The director of the Universal Usability Laboratory is Dr. Jonathan Lazar. While the lab was formally created in May, 2003, it is based on a research group that Dr. Lazar has led since January 2002. The lab is located on the 4th floor of the YR building at Towson University.The lab includes a number of assistive technology tools, such as screen readers, alternative keyboards, speech recognition, touch screens, as well as equipment for usability testing, including a separate room for observing participants in research studies.
Typically, the research at the Universal Usability Laboratory falls into one of three categories:
1. Theoretical research about how diverse user groups (primarily users with various disabilities) interact with different types of computer interfaces. Examples of this research include understanding what types of menu structures are optimal for blind users, what types of security features are optimal for users with Down syndrome, and what are the most frequent problems for blind users of screen reader software while using web sites, and how those problems impact on their mood and their work.
2. Web accessibility research that is designed to inform policymakers, by investigating the intersection of interface design and public policy. Examples of this research include investigating government compliance with laws related to interface design for people with disabilities (such as federal web sites, state web sites, libraries, and universities), and investigating the societal impact of inaccessible web sites and unequal accommodations, such as pricing discrimination and employment discrimination.
3. Based on real community needs, development and evaluation of new interface designs that are designed to be used by a broader population of users than existing designs. Examples of this research include more accessible security features and human interaction proofs, sonified weather maps for blind users, and improved web-based calendaring for blind users.
More information on the research is available on recent lab-related publications.
Faculty affiliated with the Universal Usability Laboratory include:
Dr. Suranjan Chakraborty
Dr. Joyram Chakraborty
Dr. Jinjuan Heidi Feng
Dr. Gabriele Meiselwitz
Dr. Brian Wentz (former student, new professor at Frostburg State University)
Students currently involved in research projects include:
Nnanna Ekedebe (doctoral)
Jon Holman (masters)
Ruimin Hu (doctoral)
Yao Ma (doctoral)
Abiodun Olalere (doctoral)
Theresa Matthews (doctoral)
Students previously involved in research projects include:
Aaron Allen (undergraduate)
Jessica Daniel (masters)
Kisha-Dawn Greenidge (masters)
Yan Huang (masters)
Adam Jones (undergraduate, masters, and doctoral)
Jason Kleinman (masters)
Chris Malarkey (undergraduate)
Yogesh Nagappa (masters)
Graig Sauer (doctoral--the lab's first doctoral graduate)
Jared Smulison (undergraduate)
Brian Wentz (doctoral--the lab's second doctoral graduate)