This facility supports faculty and graduate students conducting research in systems theory, environmental systems, control, optimization, and modelling and simulation. Equipment in support of these efforts includes six Unix workstations, three PC workstations and several X-terminals, that are all connected to the university Ethernet network, as well as a digitizer and a laser printer. A recently awarded equipment grant will allow this group to establish a network of computers that will be used to analyze complex mechanical and biomechanical systems. Particular interest lies in the design of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic cues that can be used to enhance human performance in virtual environments. There are four workstations in the USE-IT Lab that are used primarily for development work and user testing.
Current plans are to upgrade two of the workstations within the next two years.
The majority of user testing would be conducted at Electrohome's facilities in Kitchener. The primary machines available to the VIP research lab are a Sun Ultra 10 and a Sun Ultra 1 both running SunOS 5.5. Access to these machines is provided through one grey scale and four colour NCD X-terminals. The lab also has a HP LaserJet 4050 printer and a Mac PowerPC 6100. A Pentium III machine will be added shortly.