Dr David Loudon is a research fellow in the School of Design, The Glasgow School of Art. His main research interests are in information visualisation and 3d computer graphics applications. The focus of his research is in how to use visualisation techniques to unlock information silos by representing discipline specific data in accessible and understandable formats for other disciplinary audiences. His interests as a visualisation researcher extend to both the technical and conceptual issues of producing visualisations, as well as methods for their evaluation. He has an MEng(Hons) in Electronics and Software Engineering from the University of Glasgow and in 2010 obtained his PhD ‘Visualising biomechanical data for design and healthcare’ from The Glasgow School of Art.

David’s main role is as a research fellow on the envisage project, funded by the MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing programme. In this multidisciplinary project (partners including Strathclyde University Bioengineering Unit), the potential of using visualisations of biomechanical data to improve rehabilitation outcomes is being evaluated. David is developing novel visualisation software, which is being evaluated in five Phase 2 randomised controlled trials, investigating the effect on stroke patients, total knee replacement patients and fallers. David also has a role as researcher on the AHRC funded project ‘Visualising the invisible’, which is developing innovative approaches to visualisation to help NHS staff prevent and control Healthcare Associated Infections.

David has also conducted his visualisation research as research assistant on a number of completed projects: EPSRC EQUAL programme project looking at visualisation of biomechanical data for design; ESRC New Dynamics of Ageing programme project ‘envision’ evaluating visualisations for healthcare professionals, designers and older adults; and AHRC funded project ‘Living Canvas’, where a system was designed using machine vision to match the silhouette of the performer on stage and use them as a dynamic video projection surface