Pervasive computing has the potential to improve our lives in many ways.
It can support augmented cognition and life-long memories: providing people
with ready access to pertinent information about themselves from their own data
stores will enable them to expand their effective cognition and knowledge
beyond what they would otherwise remember. Life-long learning is another
potential benefit, with the possibility that we can learn precisely when and
where we need to, with learning resources delivered just for us, taking account
of our existing knowledge and preferred ways of learning. To achieve such
benefits, we need to ensure users can control their personal data and its use
and we need to be able make that information available when and where people
need it.
CHAI is exploring personalisation that enables the user to scrutinise
and control the whole personalisation process. Another dimension of CHAI
research is in novel pervasive computing interfaces such as tabletop
interaction and pervasive appliances that are embedded in the
environment to serve very specific functions.
ARC PhD Scholarships in data mining for computer-supported collaborative writing.
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has funded an interdisciplinary project
to develop innovative computer-supported writing support tools starting in 2009.
Two PhD scholarships are available for 3 years.
For more details see
PhD scholarship advertisement. Applications close 30 January 2009.
Smart Services CRC PhD Scholarships
The Smart Services CRC has just announced that it is accepting applications
for scholarships for PhD students commencing in 2009.
For more details see Smart Services CRC.
HCSNet SummerFest
The 2008 HCSNet SummerFest
is taking place at UNSW from December 1st to
5th, and promises the biggest and best yet: two days of high-quality summer
school courses on a range of topics in human communication science presented
by high-profile researchers, a day of speed papers and specially-targeted
skills sessions, and workshops on 'Search and Information Extraction from
Audio Data', 'Embodied Interaction in Mobile, Physical and Virtual
Environments', 'Designing the Australian National Corpus' and 'Voice and
Voice Disorders'.
CHAI is featured in the SummerFest 2008 promotional video (right). The video features an interview
with Judy Kay, and demonstrations of Cruiser
and Focus with PhD students Trent Apted and
Anthony Collins.
CHAI is a key partner in the successful Smart Services bid under the
Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres. The Smart Services CRC
has been awarded a $30.8 million grant from the Department of Education,
Science and Training. The grant comes under the Australian Government's
Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme.
A further $120 million co-investment will be provided by Smart Services'
industry, government and research partners. The total investment will be used
by the new CRC to deliver outcomes aimed at returning at least $250 million to
the Australian economy by 2016. Smart Services is a successor to the very
successful Smart Internet Technology CRC which has been operating since 2001.
Vacation Scholarships for 2008-9 Summer vacation
As part of its program, Smart Services CRC will be awarding student
scholarships for work associated with its various research programs. It is
expected that scholarships will be available for vacation projects in the
upcoming (08/09) long vacation. To be eligible for a scholarship, students
must be enrolled or have been accepted for enrolment at The University of
Sydney.
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