Evolution of Radio Access Networks: Lighting up IQ by Francisco J. Garcia, Agilent Technologies

In this talk we will introduce how new mobile base station architectures are evolving not only to meet demand but also to become “greener” since at current rates of deployment, mobile networks are becoming very large CO2 contributors. These new base station architectures are also becoming enablers for new Radio Access Networks (RANs) where the same infrastructure can support multiple radio technologies simultaneously by backhauling their baseband leading towards distributed antenna systems and distributed base station architectures. Some would argue that this represents a paradigm shift towards “cloud” enabled mobile networks. In the talk we will cover the reasons why things are progressing this way, how this is being enabled through technology innovation, and what Agilent has done to meet some of the test and measurement challenges in this evolved 4G wireless communications space.

Event details

  • When: 27th February 2012 14:00 - 15:00
  • Where: Phys Theatre C
  • Series: CS Colloquia Series
  • Format: Colloquium

Creating personalized digital human models of perception for visual analytics

Speaker: Aaron Quigley, SACHI University of St Andrews

Abstract:

Our bodies shape our experience of the world, and our bodies influence what we design. How important are the physical differences between people? Can we model the physiological differences and use the models to adapt and personalize designs, user interfaces and artifacts? Within many disciplines Digital Human Models and Standard Observer Models are widely used and have proven to be very useful for modeling users and simulating humans. In this paper, we create personalized digital human models of perception (Individual Observer Models), particularly focused on how humans see. Individual Observer Models capture how our bodies shape our perceptions. Individual Observer Models are useful for adapting and personalizing user interfaces and artifacts to suit individual users’ bodies and perceptions. We introduce and demonstrate an Individual Observer Model of human eyesight, which we use to simulate 3600 biologically valid human eyes. An evaluation of the simulated eyes finds that they see eye charts the same as humans. Also demonstrated is the Individual Observer Model successfully making predictions about how easy or hard it is to see visual information and visual designs. The ability to predict and adapt visual information to maximize how effective it is is an important problem in visual design and analytics.

About Aaron:

In this talk Professor Aaron Quigley will present a talk for a paper he is presenting at the User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization (UMAP) conference 2011 on July 12th in Barcelona Spain. This work on Creating Personalized Digital Human Models of Perception for Visual Analytics is the work with and of his former PhD student Dr. Mike Bennett and now postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology in Stanford University.

Professor Aaron Quigley is the Chair of Human Computer Interaction in the School of Computer Science at the University of St Andrews. He is the director of SACHI and his appointment is part of SICSA, the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance. Aaron’s research interests include surface and multi-display computing, human computer interaction, pervasive and ubiquitous computing and information visualisation.

Event details

  • When: 15th November 2011 13:00 - 14:00
  • Where: Cole 1.33a
  • Format: Seminar

St Andrews Student wins prize in Scottish Software Engineer of the Year Awards

St Andrews student Thomas Grimes won 3rd prize in the Scottish Software Engineer of the Year Award 2011. He received a trophy and a cheque for £1500.
Tom graduated from Computer Science from St Andrews in 2011 and currently studying in America towards a Masters in Computer Forensics.
Tom’s project involved creating screen replication software for the Macintosh lab although his final product also works on Windows and Linux.
Tom follows in the footsteps of other prize winners from St Andrews who in recent years have included Alistair Scott,  Craig Paul, Angus MacDonald, Ben Catherall and Graeme Bell.

Award presentationPhoto: Tom Grimes receiving his award from comedian Kevin Bridges

A Decade of Research on Constraint Modelling and Reformulation:The Quest for Abstraction and Automation by Alan M Frisch

Abstract:

To mark the Tenth International Workshop on Constraint Modelling and Reformulation, this talk reviews research in the field over the past decade, focusing on the key themes of abstraction and automation.

Looking to the future, the talk identifies key issues that must be confronted in furthering the quest for abstraction and automation.

Biography:

Dr Alan M Frisch is a Reader in Intelligent Systems and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Group in the Dept. of Computer Science at the Univ. of York.  He is currently a SICSA Distinguished Visiting Fellow.

For over 30 years he has been teaching artificial intelligence and researching various topics within the field, including a focus on constraint programming over the past decade.  He is an acknowledged
leader in constraint modelling, best known for his pioneering contributions in the automation of constraint modelling, in inventing the ESSENCE problem specification language, and in developing symmetry-breaking constraints.

Alan M Frisch – Artificial Intelligence Group – Department of Computer Science – University of York, UK.

Event details

  • When: 7th November 2011 14:00 - 15:00
  • Where: Phys Theatre C
  • Series: CS Colloquia Series
  • Format: Colloquium

Honours Reception

Junior and Senior Honours were provided with milk based food products, nibbles and fermented fruit juice during their reception.

Various attempts to look studious were captured for posterity.