Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Science,
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK.
Tel. +44 (0)114-225-2907
Email: c.r.roast@shu.ac.uk
Interests
Student Projects
Final year or post-graduate projects linked with research projects and themes are of interest, including:
"Understanding how people use notations"
Empirically based analysis of notation use, and how notations and tools help or hinder their effective use.
(See previous BSc. projects of Reynolds and Bettle).
"Matching Mixed Values in Multi-Media Content"
Analytic or empirical work aimed at prototyping rich interaction techniques.
(See previous MSc. work of Evriviades)
"Temporal Issues in Interface Design"
Design and prototype system architectures and interfaces to limit the impact of the "world-wide wait".
Focusing upon the notion of "tunability" and "seamfulness".
(See previous project work by Matthew McNulty.)
"Software and Intellectual Property"
Review and examination of recent trends in Intellectual Property and patent law in relation to software within the UK and
Europe.
"Moonlighting Prototype Development"
(Contact: Chris Roast)
"Exploring cultural differences in web design."
(See previous work by Simon Harvey)
"Evaluating interaction design services and their markets."
(See previous work by Tony Arnold.)
Research projects
GIST
GIST is a novel mechanism to review the quality of largescale online material with specific emphasis on the quality of visual design. GIST supports informal quality assurance processes, especially where online material is generated automatically and/or via a third party.More about GIST
Enhancing Interactive Development Tools
This work is exploring methods and techniques to enhance interactive development tools that provide novel or advanced facilities for their intended users. The work is partly supported by ZOO Digital and has contributed towards the design of DVD-Extra Studio.Unencumbered Immersive Environments
"This research is focused upon the experiential qualities of interactive environments."More about Michael and his research.
Team members include: Michael Hohl, Simon Biggs and Chris Roast
The Evaluation of Integrated Electronic Assistive Technology Using Usage Logs
This research is to enhance the prescription process for assistive technology operated using single-switch interaction and scanning menus. Current research is focused upon methods for analysing usage logs that can inform clinicians about the effective uptake and adaption to specific assistive technology configurations.
Team members: Peter O'Neill, Mark Hawley (Barnsely District General Hospital) and Chris Roast.
Active Reading
"The Exploration and Development of Tools for Active Reading and Electronic Texts"The project is to prepare an e-edition of a Renaissance play which promotes an awareness of the editorial process through the use of dynamic interactive enhancements.
Some experimental examples
Team members: Lisa Hopkins and Geff Green
Research themes
My research is focused upon concepts and frameworks for exploring factors that determine the how humans react-to, experience and work with technology. In addition, my interest has recently extended to examining the creative design of human-facing technology.
Cognitive Dimensions
Thomas Green's concept of "cognitive dimensions" provides a framework of generic attributes which are relevant to successful notation usage. Inherent characteristics of the dimensions and their inter-relationships are poorly understood. The formal examination of cognitive dimensions supports the formulation of precise and comparable dimension definitions.
The team: Thomas Green, Babak Khazaei and Chris Roast
Temporal Issues for the Human Computer Interface
When using a slow interactive system, how can the user develop an efficient way of working? The concept of tunability provides one possible solution - the system provides sufficient cue's for the user to more efficiently exploit and accommodate the computational and communication delays. Providing a "tunable" system impacts both upon interface design and system architecture.Names: Chris Roast.
Some staff with related interests
Andrew Dearden
Babak Khazaei
Simon Polovina
Frances Slack
Bob Steele
Recent Publications
Chris Roast. Viewing visual web site design in context DUX 2005.
Chris Roast, Andy Dearden and Babak Khazaei. Enhancing contextual analysis to support the design of development tools. HCI 2004, September 2004.
Future Interaction Design A. Pirhonen, H. Isomäki, C. Roast and P. Saariluoma (Eds.) 2004, Springer, ISBN: 1-85233-791-5
Babak Khazaei and Chris Roast. The influence of formal representation on solution specification. Requirements Engineering, 2003.
Mark Hawley, Peter O'Neill, Linda Webb, and Chris Roast. A provision framework and data logging tool to aid the prescription of electronic assistive technology. Technology and Disability, 2(14), September 2002.
Chris Roast. Dimension driven re-design - applying systematic dimensional analysis. In J. Kuljis, L. Baldwin, and R. Scoble, editors, Proceedings of the 14th Psychology of Programming Interest Group workshop (PPIG 14), 2002.
Chris Roast. Virtuality for assistive technology experience. In S. Keates, P.J. Clarkson, P. Langdon, and P. Robinson, editors, Proceedings of the 1st Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology, 2002.
Chris Roast and Bob Steele. Using interfaces and liking interaction. In Helen Sharp, Jenny LePeuple, Peter Chalk, and John Rosbottom, editors, Proceedings of Human-Computer Interaction 2002 (II), 2002.
Chris Roast, Innes Ritchie, and Stephanie Thomas. Re-creating the reader - supporting active reading in early modern literary research. Communications of the ACM, 45(10), 2002.
Chris Roast, Peter O'Neill, and Mark Hawley. Improved assistive technology prescription via usage log analysis. In S. Keates, P.J. Clarkson, P. Langdon, and P. Robinson, editors, Universal Access and Assistive Technology. Springer-Verlag, 2002.
Full publication listGeneral
Take a look at usability newsAffiliations
Member of The British HCI Group
Member of IFIP Working Group 2.7 (13.4) devoted to User Interface Engineering (WG 2.7 (13.4))
Affiliated researcher with the CRUCIBLE (CRUCIBLE)
Chris Roast (5.2006)