On-Campus Research Facilities and Technology
Below are research facilities and technological resources available on the University of Minnesota campus. If you have questions about locating or utilizing these resources, contact the Research Division staff.
3D Cave
Contact:
Transportation Studies
Ted Morris
612-626-8499
Center for Cognitive Sciences
The Center for Cognitive Sciences is an interdisciplinary research center that serves as the foundation for research in the cognitive sciences at the University of Minnesota. Members of the Center represent 14 University departments and six colleges.
Contact:
205 Elliott Hall
(612)625-9367
cogsci@umn.edu
Computational Perception and Action Laboratory
Equipment includes: reach apparatus and a visual haptic testing station.
Contact:
Paul Schrater
(612)626-8638
schrater@umn.edu
Digital Media Studio
The SJMC houses one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the nation. The digital media studios consist of 52 Mac and PC computer workstations, all with the latest software for publication, web and digital video production and editing.
Contact:
10 Murphy Hall
P:(612)625-1847
digims@umn.edu
Engineering Visualization Laboratory
The Engineering Visualization Laboratory is a state-of-the art facility with a variety of workstations, personal computers, and software tools. The flagship machine of the laboratory is the Onyx Reality Engine, which is capable of generating 2 million triangular mesh polygons and 320 million textured anti-aliased pixels per second. A variety of video outputs can be generated, including broadcast quality PAL and NTSC, VGA and HDTV. The machine is capable of displaying 1920 x 1152 pixels of resolution. High-performance 3D graphics and multi-media-based tools can be used to enhance our understanding of materials processing, factory automation and robotics, and engineering design such as machine and mechanism analysis and design, thermal and energy systems, human-machine interfaces and biomechanics, and control systems.
Contact:
ME 305
Thomas Chase
P:(612)625—0308
trchase@me.umn.edu
HumanFIRST Program (driving simulator)
The HumanFIRST Program uses a multi-method approach to research using laboratory and road research facilities. The program houses a state-of-the-art driving simulator and has access to a variety of operational road settings for field studies. (Potential for testing outdoor advertising)
Contact:
Center for Transportation Studies' Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute
Dr. Nicholas Ward
P:(612)625-6446
humanfirst@me.umn.edu
Human/Machine Design (H/MD) Laboratory
Research in the Human/Machine Design (H/MD) Laboratory covers a wide range of topics related to the design and control of systems which interact with humans. Disciplinary areas include system dynamics and applied control, biomechanics and neuromuscular physiology of human movement, human-machine interactions, real-time digital control of dynamic systems, product design, product prototyping, and design education.
Contact:
ME 478
William Durfee
P:(612)625-0099
wkdurfee@umn.edu
Leadership Lab
The purpose of the Leadership Lab is to promote collaboration between researchers and organizations to improve the quality of work life for employees, with a special focus on effective leadership. Current research is aimed at understanding the ways in which leaders, managers, and supervisors affect employees' behaviors, attitudes, emotions, and motivation.
Contact:
Prof. Joyce Bono
Elliott Hall
jbono@umn.edu
Media Resources
Rarig Center
Video Production:
Billie Strand
P:(612)625-9044
bstrand@cce.umn.edu
Still Digital or Film Photography:
Nancy Johnson
P:(612)625-0898
njohnson@cce.umn.edu
Psychoacoustics Laboratory
Psychoacoustics is the study of the relationship between the physical characteristics of acoustic stimuli and the psychological experiences or perceptions that listeners have in response to those stimuli.
Contact:
N625 Elliott Hall
P:(612)625-8557
SJMC Focus Group Facilities
Ten-seat conference table with built in mics for audio recording of session. Dual view video cameras for video recording of session. Plasma screen wall-mounted display for presentation of video, websites. AV console with VHS, DVD, and computer. Eight-seat observation room behind the two-way mirror. AV recording station which controls the audio and video capture of the session. A reception/waiting room with table available for focus group participant check-in/registration and a catering kitchen with serving area, microwave and refrigerator.
Contact:
314 Murphy Hall
P:(612)625-0576
SJMC Usability Suite
Website usability laboratory with one workstation. Expected completed in 2005.
Contact:
314 Murphy Hall
P:(612)625-0576
Statistical Consulting Service
The Statistical Consulting Service provides statistical help for researchers at the University of Minnesota. Founded in 1972, the consulting service has worked on literally thousands of projects with University researchers. The Service also runs the Statistical Consulting Clinic, which provides statistical help for graduate and undergraduate researchers.
Usability Services Laboratory
Its purpose is to provide a state-of-the-art facility to serve research, teaching, and administrative computing objectives in human-computer interaction and user-centered design.
Contact:
B-18F Walter Library
Viral Content Analysis Program
Contact: David Fan
(612)624-4718
fanxx002@umn.edu
Vision Research Laboratories
1. Vision and Attention Lab
Contact:
Sheng He
Department of Psychology
sheng@umn.edu
2. Kersten Computational Vision Lab
In this laboratory, we are interested in how the visual brain arrives at interpretations of the retinal image that are useful for the decisions and actions of everyday life.
Contact:
Daniel Kersten
N13 Elliott Hall
(612)625-1337
kersten@umn.edu
3. Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research
The Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research is dedicated to understanding reading difficulties and other important visual problems encountered by people with low vision.
Contact:
Gordon Legge
N28 Elliott Hall
(612)625-4516
lowvision@gandalf.psych.umn.edu
4. Marsolek Visual Cognition Laboratory
We are interested in explaining human cognitive abilities—especially aspects of memory, learning, vision, and emotion—in terms of how the brain accomplishes them. We integrate behavioral research with computational analyses/models and implementational evidence to explain these abilities by reference to the architecture, functions, and interactions of the underlying neural processing subsystems.
Contact:
Chad Marsolek