FP7 Call 8 Info Day in Luxembourg

In July, the new Call 8 of the European Framework Programme 7 (FP-7) has been launched. On Wednesday, 5.October 2011, there will be an information day held in Luxembourg.

The topics to be dealt at this meeting are:

• Adaptive learning systems - Objective 8.1.a
• Educational technologies for science, technology and maths - Objective 8.1.b
• Advanced solutions for fast and flexible learning at the workplace (targeting, in particular, SMEs) - Objective 8.1.c
• Creativity in learning processes - Objective 8.1.d
• Exploratory activities and networks- Objective 8.1.e

The deadline for proposal submissions to this call is 17.January 2012.

At the "We Love Technology" Salon, Huddersfield

On Thursday afternoon, I drove to Huddersfield to take part in the We Love Technology salon, which was organised by Lisa Roberts from BlinkMedia. I had teaching obligations, and so was not able to attend the first half of the event. I arrived around 16:00, just in time for giving my presentation: "From GPS to Artificial Mind". The 20 min talk basically was about using GPS for creative purposes and about the possibilities of Creative Technology in the true sense (artificial creativity).

Also from Leeds Met present were Linda Broughton and Ben Dalton. There were many artists and technologists from the region. Also a group of international students attended and gave a brief overview on their work and interest. I talked with Anaeli Kihunrawa from Tanzania, who has a multimedia business there and was very interested in the opportunities and possibilities for creative technology. I offered him to visit Leeds Met, and explore using our motion capture facilities for a project that he envisioned: capturing African folk dancing for 3D character animation.

L3 Student projects

At the networking event in the Gandhi Hall, I presented a pitch of seven projects which I would be able to supervise or advise. These projects were:

• Augmented Reality (AR): Develop a game using AR as the main framework. This is very much related to latest advancements in gaming, using head-worn displays.
• Leeds Met on the Map: Following my Ideas Factory Award, I proposed to students to develop 3D models of the Leeds Met campus buildings specifically for the web interface.
• Learning Object: For the International Faculty, develop a cultural simulation for the module "European Business Culture and Practise", linked to a TQEF-funded project.
• VR in Psychology: Develop an interactive tool for use in physiological investigation.
• Soccer Game: Link with Engagement project of Health Faculty, using video of goal keepers' view.
• Yorkshire and Gujarat: Create multimedia experience for the project on Climate Change Awareness.
• Promotional game for movie: Peter Kershaw's new movie project "The Last Coiner" needs a promotional interactive game on the BBC Big Screen.

These projects have the overall aim to link students to ongoing research and development activities. All of them are listed on the Innovation Bank web site.

Another project was later added:

• DVD about Student Placement: students who undertake placement, are being interviewed, and a video/DVD is created from these interviews. This project is linked to the International Faculty.

ISMAR conference: 15.-17.9.2008, Cambridge

The annual ISMAR conference resulted back in 2002 from the merger of the Japanese ISMR conference (about Mixed Reality) and the ongoing ISAR conference (about Augmented Reality). In 1998, the first IWAR (International Workshop on Augmented Reality) workshop was the predecessor of this ISAR (International Symposium on Augmented Reality) conference, and I am one of the three founders of this workshop / conference (the other founders: Dave Mizell, and Gudrun Klinker).

This conference was the 7th event. I am in the steering committee, but am retiring as an active member, since I had been in this committee for 10 years. This year, I was the finance chair of this conference. The conference had single-track presentations, poster sessions, demonstrations, and an industrial tracking competition.

Specific notable highlights, relevant for Leeds Met:

• Paul McIlroy, Technical Director of the company HawkEye gave a presentation about their tracking sytem for sports games (tennis).
• Diarmid Campbell (Sony) gave an impressive demonstration of the Sony Playstation with software using computer vision tracking and augmented reality gaming.

I used this opportunity in Cambridge to meet with entrepreneur Alan Barrell who attended the Cambridge Enterprise Conference. He introduced me to two investors from the Cambridge Capital Group.