333 1 News New Undergraduate Course: Telecommunications with Management

A <a href="http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate.php?course_id=management&entry_session_id=000107">new undergraduate course</a> is on offer for students starting in 2007. Available at either BSc or MSci level, this course aims to develop high quality graduates equipped with both communications and management skills, ready to work in the telecommunications industry, information technology or academia.

A <a href="http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate.php?course_id=management&entry_session_id=000107">new undergraduate course</a> is on offer for students starting in 2007. Available at either BSc or MSci level, this course aims to develop high quality graduates equipped with both communications and management skills, ready to work in the telecommunications industry, information technology or academia. Students can graduate either with an engineering background or a systems background by selecting from variety of modules offered by the Department of Communication Systems and Lancaster University's world-class Management School. The first three years (BSc) will provide a breadth of knowledge, followed by increasing depth of knowledge in the fourth year (MSci) in specialised topic areas. The fourth year will enable students to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the InfoLab21 initiative. Students will be presented with greater opportunity to take on projects of a real-world nature at the cutting edge of the industry. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1169239414.jpg 250 300 Combining ICT with business Tuesday Tue 16 January Jan 01 2007

332 1 News Postgraduate Funding Opportunities for 2007

the Department of Communication Systems has a number of funding opportunities available for postgraduate students beginning their studies in 2007.

the Department of Communication Systems has a number of funding opportunities available for postgraduate students beginning their studies in 2007. For MSc students we have scholarships attached to several of our courses that cover tuition fees and in some cases offer a stipend as well. In addition we have Nokia prizes for specific research projects and Nokia funded Industrial Training Programmes aimed at high quality international students wishing to work in the UK. For PhD students there are a number of research council (EPSRC, PPARC) research studentships and CASE awards for well-qualified Home/EU applicants, as well as some departmental scholarships for postgraduate research students (Home/EU and Overseas). For more information on funding available to postgraduate students, get in touch with our Postgraduate Co-ordinator <a href="mailto:s.irving@lancaster.ac.uk">Sandra Irving</a>. Friday Fri 19 January Jan 01 2007

349 1 News International Symposium on Communication Theory and Applications: Final Call For Papers

A major objective of ISCTA'07, taking place in Ambleside UK in July 2007, will be to pursue the progression from communication and information theory through to the implementation, evaluation and performance of practical communication systems of various types.

A major objective of ISCTA'07, taking place in Ambleside UK in July 2007, will be to pursue the progression from communication and information theory through to the implementation, evaluation and performance of practical communication systems of various types. Original papers are invited in related areas. The deadline for the submission of papers for consideration is Friday 2nd March, 2007. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1171621095.gif 75 75 Friday Fri 16 February Feb 02 2007

390 1 News InfoLab21 Prepares For Innovation Exchange

Overviews of some of the projects to be featured at InfoLb21's next Technology Matters Event - The Innovation Exchange, on June 14th, are now available.

Overviews of some of the projects to be featured at InfoLb21's next Technology Matters Event - The Innovation Exchange, on June 14th, are now available. The Innovation Exchange will showcase research in marketable new technology from the Computing and Communication Systems departments, and the Knowledge Business Centre. Entrepreneurs and Technology Businesses from accross the region will be invited to come and meet the researchers and discuss the possibilities of collaboration. To read the overviews or to find out more please follow the link below to the event details. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1179925572.jpg 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1179925572.jpg 250 250 Wednesday Wed 23 May May 05 2007

401 1 News University Prizes For InfoLab21 Staff

Three of this year's University prizes have gone to InfoLab21 staff.

Three of this year's University prizes have gone to InfoLab21 staff. Dr. Reuben Edwards & Dr. Paul Coulton, of the Communication Systems department have been awarded a prize for commercialisation. Dr. Reuben Edwards has also won a Teaching prize and Dr. Jim Wild, also of the Communication Systems department, has won the prize for Media & Communication. Dr. Edwards said of the Commercialisation prize, "It represents a welcome acknowledgement and recognition by the University of the work that Paul and I have done in building an international reputation for the creation of ground-breaking and world-leading mobile applications that have received awards for their research contribution, plaudits from businesses for their innovation, and, as Forum Nokia Champions, personal recognition from the industry leader for our status as leaders and innovators." He also highlighted the close relationship between teaching, research and industry. "The teaching prize specifically recognises the close relationship between teaching, research publications and industry and provides an important recognition by the University that one can maintain a balance between working with industry, producing academic publications, and providing a high quality education to students." The Staff Prizes will be presented on Tuesday 12 June 2006 at 6.00pm At Barker House Farm by Chancellor Sir Chris Bonnington CBE. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1181204268.gif 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1181204268.gif 250 250 Wednesday Wed 06 June Jun 06 2007

402 1 News Wireless Sensor Networks Event

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are one of InfoLab21's specialist areas of expertise.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are one of InfoLab21's specialist areas of expertise. The aim of SensorNet 2007, held at Lancaster University on 30th May, was to bring together experts in WSN from research & industry to share ideas, demonstrate commercial applications of WSN and foster collaboration. SensorNet 2007 speakers Speakers from Microsoft Research, BT, Manchester University's School of Electrical Engineering, InfoLab21 Associate company <a href="http://www.infolab21.lancs.ac.uk/business/associate_company_scheme/profiles/savant_enterprises_limited.php">Savant Enterprises Ltd</a> and Lancaster University spin out digital art company <a href="http://www.infolab21.lancs.ac.uk/business/locating_in_infolab21/kbc_companies.php?company=bigdog_interactive">Big Dog Interactive</a> joined speakers from University Departments of Computing, Communication Systems, Engineering, Geography, Sociology amd Environmental Sciences. SensorNet 2007 topics Through-out the day attendees were presented with different perspectives and uses of Sensor Networks. The event started with the keynote speech on Thought Communication, Networks for the Future by Prof. <a href="http://www.kevinwarwick.com">Kevin Warwick</a>, Professor of Cybernetics, Reading University, internationally renowned for implanting a device into his arm in order to link his nervous system directly to a computer. Other topics covered included using Sensor networks in the field to support Health & Safety in Industrial Sites and for monitoring climate change, developing Wireless Sensor Networks for Industrial Processes, the applications of Ultra-wide-band (UWB) in Mobile Sensor Networks, how sensors are being used to develop more effective treatments for cancer and improve hygiene standards through-metal RFID Tagging of Surgical Instruments. In addition, BT discussed their ideas for a standard global platform for devices to aid communication between sensors and the final speaker from Sociology examined the current and potential social impact of Technologies of Social Communications, Cognition & Securities. SensorNet 2007 Demonstrations Demonstrations included Digital Live Art from Big Dog Interactive and a posters display and the event closed with an open discussion exploring questions on improving sensor networks accuracy and reliability in the field. Join IT! To join the SensorNet2007 group see <a href="http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/sensornet">www.comp.lancs/sensornet</a> http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1181224310.jpg 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1181224310.jpg 250 250 Key Speaker Professor Kevin Warwick Friday Fri 08 June Jun 06 2007

413 1 News InfoLab21 Students Win Europe Nokia Final

InfoLab21 mobile developers Will Bamford and Tamas Vajk, have won the European Final of the Nokia 2007 Mobile Innovation Competition.

InfoLab21 mobile developers Will Bamford and Tamas Vajk, have won the European Final of the Nokia 2007 Mobile Innovation Competition. The prizes were awarded at the Forum Nokia Tech Days held in Budapest, Hungary, on June 6-8. Will, a PhD student and Tamas, who has come to Lancaster from Budapest University on a four month scholarship, previously won the UK leg of the competition and went on to compete with mobile developers from Finland, Denmark and Hungary. The finalsist had beaten 80 teams across Europe to get to the last stage. The winning application was TiltRacer which used the built-in 3D motion sensor of the Nokia 5500 Sport phone to create a motion controller for games similar to Nintendo's Wii. The two students created a small car-racing game to play with the motion-detecting Nokia 5500 phone. The game was developed with the C++ programming language and using the XNA framework, which means the game could later be played on an Xbox system. The jury cited this application for its simplicity, adding that TiltRacer points to great opportunity for the mobile industry's future. Co-developer Bamford said it was fun and engaging to spend time and effort on this project. And Vajk added that the two are also working on other interesting projects, which can be viewed on the Mobile Radicals site, see also YouTube. Forum Nokia Champion Dr. Reuben Edwards from the Department of Communication said, "It is not only great to have won but also that this has been a collaboration between the UK and Hungary and has been a good chance to for students from two European Universities to work together". http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1183973280.jpg 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1183973280.jpg 170 250 Will Bamford presenting Tiltracer at the Nokia final in Budapest. Monday Mon 09 July Jul 07 2007

431 1 News £25,000 Commercialising Research Competition

Do you think your research has commercial potential but you're not sure what to do next?

Do you think your research has commercial potential but you're not sure what to do next? Entrepreneurs with ideas at all stages of development are invited to participate in this high profile national competition by submitting a one-page outline of a business idea by 14 September 2007. The competition is designed to help entrepreneurial researchers from across the UK find successful routes to market. Previous ompetitions have successfully helped to establish several new spin out companies. Applicants accepted for the competition will receive training through a two day commercialisation workshop. Those suceeding to the second phase will have access to highly skilled experts with experience of research commercialisation who will guide in the preparation of a high quality business plan, the essential requirement for marketing a business idea to potential investors. Prizes of up to £25,000 will be awarded to the business plans judged to have the best potential to help turn business ideas into reality. Full details and application forms can be found at: <a href="http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/innovation/fundingkt/bpc">www.rcuk.ac.uk/innovation/fundingkt/bpc</a> For more information contact Sarah Cooper, Competition Manager; Tel: 01793 444422; Fax: 01793 444562; Email: <a href="mailto:rcbpcomp@epsrc.ac.uk">rcbpcomp@epsrc.ac.uk</a> http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1187691775.jpg 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1187691775.jpg 250 250 Research Councils Business Plan Competition 2007-08 Tuesday Tue 21 August Aug 08 2007

464 1 News Futuresonic - Call for Submissions

The Social - Online, Mobile and Unplugged Social Networking.

The Social - Online, Mobile and Unplugged Social Networking. Deadline for conference submissions - 5pm 18th December 2007 Urban Festival of Art, Music & Ideas 1-4 May, Manchester, UK Presented in association with Imagination at Lancaster, Lancaster University. <h4>Futuresonic 2008</h4> Futuresonic has 4 strands: Art, Music, Ideas and EVNTS. Currently in its 12th year, the festival occupies the orbits of both music and digital culture. A focus in recent years has been presenting artworks in unexpected city spaces, and on social art and social technologies. Futuresonic now invites artists, thinkers and makers to get social and present new types of collaborative social experience at Futuresonic 2008. The Futuresonic international conference and the Social Technologies Summit invite proposals for talks, presentations, workshops and session themes. Submissions of innovative formats for social interaction and experimentation are encouraged. A £5,000 commission plus many other opportunities are available in the Futuresonic 2008 Art, Music & EVNTS calls for submissions. For details on submitting to the conference visit <a href="http://www.futuresonic.com/submissions-conference">www.futuresonic.com/submissions-conference</a> <h4>The Conference</h4> The Futuresonic conference is a place where important international discussions take place. Over recent years hype about social software and web 2.0 has raged largely unchecked. The conference will bring together leading figures to unpick the hype around the latest technological zeitgeist, broaden the debate, and propose and explore a critical understanding of social technologies. <a href="http://www.futuresonic.com/getinvolved">www.futuresonic.com/getinvolved</a> Futuresonic brings 500 opinion formers, futurologists, artists, technologists and scientists from the digital culture, music and art communities to Manchester for four days of seminars, workshops and events. At the heart of the festival is the internationally-acclaimed Futuresonic conference, and its focal point the Social Technologies Summit. <h4>Conference Theme</h4> The Social - Online, Mobile and Unplugged Social Networking. Digital culture burns bright with a vision of being not in isolation but in groups, placing the relations between people first. Beyond the hype lies ever greater isolation and conformity. Join us as we go in search of the social. The 2008 conference will explore the theme of The Social - Online, Mobile and Unplugged Social Networking. The conference will also mark 40 years since people took to the streets of Paris in 1968 calling for society to be abolished, and will assess the claims of todays digital culture as a potential catalyst of radical change amidst wider currents of radicalism. Computers have become social interfaces for sharing digital media and collaborating to build online communities and folksonomies. Social technologies create an extension of social space, and new ways for people to come together, meet and share in today's society. As well as social software such as MySpace, Flickr, YouTube and FaceBook, there are technologies created and maintained by social networks, such as communities of developers and users working collaboratively with open source tools, or that enable people to connect with each other in public places, or that bind people together in their everyday lives. The Social Technologies Summit will explore the new social spaces and the social implications of technologies for the many different kinds of people who make, use and are affected by them. Some proclaim the death of email. Life is supposed to be 'more social' - easier to communicate, the world at our finger tips, more sharing, more social. But this is a time when we see how electronic communication can isolate us, as more and more people drown in a deluge of email that generates stress, even reducing IQ. Additionally, 'online communities' are based upon an artificial equivalence between 'users' which obscures power relationships and issues of ownership. In all parts of the globe people are seeking to open up or hold onto places to meet and communicate freely, online and offline. In India we see emergent kinds of community media, in South Korea new social uses of the mobile internet, and in Brazil the spread of 'cultural hotspots'. Join us as we go in search of the social today. <h4>Booking Information</h4> If you want to meet the creative thinkers, artists, programmers, digital media experts, scientists, industry specialists, hardware and software developers, marketers, political thinkers and activists; If you want to find out about new technologies and their impact on tomorrow's society; If you are looking for new and exciting ways to create, do business and interact; Then sign up early to the Futuresonic conference and the Social Technologies Summit. Email Your Name, Address and Contact Details to <a href="mailto:ideas2008@futuresonic.com">ideas2008@futuresonic.com</a> to receive full conference details and priority booking options. <h4>Conference Pass</h4> Early Bird Delegate Pass £60 (must be bought by February 1 2008) Advance Delegate Pass £100 Delegate Pass (on the door) £150 Students/Concessions £30. Further discounts available for group bookings. A limited number of pay-what-you-can Day Passes will be available on each day of the conference. The Conference Pass includes access to all festival events. Email your name, address and contact details to <a href="mailto:ideas2008@futuresonic.com">ideas2008@futuresonic.com</a> and we will send you full details on Futuresonic Conference 2008 as well as priority booking options. Join us as we go in search of the social today. Web 2.0... I take part you take part he takes part we take part you all take part they profit. (Slogan from Paris '68, remixed) <a href="http://www.futuresonic.com">www.futuresonic.com</a> Futuresonic is supported by Arts Council England North West and presented in association with Imagination at Lancaster, Lancaster University. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1194868559.gif 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1194868559.gif 250 250 Futuresonic 2008 Monday Mon 12 November Nov 11 2007

465 1 News Artificial Personality Goes Clubbing

An interactive Artificial Personality pulled faces at nightclubbers in Leeds last month.

An interactive Artificial Personality pulled faces at nightclubbers in Leeds last month. This installation work was a collaboration between Lancaster University Department of Computing,the Communication Systems Department, UCREL, KBC resident company BigDog Interactive and Leeds Metropolitan University's Department of Fine Art. The installation (a giant projected human character) took place on 20th October 2007 at the Speedqueen night in Discotheque/Gatecrasher nightclub in Leeds. The artificial personality has her own tastes and preferences. Anyone can send the character with a text message from their mobile phone. The character can understand the meaning of the text and reacts emotionally to the content of the message using facial expressions. She can portray a total of 8 different emotions including anger, sadness, happiness, annoyance and so on. The work is one of a number of currently ongoing collaborations as part of the eMedia Design Lab (eMDL) initiative at Lancaster. Gatecrasher is currently one of the UK's most influential Clubbing brands with permanent venues in cities around the country as well as annual special events both with the UK and abroad. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/thumbnail_1195209448.jpg 75 75 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sci-tech/images/image_1195209448.jpg 250 250 Speedqueen night in Discotheque/Gatecrasher nightclub in Leeds Thursday Thu 15 November Nov 11 2007