Professor Mascolo heads new research centre to advance AI-supported multi-sensory personal devices
The new Centre for Mobile, Wearable Systems and Augmented Intelligence, co-directed by College Fellow Professor Cecilia Mascolo, was launched last night (11 September).
The Centre will advance state-of-the-art mobile systems, security, new materials, and artificial intelligence (AI) to address one of the main human needs – the ability to communicate better with each other.
Nokia Bell Labs is a founding partner of the new Centre, which will be based in Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology. The Centre will be directed by Cecilia Mascolo, Professor of Mobile Systems, and Alastair Beresford, Reader in Computer Security.
Professor Mascolo said: "We hope this Centre will give us a platform to unlock the power that mobile and wearable systems technology potentially have in the development of software to improve our lives in many dimensions. This power is currently hindered by system efficiency issues as well as privacy concerns. One example where this is vital is mobile health: we hope to leverage on the University and Colleges' multi-disciplinary openness to tackle these challenges and devise scalable and affordable solutions."
Research into mobile, wearable and augmented intelligence systems
The research jointly conducted in the Centre will redefine the way people interact with the digital and physical world. Areas of focus include precise, predictive and personalised medicine; digital, physical, mental, and social well-being; and sensory human communication experiences beyond visual and audio.
“The new Centre provides support for high-quality, long-term research into mobile, wearable and augmented intelligence systems in Cambridge,” said Professor Mascolo. “In addition, the Centre will also engage with other researchers across the UK and abroad.”
“Mobile systems have transformed our lives and evolved dramatically over the last 20 years,” said Dr Beresford. “However, there are many big changes to come, and our research will ensure we have the right technical solutions as well as appropriate safeguards available.”
Establishing a dynamic research community
The Centre will be used to establish a vibrant research community, and support Nokia Bell Labs PhD Studentships as well as postdoctoral researchers over the next five years. It will also support the wider research community with a range of events, workshops and seminars.
Markus Hofmann, Head of Applications, Platforms and Software Systems Research at Nokia Bell Labs said: “We are very excited to participate in the creation of this new Centre at Cambridge. We look forward to solving the key technical challenges as we move towards our shared goal – to provide people with enhanced awareness of their world, to help them better sense and interpret their digital and physical environment, to enable the long-distance exchange of people’s emotions and perceptions, to augment and improve the human experience in a digitally connected world.”
Cecilia Mascolo is a College Fellow and a Full Professor of Mobile Systems in the Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge. This article is based on one originally published by the University of Cambridge.
