Dr John McGowan

Biography	For my PhD at Edinburgh Napier University, my research involved the production and investigation of the use an interactive real-time audio visual tool to aid in music therapy for people on the autism spectrum. A prototype application, CymaSense, was successfully trialled with autistic participants in a 12-week study. Results indicated an increase in communicative behaviours. See cyma-sense.uk for further information. A new project, Stress Management Augmented Reality Tool (SMART) is looking at ways in which to assist people with autism in helping manage stress through technology. See the link below for Research Gate. I completed an MSc in Animation and Visualisation a few years ago at DJCAD in Dundee, and am Lecturing in Sound Technology, Audio and Responsive Environments at Napier as well as supervising Masters and Honours Degree projects. I am also a 3D generalist although my recent skill set has focused on Modelling, Dynamics and Compositing. In addition I have been a writing/recording and performing musician for the past 30 years, and continue to integrate music with my academic work.
Research Interests	Audio-visualisation, autism-based research, assistive technolgies, multimodal interactive applications, AR and VR technologies.
Teaching and Learning	I have been a college and now university lecturer for the past 16 years, working in James Watt and Fife College's, teaching a variety of Computing and multimedia subjects including 2D and 3D animation, graphics, programming, IT apps, HCI, audio and video production.