Brisbane-based Industry Leader Takes Centre Stage at International Conference
15th February 2005
For immediate release
A Brisbane-based research group is set to unveil ground breaking new digital entertainment and communication technology at an international conference in the United Kingdom tomorrow – that could have the same impact on digital communication as SMS messaging.
The Australasian CRC for Interaction Design (ACID) has been invited to showcase world-first projects to international industry leaders at the b.TWEEN Festival of Future Entertainment on Thursday 17th February in Doncaster (north of London), United Kingdom.
ACID – an incorporated entity as well as funded through the Australian Government – is one of only three Australasian groups invited to participate in this conference of 36 industry leaders from around the world.
CEO of ACID, Professor Jeff Jones, will unveil two ACID projects to international delegates – a world-first SMS game utilising MMS technology and a cutting-edge interactive installation that challenges technical infrastructure and communication paradigms.
Professor Jones, as game master, will unveil ‘MMS Me’ – a world-first game application, designed to allow people to compete and communicate with images broadcast online or onto a screen anywhere in the world.
“’MMS Me’ is the new generation of SMS messaging, allowing unlimited participants to interact simultaneously via images. It’s as much based in social as it is technological research and opens up a whole new world of mobile phone communication,” said Professor Jones.
“The project has already attracted significant global interest, with possible commercial applications within the advertising and retail industries and major sporting, musical and other large-scale events.
“ACID is currently working with the Museum of Brisbane on developing MMS me for their upcoming Buddha Exhibition and this is a really exciting public use,” he said.
The ‘Intimate Transactions installation’ forms part of a larger ACID research and development project that uses bandwidth – once the vehicle for corporate and educational data – in new and challenging ways.
“This interactive installation allows us to test the social and technological aspects of streaming-technologies, whilst pushing the boundaries of what constitutes smart-furniture,” said Professor Jones.
“Two people in separate locations, possibly countries, can communicate using body movements.
“These movements are tracked and transmitted via the ‘Bodyshelf, which incorporates an array of sensors, detecting the shifting balances of bodyweight,” he said.
ACID will participate in the conference to further establish Australasia’s research credibility and commercial kudos on the world stage.
“It’s an honour to show Australasian-based research to some of the world’s most talented researchers and industry professionals,” said Professor Jones.
“This is our opportunity to showcase local research and development projects, as well as a platform to attract commercial interest and investment in ACID’s and more broadly, Australasian research initiatives,” he said.
Professor Jones will also make a presentation to conference delegates on better ways for universities and industry to work together to fast-track commercialisation of research projects.
“Establishing robust collaborative arrangements is pivotal to the end-goal of commercialising research,” said Professor Jones.
“Creative research and development collaborations is central to all ACID research projects and some of our key findings related to those collaborations will be presented at tomorrow’s conference,” he said.
For more information:
Jason Pickersgill, ACID. T: 07 3337 7929 or 0432 163 886. E: jason@acid.net.au
