Mobile visualization of running activity

Looking for: PhD Student

While the field of data visualization has made tremendous progress regarding how to best represent data on computer screens, large screens, and wall screens, the research community knows little regarding how to best visualize data on very small screens. While smartphones, smartwatches and other personal, wearable devices are becoming ubiquitous, we need to better understand how to represent data on these small displays, how people can interact with these visualizations, and in which contexts they use these devices and visualizations.

In this research you will look at the particular case of visualizing sports data on personal wearable devices. Specifically, you will research how to enhance the experience of runners through appropriate real-time data representations of performances. Running, like many other competitive activities, is an intense activity in which one cannot rely on complete focus and full cognitive abilities from the runner; arms are moving at a fast pace; and span of attention is very short. In this particular context, standard guidelines for designing visualizations likely do not apply. You will apply the human-centered design process to uncover the needs of runners in terms of visualization on their small devices, design prototypes of visualization software for such devices, and study these prototypes.

Requirements/Skills

Visual Design; Programming (hardware and software); Study design and data analysis; (Running)

Contacts and Instructions

Contact Charles Perin (cperin@uvic.ca) if you are interested in the position.

Send me an email with your (unofficial) transcripts, a blurb about yourself, why you are interested in this topic and why you think you are qualified.