School staff
Personal profile
'Understanding the user in real world design applications' is the fundamental underpinning to Sharon's research and is based on a first degree in Ergonomics and Business Administration which was naturally complemented by a Masters degree in Industrial Design.
Upon completion, Sharon secured a place within a Knowledge Transfer Partnership at Nottingham University from where she was seconded into industry to help in establishing a core team of ergonomists at the then Leyland DAF's Test Centre and Proving Ground.
Sharon's work encompassed considerations of comfort, usability and legislative compliance, first in conjunction to truck design and then broadening to a collaborative venture with Renault concerning minibus design.
In the early 1990's, Sharon joined Loughborough University to work as a transport specialist within an ergonomics research institute where her work has included: pedestrian and vehicle conspicuity, driver and rider vision, designing for road users with disabilities and the development of wearable simulations, , which re-create some of the effects of ageing and disability to support empathic modelling.
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Research - Much of Sharon's research focuses on the appraisal of national and European regulations enabling informed governmental policy decisions to be made concerning vehicle design.
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Consultancy - At a strategic level, Sharon has advised major vehicle manufacturers, such as The Ford Motor Company and Nissan, of the implications of an ageing driving population for vehicle design.
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Education - Sharon contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate lectures concerning Driver and Vehicle Ergonomics as well as those concerning designing for Ageing and Disability.
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Training - Using SKInS, Sharon has undertaken training within the education, health and finance sectors to raise awareness of challenges to everyday living faced by older members of society and those who are disabled by osteoarthritis.
Teaching
- DSC114 Disability, Ageing and Inclusive Design
- MPC109 Designing with Vulnerable Users
- DSC117 Driver and Vehicle Ergonomics
- DSP117 Driver and Vehicle Ergonomics
Research
Sharon is a member of the User Centred Design and the Design Ergonomics groups.
Sharon's major research areas include:
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Road user vision - Sharon has undertaken research for the UK Department for Transport in areas such as: accommodating visually impaired passengers; defining limits to screen tinting, abrasion and haze; investigating drivers' field of vision (blind spots).
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Conspicuity - Sharon developed the UK's first national livery for police vehicles which has been adopted by other UK emergency services as well as police forces worldwid. Sharon also developed the liveries for Highways Agency vehicles as well as amending ECE Regulation 104 - Retro-reflective markings for heavy and long vehicles and their trailers.
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SKInS (Sensory and Kinaesthetic Interactive Simulations) - Sharon has developed wearable simulations of ageing and osteoarthritis to enable those who do not have these conditions to empathise with those who do. Such direct experience can assist in raising awareness of their needs and so contribute to the improved design of products and services. The simulations have been used within industry as well as in the health, finance and education sectors.
Featured publications
- Hall, T.C. et al "How accurately does a simulation glove reflect function compared to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers?" Annals of Royal College of Surgeons. To be published.
- Marshall, R. et al "Design and evaluation: Real people and personas" Special issue of Applied Ergonomics. To be published.
- Cook, S. et al (2009) Understanding construction worker health. Conference CIB WO99 - Working together: Planning, Designing and Building a safe and healthy construction industry.
- Lawton, C., et al ''Postural support strategies of disabled drivers and the effectiveness of postural support aids'' Applied Ergonomics, 391, 1st June 2007, p47-55, ISSN 0003 6870.