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Faculty

Carolyn MacGregorCarolyn MacGregor

 

Contact Information:

Office:   DC 2621
Phone:  (519) 888-4567 ext. 32897
Fax:     (519) 746-4791
Email:  macgregor
Lab : Usability and Interactive Technology Lab "USE-IT"   (E2 3367, ext 5607)
Website:  http://stargate.uwaterloo.ca/~useitlab/

Research Interests:

Dr. MacGregor's educational background combines degrees in psychology and engineering. She has been actively involved in human factors research and consulting activities since 1980. Since joining the Department of Systems Design Engineering in 1996, her main areas of academic teaching focus on human factors engineering, user-centred design, and cognitive ergonomics. As a discipline, human factors engineering is a blend of engineering, psychology, and kinesiology/anthropology. User-centered, or human-centered, design considers the capabilities and limitations of user(s) in the design of products (i.e. tasks, tools, and systems). The field of cognitive ergonomics strives to understand how humans process and manipulate information so that such understanding of limitations and capabilities can be applied to the effective design of tasks, interfaces, and systems. Listed below are Dr. MacGregor’s primary research interests.

Navigation and Manipulation in Virtual Environments and 3D Simulations:

Interactive computer simulations in the way of virtual environments, 3D CAD applications, and even 3D video games offer opportunity for learning how people navigate and work in 3D space. Such 3D computer simulations also offer opportunity to begin to train people for working in adverse situations without placing them in real jeopardy (e.g. navigating through fog or reduced visibility). A human factors engineering challenge lies in designing the user’s virtual environment experience through effective computer graphics, efficient user interfaces, and supportive computer peripherals that provide informative feedback (e.g. haptics) in order to maximize training and/or research goals.

Usability Testing and Human-Computer Interaction:

Usability testing, involving representative users, is fast becoming a key evaluation technique as part of the iterative design process. The goals of usability testing are to empirically evaluate the usefulness, effectiveness, and acceptance of a product at various stages of the design process. A wide variety of methods and protocols for usability testing are currently being employed in the area of human-computer interaction and interface design. Further research into the efficacy of the various methods should help to streamline the design process and make usability techniques more accessible to the manufacturing marketplace.

Pedestrian and Driver Safety:

While often taken for granted, crossing roadways as a pedestrian is actually a complex cognitive task that requires monitoring of the environment, detection of vehicles and other safety hazards, and estimating time-to-contact with moving vehicles. Understanding how we develop the skills to cross roadways safely is important if we are to design roadways and vehicles to help keep pedestrians safe. In addition, better understanding of the nature of human information processing as it relates to vehicular control, navigation and decision-making can help to improve the design of information displays for both within and outside of the vehicle in order to improve driver performance and increase safety for all road users.

 

Selected Publications:  

  • Andrews, G, Aplevich, D, Fraser, R, and MacGregor, C., (2009) Introduction to Professional Engineering in Canada, Third Edition. Toronto: Pearson Education
  • Iaboni, D. and MacGregor, C. (2009) VTrail: Supporting Trailblazing in Virtual Environments. HCI International 2009. 13th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, July 19-24, 2009, San Diego CA (to be presented)
  • MacGregor, C.G. and Steffler, J.R. Using a Competency-Based Approach to Assess Professional Development Skills. WACE’2009, 16th World Conference on Cooperative Education and Work Integrated Learning, June 23-26, 2009, Vancouver BC.
  • Smiley, A., Smahel, T., and MacGregor, C. (2008) An evaluation of parents’ understanding of the capabilities of teenage drivers.  Proceedings of  CMRSC-XVIII, Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference, Whistler, BC., June 8-11, 2008 (CD ROM).
  • Renwick, K. and MacGregor, C. (2007) Using modulated vibration to add haptic effects to a 3D computer input device. 38th Annual Conference of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists/Association canadienne d’ergonomie. Toronto: 15-17 October 2007.
  • MacGregor, C.G. and Carson, L.M (2005) Mentor Managed Design Challenges for First Year Engineering, Journal of Engineering Design and Innovation, Vol 1E (Engineering Design Education), 01E3, 10 pages (2 column). [JEDI is an web-based peer-reviewed journal] Date of acceptance June 2005
  • Gunther, R, Kazman, R., and MacGregor, C. (2004) Using 3D sound as navigational aid in virtual environments.  Behaviour & Information Technology, 23(3), 435-446.
  • MacGregor, C., Smiley, A., and Dunk, W. (1999) Identifying Gaps in Child Pedestrian Behaviour: Comparing what children do with what parents teach. Transportation Research Record, 1674, pp. 31-40.  [This paper won the D. Grant Mickle Award for Paper of Outstanding Merit in the area of Operations, Safety, and Maintenance of Transportation Facilities, U.S. Transportation Board in January 2000.]