Ubiquitous Computing

	Profile

Computers everywhere and in everything

This research theme deals with issues that arise as the global computing infrastructure becomes pervasive and interconnected. It also deals with new technologies which will assist in realising such a ubiquitous, globally communicative information environment.

The interests of staff within this group are wide-ranging including wireless computing, pervasive computing, organic computing (computers that self-configure, self-organise, self-adapt and self-heal), embedded computing (invisible computers inside devices), reconfigurable computing, context-aware computers (that respond to a changing environment), mobile computing and interaction design (i.e. interaction between computers and humans).

There are active research teams working in each of the following areas:

Reconfigurable Computing: Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPFA's) allow computing applications to be implemented on a combination of software and programmable hardware. The ability to reconfigure hardware dynamically also provides some exciting possibilities for self-adaptive systems. Our research investigates techniques for designing and implementing algorithms on hardware-software platforms, with emphasis on multi-processor operating systems, hardware-software communications, and multiple-levels of reconfigurability. We also investigate applications in areas such as safety-critical systems, information security, aerospace and low-power systems.

Sensor Networks: Sensors are the eyes and ears of the global information environment, and are most useful when connected into the Internet. In may cases, the final connection may be via a wireless link. Researchers in this theme investigate issues in wireless mesh networking, self-configuring sensor nodes and software development techniques. The theme also investigates applications such as wireless and mobile guidebooks, environmental sensing, healthcare and Smart Homes.

Context-Aware Computing: This theme investigates how systems can adapt to their environment, for example by switching communications seamlessly between different available wireless networks. A major issue is the design of software frameworks which allow software developers to incorporate context-aware features into their code.

Interaction Design: The focus of this research team is to investigate and design people's interactive experience with technology in ways that promote theoretical development, stimulate new industry practice, and enhance users' experience. The areas of focus are multi-modal interfaces and ubiquitous computing; information design and information visualisation; collaborative learning environments; human-centred design; studies of the design process; participatory design; affective computing; and interactive environments and immersion.

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