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Computer 'Glue' Unlocks Next-Gen Technology
Story supplied by LU Press Office
From Left: Professor Gordon Blair with fellow RUNES Researchers
Researchers at InfoLab21 are working on new technology which will help give computers a powerful new presence in our lives.
Computing experts at Lancaster are working on the next generation of embedded systems - tiny interactive devices which can be implanted into anything from a car to a fireman's safety jacket.
Embedded systems are already in use in appliances such as mobile phones and smoke alarms. But researchers are now looking for ways to enable these embedded systems to communicate with one another without human intervention. Enabling these systems to co-operate opens up infinite new areas of applications in settings ranging from health care and emergency services to workplaces and homes.
Lancaster University is carrying out this research as part of the RUNES project - a huge Europe-wide research programme which is developing Reconfigurable Ubiquitous Networked Embedded Systems.
One of the key aims of the project has been to develop middleware - the 'glue' which links together two or more different types of software. The middleware being developed as part of this project is strongly influenced by pioneering technology first developed at Lancaster University.
Professor Gordon Blair, Head of Computing at Lancaster, said: "Embedded systems which can interact with their environment have a huge potential to change the way we live but, equally, there are a significant number of technical challenges to be overcome before the full potential of this technology can be realised including managing potentially large numbers of diverse, small-scale components, getting them to talk to each other and also integrating them with other services in the Internet. Middleware has a crucial role to play in overcoming this complexity and the component based middleware which we are developing at Lancaster is recognised as a significant contribution towards achieving such next generation computer systems."
The RUNES consortium is made up of a broad, global mix of 21 industrial and academic partners from nine countries. The consortium has the expertise to carry out highly innovative research and development in this exciting new world of networked embedded systems. Lancaster University is one of three UK partners along with Kodak Ltd and University College London.
The Lancaster research team is: Professor Gordon Blair; Professor Geoff Coulson; Dr Paul Okanda; Thirunavukkarasu Sivaharan; Nelly Bencomo; Nirmal Weerasinghe.
Lancaster University's Computing Department is based in InfoLab21 - the University's world-class research, development and business centre in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Fri 16 February 2007
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Latest News
Geography student sets up film company
It is well known that Geography graduates are highly employable and use their degrees in many different ways. One of the more unusual we have heard about recently is Lancaster geographer Greg Tomaszewicz who has set up his own Video Production Company - Lanor Productions.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Fri 22 February 2013
Eco-innovation businesses invited to attend pioneering project launch
Ambitious North West SMEs keen to drive forward eco-innovative ideas and products are invited to a major event in Manchester on March 4.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Thu 21 February 2013
First Science and Technology Business Partnerships and Enterprise Annual Report 2011-2012 available to download now
2011-2012 saw the development of a new theme-based strategy for Business Partnerships and Enterprise in Science and Technology. The seven interdisciplinary themes are: Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Environment, Health and Human Development, Information and Communication Technologies, Quantum Technology and Security. Each theme has dedicated professional staff to work with businesses and source the expertise they need.
Tue 19 February 2013
Lancaster University Coffeemat Challenge won by Science and Technology student Seb
The concept of a new university website, complete with mobile application, to capture the campus social scene at a glance, earned an enterprising student an iPad.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Tue 19 February 2013