IRAC

Institute for Research in Applicable Computing

Director: Prof Yong Yue profile...

Research within the Institute is mainly organised into three research centres: the Centre for Computer Graphics and Visualisation, the Centre for Research in Distributed Technologies and the Centre for Wireless Network Design. In addition, the Institute supports research in Artificial Intelligence and in relevant areas of teaching and learning.

At present, members of IRAC belong almost wholly to the Department of Computer Science and Technology

The Institute currently has more than 20 research fellows and 40 research students. The Institute has a strong record in collaborative research, both with academic partners in the UK and many overseas countries, and with local industrial companies.

All of its activities reflect the strong motivation within the Institute for developing novel applications of computer technology to solve real-world problems and for providing innovative tools to enable users to employ computer technology more efficiently and more effectively.

The Institute welcomes applications to join its research programmes and provides opportunities for research training at PhD, MPhil and MSc by Research levels. Applications are handled centrally by the Research Graduate School of the University.

Other Research

Outside the three Research Centres, there is considerable activity in Artificial Intelligence, which is beginning to cohere into a formal research group, whose members have strong industrial and research experience.

Collaborating institutes include Imperial College, Kings College as well as universities in Canada, USA, Poland, Romania, Estonia and Japan.

A project developing advanced CNC (computer numerical control) double-glazed window making machines in collaboration with GTI-Kombimatec Machines Ltd was operating from February 2003 to January 2005 and was funded by a Teaching Company Scheme.

Other interests of the group include: visual sensing, motion detection, bio-informatics, medical informatics, semiotics and data mining.

The Institute strongly supports research links with industry and has a wide range of research and development projects with companies, mostly local SMEs, that are funded by EPSRC CASE, KTP and KEEP awards.

Seminars

IRAC hosts a range of seminars which reflect the research and teaching interests of staff, research fellows and research students. Seminars are presented by Institute members and invited speakers from institutions both in the UK and abroad.