Software Engineering
Study a software engineering degree with us and you’ll build the essential skills you need to work with software systems – opening the door to a range of career opportunities. You’ll…
Dr Stuart Cunningham
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
External examiner roles
External Examiner, MSc Advanced Computer Science, MSc Computer Science and MSc Information Systems, University of Chester (2020/21 - present).
External Examiner, Computing subject modules, University of Portsmouth (2019/20 - present).
External Examiner, BSc (Hons) Computer Science and BEng and MEng Mechatronics and Robotics, University of Hull (2018/19 - present)
External Examiner, MEng Computer Science and MEng Mathematics and Computer Science, Leeds Beckett University (2014/15 - 2018/19)
Expert reviewer
- Reviewer, IEEE Access, IEEE
- Reviewer, Multimedia Tools and Applications, Springer
- Reviewer, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, AES
- Reviewer, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Elsevier
- Reviewer, Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers
- Reviewer, EAI Endorsed Transactions on Serious Games, EAI
- Reviewer, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, Springer
Visiting and honorary positions
Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology at Wrexham Glyndŵr University (UK).
Editorial Board membership
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Accessibility, Inclusion, and Rehabilitation Using Information Technologies, Journal of Healthcare Engineering, Hindawi.
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Sound in Immersion and Emotion, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, AES.
Membership of professional associations
- Fellow (FBCS) and Chartered IT Professional (CITP), BCS: The Chartered Institute for IT
- Committee Member, BCS Computer Arts Society (CAS)
- Fellow (FHEA), The Higher Education Academy
- Member (MIET), The Institution of Engineering and Technology
What I do
Teaching
Current Teaching Activities
- Advanced Computer Games Design
- This unit places students in a simulated game development studio and gives students the opportunity to work on one or several games, as part of small development teams. Students can develop their game design/development skills in a range of areas, and will learn about the practical, the project management, and the analytical aspects of game design and development.
- Games, Players and Data
- This unit explores the relationship between games, their players, and the data that is generated by interactions with games. The wealth of data generated by interactions is often harvested by games companies and their marketing teams to help refine and improve game systems, for example, how can we use telemetry in games to analyse whether a level is of an appropriate difficulty? How do we know when we make a design change, whether it was (or was not) effective?
- Games User Research
- Students will contextualise the role of user research in the game production process, highlighting its value to the games industry and developing skills that are transferable and relevant to employment. The key stages of planning, preparing, conducting, analysing, and presenting findings from user research studies will be described, whilst ensuring that the selected activities solve workplace problems, and respond to the needs of game production situations.
- The games industry
- This unit contextualises a student’s studies within the context of the games industry. The unit aims to explore the established and emerging working practices and business models involved in working within, and around, the games industry.
UX Origins and Applications
UX System Contexts
Computer Games Development
Our computer games development degree is designed to help you become a games programmer. From the word go you’ll be hands-on, designing and programming games as you prepare for an exciting caree…
School of Digital Arts (SODA)
Our foundation year course can open up a range of potential creative possibilities. If you have the ambition and the ability to study at the School of Digital Arts (SODA), but don’t yet have the…
Research outputs
Detailed information is available via ReseachGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stuart_Cunningham4)
Recent Publications
Journals
Cunningham, S., Brill, M., Whalley, J.H., Read, R., Anderson, G., Edwards, S., & Picking, R. (2019). “Assessing Wellbeing in People Living with Dementia Using Reminiscence Music with a Mobile App (Memory Tracks): A Mixed Methods Cohort Study”. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, vol. 2019, Article ID 8924273, Hindawi.
Cunningham, S., & McGregor, I. (2019). “Subjective Evaluation of Music Compressed with the ACER Codec Compared to AAC, MP3, and Uncompressed PCM”. International Journal of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting, vol. 2019. Article ID 8265301. Hindawi.
Cunningham, S., Berry, D., Earnshaw, R.A., Excell, P.S., & Thompson, E. (2017). “Examples of the Impact of Collaboration in Creative and Technological Practices”. International Journal of Art, Culture and Design Technologies (IJACDT), Vol.6, No. 2, IGI Global.
McGregor, I. & Cunningham, S. (2015). “Comparative Evaluation of Radio and Audio Logo Sound Designs”. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 63, No. 11, pp. 1 - 13.
Weinel, J. Cunningham, S. Roberts, N. Roberts, S., & Griffiths, D. (2015). “EEG as a Controller for Psychedelic Visual Music in an Immersive Dome Environment” [in English and Spanish]. Sonic Ideas/Ideas Sonicas, 7(14). Mexican Center for Music and Sonic Arts (CMMAS).
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Griffiths, D., Roberts, S., & Picking, R. (2014). “Affective Audio”, Leonardo Music Journal, Vol. 24, MIT Press.
Conferences
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. & Picking, R. (2018). High-Level Analysis of Audio Features for Identifying Emotional Valence in Human Singing. Proceedings of the Audio Mostly 2018 on Sound in Immersion and Emotion (AM 2018), Glyndwr University, Wrexham, UK.
Davies, S., Cunningham, S. & Picking, R. (2017). A Comparison of Audio Models for Virtual Reality Video. Proceedings of the 2017 International Conference on CYBERWORLDS, University of Chester, UK.
Owens, S. & Cunningham, S. (2017). “More cowbell”: Measuring Beat Consistency with respect to Tempo and Metronome Variations. Proceedings of Audio Mostly 2017 (AM 2017), Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Books / Book Chapters
Sung A., Leong K., Cunningham S. (2020). “Emerging Technologies in Education for Sustainable Development”. In: Leal Filho W., Azul A., Brandli L., Özuyar P., Wall T. (eds) Partnerships for the Goals. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer.
Weinel, J. & Cunningham, S. (2019). Designing Game Audio Based on Avatar-Centred Subjectivity. In M. Filimowicz (Ed.), Foundations in Sound Design for Interactive Media. Routledge.
Cunningham, S., Nicholls, S. & Owens, S., (2017). “The Development of New Technology in Creative Music Applications”, in Earnshaw, R.A. (ed.) Art, Design and Technology: Collaboration and Implementation. Springer.
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. & Picking, R. (2016). “In-Game Intoxication: Demonstrating the Evaluation of the Audio Experience of Games with a Focus on Altered States of Consciousness”, in Garcia-Ruiz, M.A. (ed.), Games User Research: A Case Study Approach. CRC Press.
Performances and Artistic Work
Cunningham, S. (2017). euphoria<dysphoria(Friday) (6:17). Fixed stereo electroacoustic.. OUA Electroacoustic Music Festival, 17th – 18th November 2017, Osaka University of Arts, Japan.
Cunningham, S. (2017). LSD No. 1 (1:10). Fixed stereo electroacoustic. Étude de l’objet: Bilder und Klangbilder”, Kurt-Tucholsky-Literaturmuseum, 14th June 2017, Rheinsberg, Germany.
Cunningham, S. (2017). LSD No. 1 (1:10). Fixed stereo electroacoustic. Concert of Electroacoustic Miniatures, 24th March 2017, The Fishbowl, Vancouver, Canada.
Cunningham, S. (2016). Noise without Noise (5:59). Fixed stereo electroacoustic. New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, June 5-7, 2016, National Sawdust Arts Center, New York City, NY, USA.
Cunningham, S. (2015). LSD No. 1 (1:10). Fixed stereo electroacoustic. Concert of Electroacoustic Miniatures, 28th November 2015, XXII Festival Internacional de Arte Sonoro y Música Electroacústica “Punto de Encuentro”, Medialab-Prado, Madrid, Spain.
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Chapters in books
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S. 'Practice-led and Interdisciplinary Research: Investigating Affective Sound Design.' In Filimowicz, M. (ed.) Doing Research in Sound Design. Focal Press,
Sung, A., Leong, K., Cunningham, S. 'Emerging Technologies in Education for Sustainable Development.' Partnerships for the Goals. Springer Nature,
Cunningham, S., Henry, J., Weinel, J. 'Augmenting Virtual Spaces: Affective Feedback in Computer Games.' In Earnshaw, R., Liggett, S., Excell, P., Thalmann, D. (ed.) Technology, Design and the Arts - Opportunities and Challenges. Springer,
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'Designing Game Audio Based on Avatar Centred-Subjectivity.' In Filimowicz, M. (ed.) Foundations in Sound Design for Interactive Media: A Multidisciplinary Approach. CRC Press,
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'Deep Subjectivity and Empathy in Virtual Reality: A Case Study on the Autism TMI Virtual Reality Experience.' In Filimowicz, M., Tzankova, V. (ed.) New Directions in Third Wave Human-Computer Interaction: Volume 1 - Technologies. Springer, pp. 183-203.
Cunningham, S., Owens, S., Nicholls, S. 'The Development of New Technology in Creative Music Applications.' In Earnshaw, R. (ed.) Art, Design and Technology: Collaboration and Implementation. Springer,
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J., Picking, R. 'In-Game Intoxication: Demonstrating the Evaluation of the Audio Experience of Games with a Focus on Altered States of Consciousness.' In Garcia-Ruiz, M.A. (ed.) Games User Research A Case Study Approach. AK Peters,
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Picking, R., Williams, L. 'Holophonor.' Recent Advances in Ambient Intelligence and Context-Aware Computing. IGI Global, pp. 143-154.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Picking, R., Williams, L. 'Holophonor.' Recent Advances in Ambient Intelligence and Context-Aware Computing. IGI Global, pp. 248-261.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Williams, L., Picking, R. 'Holophonor: On the Future Technology of Visual Music.' In Curran, K. (ed.) Recent Advances in Ambient Intelligence and Context-Aware Computing. Information Science Reference,
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Williams, L., Picking, R. 'Holophonor: Designing the Visual Music Instruments of the Future.' In Curran, K. (ed.) Recent Advances in Ambient Intelligence and Context-Aware Computing. Information Science Reference,
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Journal articles
Pike, J., Picking, R., Cunningham, S. 'Robot companion cats for people at home with dementia: a qualitative case study on companotics.' Dementia, 20(4) pp. 1300-1318.
Cunningham, S., McGregor, I. 'Evaluating use of the Doppler Effect to Enhance Auditory Alerts.' International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 37(11) pp. 1074-1087.
Griffiths, D., Cunningham, S., Weinel, J., Picking, R. 'A multi-genre model for music emotion recognition using linear regressors.' Journal of New Music Research, 50(4) pp. 355-372.
Cunningham, S., Ridley, H., Weinel, J., Picking, R. 'Supervised machine learning for audio emotion recognition.' Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 25(4) pp. 637-650.
Jaume-i-Capó, A., González-Cid, Y., Brooks, A.L., Cunningham, S. 'Accessibility, Inclusion, and Rehabilitation Using Information Technologies.' Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2020pp. 1-2.
Cunningham, S., Brill, M., Whalley, J.H., Read, R., Anderson, G., Edwards, S., Picking, R. 'Assessing Wellbeing in People Living with Dementia Using Reminiscence Music with a Mobile App (Memory Tracks): A Mixed Methods Cohort Study.' Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2019pp. 1-10.
Cunningham, S., McGregor, I. 'Subjective Evaluation of Music Compressed with the ACER Codec Compared to AAC, MP3, and Uncompressed PCM.' International Journal of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting, 2019pp. 1-16.
Cunningham, S., Earnshaw, R.A., Berry, D., Excell, P.S., Thompson, E. 'Examples of the Impact of Collaboration in Creative and Technological Practices.' International Journal of Art, Culture and Design Technologies, 6(2) pp. 55-79.
McGregor, I., Cunningham, S. 'Comparative Evaluation of Radio and Audio Logo Sound Designs.' AES: Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 63(11) pp. 876-888.
Cunningham, S., Grout, V. 'Data reduction of audio by exploiting musical repetition.' Multimedia Tools and Applications, 72(3) pp. 2299-2320.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Griffiths, D., Roberts, S., Picking, R. 'Affective Audio.' Leonardo Music Journal, 24pp. 17-20.
Cunningham, S., Picking, R. 'Sounds Relaxing—Looks Cool.' International Journal of Ambient Computing and Intelligence, 4(1) pp. 40-53.
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Conference papers
Jadowski, R., Cunningham, S. 'Statistical models for predicting results in professional League of Legends.' In 10th EAI International Conference, ArtsIT 2021. Virtual, 2/12/2021 - 3/12/2021. Wölfel, M., Bernhardt, J., Thiel, S. (ed.) Springer, pp. 138-152.
Cunningham, S., McGregor, I.P. 'Manipulating Foley Footsteps and Character Realism to Influence Audience Perceptions of a 3D Animated Walk Cycle.' pp. 113-120.
McIntosh, T.H., Weinel, J., Cunningham, S. 'Lundheim: Exploring Affective Audio Techniques in an Action-Adventure Video Game.' pp. 155-158.
Sheen, K.A., Griffiths, J., Wilson, D., Cunningham, S. 'A Novel Pandemic Delivery Pattern for a New Digital User Experience Degree Apprenticeship.' In International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics. 276. New York City (online), 25/7/2021 - 29/7/2021. Springer,
Davies, L., Vagapov, Y., Grout, V., Cunningham, S., Anuchin, A. 'Review of Air Traffic Management Systems for UAV Integration into Urban Airspace.' In 28th International Workshop on Electric Drives: Improving Reliability of Electric Drives (IWED). Moscow, Russia, 27/1/2021 - 29/1/2021. IEEE,
Lawton, M., Cunningham, S., Convery, I. 'Nature soundscapes: An audio augmented reality experience.' In Proceedings of the 15th International Audio Mostly Conference (AM'20). Graz, Austria, 15/9/2020 - 17/9/2020. The Association for Computing Machinery, pp. 85-92.
Cunningham, S. 'Communicating Auditory Impairments Using Electroacoustic Composition.' In Proceedings of EVA London 2019. London, UK, 8/7/2019 - 11/7/2019. BCS Learning & Development, pp. 336-341.
Schwarz, D., Cunningham, S., Smith, R.W. 'Towards a New Paradigm for Intuitive Theatrical Lighting Control.' In Proceedings of EVA London 2019. London, UK, 8/7/2019 - 11/7/2019. BCS Learning & Development, pp. 360-367.
Cunningham, S., Ridley, H., Weinel, J., Picking, R. 'Audio emotion recognition using machine learning to support sound design.' In Audio Mostly. Nottingham, UK, 18/9/2019 - 20/9/2019. Association for Computing Machinery, pp. 116-123.
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J., Picking, R. 'High-level analysis of audio features for identifying emotional valence in human singing.'
Nicholls, S., Cunningham, S., Picking, R. 'Collaborative artificial intelligence in music production.'
Owens, S., Cunningham, S. 'Auditory masking and the precedence effect in studies of musical timekeeping.'
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S. 'Simulating auditory hallucinations in a video game: Three prototype mechanisms.' Part F131930.
Kanev, A., Cunningham, S., Valery, T. 'Application of formal grammar in text mining and construction of an ontology.' pp. 53-57.
Picking, R., Cunningham, S., Houlden, N., Grout, V., Oram, D., Mayers, J. 'Foreword.' pp. i-ii.
Suprun, D., Cunningham, S. 'Image matching principles in photometrical transformations.' pp. 81-85.
Owens, S., Cunningham, S. 'More Cowbell: Measuring Beat Consistency With Respect To Tempo And Metronome Variations.' In 12th International Audio Mostly Conference on Augmented and Participatory Sound and Music Experiences. London, UK, 23/8/2017 - 26/8/2017. ACM,
Davies, S., Cunningham, S., Picking, R. 'A Comparison of Audio Models for Virtual Reality Video.' In Cyberworlds 2017. Chester, UK, 20/9/2017 - 22/9/2017. IEEE,
Kiselev, B., Yakutenko, V., Yuriev, M., Zhelbakov, I., Cunningham, S. 'A knowledge representation model for massive open online course platforms.' pp. 169-172.
Cunningham, S., Berry, D., Earnshaw, R.A., Excell, P.S., Thompson, E. 'Multi-disciplinary Creativity and Collaboration: Utilizing Crowd-Accelerated Innovation and the Internet.' pp. 271-277.
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'The sound of the smell (and taste) of my shoes too: Mapping the senses using emotion as a medium.' 04-06-October-2016. pp. 28-33.
Cunningham, S., Houlden, N., Davies, J., Grout, V., Picking, R. 'Investigating environmental causes of TCP retransmission and flags in wireless networks.' pp. 37-41.
Griffiths, D., Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'A self-report study that gauges perceived and induced emotion with music.' pp. 239-244.
Earnshaw, R.A., Liggett, S., Cunningham, S., Thompson, E., Excell, P.S., Heald, K. 'Models for research in art, design, and the creative industries.' pp. 509-513.
Davies, S., Cunningham, S., Wright, M. 'Immersive RGB+D zoetropic projection for Touchscreens and HMDs/Wearables.' 24-25-November-2015.
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'Second screen comes to the silver screen: A technology feasibility study regarding mobile technologies in the cinema.' pp. 228-232.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S. 'Second Screen comes to the Silver Screen.' pp. 121-124.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Roberts, N., Griffiths, D., Roberts, S. 'Quake Delirium EEG.' pp. 335-338.
Cunningham, S., Weinel, J., Griffiths, D. 'ACERemix: A tool for glitch music remix production and performance.' 2014-October.
Weinel, J., Cunningham, S., Griffiths, D. 'Sound through the rabbit hole: Sound design based on reports of auditory hallucination.' 2014-October.
Weinel, J., Griffiths, D., Cunningham, S. 'Easter eggs: Hidden tracks and messages in musical mediums.' pp. 140-147.
Roberts, D., Picking, R., Picking, L., Cunningham, S., Mukhopadhyay, S. 'Lifeline+: 'Teleholism' for end-of-life care.' pp. 371-374.
Griffiths, D., Cunningham, S., Weinel, J. 'Automatic music playlist generation using affective computing technologies.' pp. 177-183.
Earnshaw, R.A., Cunningham, S., Excell, P.S. 'The future of media: Dynamic content transformation and distribution.' pp. 66-73.
Cunningham, S., Caulder, S., Grout, V. 'Saturday night or fever? context aware music playlists.' pp. 64-71.
Career history
May 2018 - present
Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing and Mathematics, Manchester Metropolitan University
August 2016 - May 2018
Reader in Audio and Affective Computing, Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, Wrexham Glyndŵr University
April 2010 - October 2014
Head of Department, Creative Industries, Media and Technology, Wrexham Glyndŵr University
May 2003 - August 2016
Lecturer / Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing, Wrexham Glyndŵr University