BEng, MSc (IT), PhD (Human Factors).
Research Interests
Dr Gary Burnett is an Associate Professor in Human Factors/Ergonomics within the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham. He has been investigating the human-focussed design and evaluation issues for in-car computing devices since 1992, working initially at the Human Sciences and Advanced technology (HUSAT) Research Institute at Loughborough University, and more recently (since July 2000) at the University of Nottingham. His PhD thesis concerned the design of novel user-interfaces for in-car navigation systems and was shortlisted for the prestigious BMW scientific award in 1999 (reaching the last 6 of approximately 150 theses).
Dr Burnett’s primary interests concern: the impacts (in terms of safety, efficiency, comfort, etc.) of in-car computing devices on the driver; the potential for novel user-interfaces in a driving context; and the methods and measures most appropriate for use in the design and evaluation process for such technology. Dr Burnett’s research has been particularly linked with industry and he has been funded recently by Honda R&D Europe Ltd, Jaguar Cars Ltd, the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) Ltd and the Highways Agency. Projects have concerned a range of topics, such as the development of gesture-driven user-interfaces within cars, methods for predicting driver distraction with in-car devices and the factors that influence the validity of driving simulators as human factors research tools.
Current Projects
- Design and evaluation of in-car controls (funded by Honda R&D Europe Ltd).
- Occlusion as a means of evaluating in-car systems (funded by the Department of Transport).
Publications, Conference Papers
Recent papers:
Burnett, G.E. (2009) On-the-move and in your car: An overview of HCI issues for in-car computing, International Journal of Mobile Human-Computer Interaction, 1(1), 60-78
Oliver, K. and Burnett, G.E. (2008) Learning-oriented Vehicle Navigation Systems: A Preliminary Investigation in a Driving Simulator, In Proceedings of ACM conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction, Held in Amsterdam, September 2008.
Burnett, G.E., Irune, A. and Mowforth, A. (2007) Driving simulator and validity: How important is it to use real car cabins? Advances in Transportation Studies, 2007 special issue, 33-42
Pettitt, M.A., Burnett, G.E., and Stevens, A. (2007) An extended Keystroke Level Model (KLM) for predicting the visual demand of in-vehicle information systems. In Proceedings of ACM conference on Computer-Human-Interaction (CHI), Held in San Jose, California, May 2007. ACM Press
Burnett, G.E., Lomas, S.M., Mason, B., Porter, J.M. and Summerskill, S.J. (2006) Writing and Driving: An assessment of handwriting recognition as a means of alphanumeric data entry in a driving context. Advances in Transportation Studies (2005 Special Issue), pp. 59-72.
Burnett, G.E., Summerskill, S.J., and Porter, J.M. (2004) On-the-move destination entry for vehicle navigation systems: Unsafe by any means? Behaviour and Information Technology 23(4), 265-272For a full list of publications visit this page.
Other Activities
Invited member of the following standards groups:
- BSI EPL/278/-/234 Man-Machine Interfaces, the UK ‘watch group/expert panel’ for standards relevant to the Human Factors of in-car technology.
- ISO TC22/SC13/WG8 Ergonomics for Road Vehicles.
Research we are doing was recently publicised in the Tonight with Trevor MacDonald ITV programme (May 2006) and on the Research TV Web site (www.research-tv.co.uk/stories/society/satnav/bb/)
Contact Details
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:www.virart.nottingham.ac.uk/GBurnet.html
Tel: +44 (0)115 951 4030