NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

Wave impact and scaling – better shipdesign and safetyOcean waves exert a variety of loads on ships’hulls. Accurately predicting these loads helpsresearchers understand the amount of load a ship’sstructure is able to withstand. NRC-IMD is workingwith DND’s Defence Research EstablishmentAtlantic to study hydrodynamic load data, usingnumerical simulations applied to a naval frigateand a vehicle ferry. The objective is to help shipdesigners meet requirements for maximumstrength with minimum weight and cost in 2001.Safer lifeboat evacuationand rescue researchAn NRC research program to evaluate lifeboatevacuation capabilities as a function of weatherconditions and to develop appropriate measuresof performance, moved into its final stages in2001-2002. Studies assessed the entire lifeboatlaunch process – from lowering and splash downto sail away – and evaluated the performance ofan evacuation system used on a fixed petroleuminstallation. As a result of this research, NRC hasapplied for a patent for a launch-wave synchronizingtechnology. The research will also be used inthe development of new performance-based regulationsfor evacuation systems.Advances in information andcommunications technologiesD i s c o v e r yThe information and communications technologies(ICT) sector contributes some $58 billion toCanada’s GDP and represents more than 6 percentof the total economy. In 2000, the sector employedover 580,000 people, nearly 4 percent of economywideemployment. ICT expenditures on R&Dreached over $5 billion in 2001, accounting formore than 45 percent of total private sector R&D inCanada. NRC’s R&D continued to play a vital, crosssectorrole in 2001-2002 with major advances inhardware, software, information processing, andfundamental enabling and next-generation technologies.Human-computer interactionprogram underwayThe NRC Institute for Information Technology(NRC-IIT) has set up a multi-disciplinary humancomputerinteraction (HCI) program, bringingtogether expertise in human factors, computingscience, information science, experimental psychologyand cognitive psychology. Research is nowunderway with the private sector, government anduniversities to investigate key issues in HCI. NRC isalso spearheading the initiative to form a nationalHCI research community. One project has alreadyresulted in the “Nouse” program, which allowspeople to use a camera to control a computermouse by moving their head. A number of prototypeapplications have been developed that havepotential for the gaming industry, persons withdisabilities and surveillance.17S C I E N C E A T W O R K F O R C A N A D A