Ben Bauer
Associate Professor
M.A., Ph.D. (University of Waterloo)
Office: Durham GTA A177
Phone: 905-435-5102 ext. 5037
Email: benbauer@trentu.ca
Webpage:
Research interests:
My research interests fall under the rubric of Human Vision Science and its Applications. At the basic level, I study human vision and attention. The goal of this area of research is to identify properties of visual objects that allow them to be found efficiently (accurately and rapidly) in cluttered visual scenes. Using these properties I am validating a simple decision-rule model for visual detection. Practical applications of the model are location and tracking of symbology on visual displays, conspicuousness and camouflage for objects in various environments and image compression.
The second area of work is the application of Human Factors principles to specification and design of telecommunication networks and devices. The goal here is to provide clear human-factors-based targets to designers so that the user-visible impacts of chaotic packet networks are minimized. The first task is to create a common language and understanding of the problem and the opportunities, followed by empirically validated guidelines.
Students should have taken PSYC 225H and 366H.
Suggested course for Human Factors focus: (Computer Science/Studies) COST 396.
Teaching:
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PSYC 2400H-A FA OSH: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
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PSYC 3460H-A FA OSH: Sensation and Perception
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PSYC 3430H-A WI OSH: Memory
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PSYC 3451H-A WI OSH: Psychology of Language
Selected publications:
Bauer, B., & Patrick, A.S. (2004). A Human Factors Extension to the Seven-Layer OSI Reference Model. http://www.andrewpatrick.ca/OSI/10layer.html
Bauer, B., Jolicoeur, P., & Cowan, Wm. (1999). A test of the convex hull hypothesis in visual search for colour targets.
Vision Research, 39, 2681-2695.
Bauer, B., Jolicoeur, P., & Cowan, Wm. (1998). The linear separability effect in colour visual search: Ruling out the additive-colour hypothesis. Perception & Psychophysics, 60, 1083-1093.
Bauer, B., & McFadden, S. (1997). Linear separability and redundant colour coding in visual search displays. Displays, 18, 21-28.