About US

The unifying theme to IS research is the study of systems that require 'humans-in-the-loop'. The research areas can be grouped into two inter-related areas: medical and rehabilitation technologies and interactive simulation (including virtual environments, intelligent human computer interfaces and telepresence). IS has also applied existing expertise to earlier work in mechatronics and active vision.

Future Plans

The Interactive Systems Research Group will continue to build on its close associations with the Psychology and research groups within the School - in particular the F23 research group Parallel, Emergent and Distributed Architectures Lab (PEDAL) and the CI group. Together with PEDAL the group manages a four active wall ReaCTor (similar to a CAVE) and is well positioned to investigate highly immersive haptics and virtual environments. Haptics research within Interactive Systems will explore representation of meaningful tactile and proprioceptive cues in synthetic environments.

The ISRG is also uniquely positioned to explore medical and rehabilitation uses of technology with other research groups in the University, and in the local region. Existing links to hospitals in the region, in particular the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and the Salisbury district hospital will provide required feedback from clinical and healthcare professionals. The Universities research initiative to establish an Institute of Health Sciences gives further access health professionals and to a database of elderly subjects.