The Human Interface Technology Lab NZ (HIT Lab NZ) ( mi, Hangarau Tangata, Tangata Hangarau ) is a research centre in the Faculty of Engineering at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

, in the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

of New Zealand. Primarily the research undertaken fits within the ANZSRC Type of Activity ''applied research'' category. HIT Lab NZ also teaches two postgraduate research degrees, a PhD degree and a research Masters, both in the field of Human Interface Technology.

Research

HIT Lab NZ undertakes applied research with a focus on human interface technology and in particular,

virtual reality Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), educ ...

augmented reality Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content. The content can span multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory. AR can be de ...

and applied immersive games. Its research mission is to "support and empower people through the study, invention, development and dissemination of knowledge, technologies and processes that solve human interface technology problems and have a positive social impact in a globally-aware context." Applied Immersive Games became a research focus for HIT Lab NZ in 2019 when the University established the Applied Immersive Gaming Initiative (AIGI) with a matching grant of $7.7 million from the TEC Entrepreneurial Universities Fund.

History

HIT Lab NZ was established in 2002 as a joint venture between the University of Canterbury, the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...

, and the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC). Professor Tom Furness, was a key member of the establishment team having set up the original HIT Lab at Seattle's University of Washington, and

Mark Billinghurst Mark Nathan Billinghurst is a computer interface technology researcher. His work focuses on augmented reality (AR) technology. Billinghurst was made a Fellow of the IEEE in 2023. Education Billinghurst completed his school education at the New ...

was appointed as Director. The research centre was officially opened by Jim Anderton on 17 February 2003 in the Old Maths Building,

and relocated to the

NZi3 The NZi3 Innovation Institute is a partnership between the New Zealand government and the University of Canterbury. It was formed in 2006 to commercialise the university's IT research and to develop high-tech industry in Canterbury. A large eco ...

building (later renamed as the

John Britten John Kenton Britten (1 August 1950 – 5 September 1995) was a New Zealand mechanical engineer who designed a world-record-setting motorcycle with innovative features and materials. Biography John Britten was born to Bruce and Ruvae Britten in C ...

Building) after the Christchurch earthquakes. From its establishment, HIT Lab NZ has provided research supervision and teaching to graduate students enrolled in departments across the University of Canterbury who conducted their research in the lab. From 2011 students have been able to enrol in a PhD in human interface technology at HIT Lab NZ, and from 2012, a Master of Human Interface Technology (MHIT).

Directors

* 2002–2015 Professor

* 2015–2018 Ken Beckman * 2019–present Professor Rob Lindeman

References

{{Reflist

External links

HIT Lab NZ
University of Canterbury Research institutes in New_Zealand 2002 establishments in New Zealand