Wireless sensor networks are one of the hottest topics in pervasive computing research, as large wireless field sensing systems have the potential to solve many of the most intractable sensing problems in the world today.
As well as general graphics research, our work also reflects the strengths of the centre in pervasive computing and wireless sensor networks.
On the one hand, we apply graphical techniques to some of the key problems in wireless sensing, particularly those of surface identification and localisation. On the other, we investigate the use of image sensors as an integrated part of wireless sensing systems.
Pervasive systems present a new challenge in usability evaluation and design for usability. Traditional techniques from HCI (Human Computer Interaction) can be hard to apply to systems 'beyond the desktop' which may have many screens, or none at all; which can involve not just keyboards but the whole body; which may be under user control, or 'proactive systems' invisibly embedded in an environment; or where the user's interaction may be through software mediators.
Cogent is involved in a developing line of research to understand and scope pervasive usability assessment techniques in the context of pervasive computing and its users.
This strand of research focuses on the combination of pervasive computing with mixed reality: