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In the beginning computers were large, expensive, immovable, and
rare. Today, computing power is small, cheap, mobile, and ubiquitous.
More and more, computing pervades our lives and we use a wide variety of
computing devices without regard for where we happen to be. The
Microsoft Research University Relations Mobility initiative is focused
on stimulating inquiry into the many challenges and opportunities that
appear when computing devices travel with us and are always connected to
the Internet. The following research topics are pursued under this
initiative:
- Scalable User Interfaces (ScUI)
The mobile computing
research area introduces an entirely new set of interaction challenges.
As such, Microsoft Research is exploring projects that investigate novel
techniques for one-handed interaction, and efficient screen rendering.
Candidates for collaborative projects in ScUI include vector rendering
and visualization approaches that take advantage of limited display real
estate, and adapt the multiple sizes, orientations, and resolutions of
target devices.
- Mobile Devices in Academia
This area explores novel ways the
mobile devices can enhance the academic experience. Project areas
include mobile/offline/online data services, and location-based
computing explorations on campus. The goal is to create robust
educational Web services that are offline-synchronized to a local store
on a smart client (SmartPhone, Pocket PC, Tablet PC), and use accurate
location information to enhance opportunities for collaboration and
social computing.
- Experimental Applications for Mobile Devices
In the coming
decade, mobile phones and wireless devices will replace PCs as the
primary digital information tool worldwide. Much like the transformative
effects of personal computing, mobile devices will have a similarly
dramatic effect on the application landscape. Microsoft Research is
exploring novel new applications for mobile devices. How will these
devices connect and interact with other computing objects in the world?
What core technologies need to be built to provide a framework for these
new applications classes? In what ways will mobile devices augment the
physical world with rich digital content?
This initiative is managed by John SanGiovanni. |
