18 January 2007

Prestigious honour for computing professor

A leading computer expert at the University of Dundee has been named a Fellow of the prestigious Association for Computing Machinery, one of only three people in Europe to receive the honour in the class of 2006.

Professor Alan Newell was named a Fellow of the New York-based ACM for his contributions to developing computer-based systems for people with disabilities.

Professor Newell is a senior figure within the Queen Mother Research Centre for Information Technology to support older people, part of the University’s School of Computing. The School contains one of the largest and most influential academic groups in the world researching into information technology for older and disabled people.

Professor Newell commented that "I see this award as recognition of the contributions made of all the researchers in this field in Dundee’s School of Computing over the last 25 years. As important is that it is a recognition by the major computer science association in the world that developing information technology to support older and disabled people is an important, valid and worthwhile activity for computer scientists."

The research within the School includes developing software, such as email and web browsers, specially designed for older people, devices to allow non-speaking people to communicate, multi-media systems for people with dementia, the use of digital television for entertainment and memory support for older people, and smart house technology. His more recent research has included the use of theatre to facilitate discussions between engineers and older people concerning their needs and wants for technological support.

ACM has recognized 41 of its members - the majority of them from the United States - for their contributions to both the practical and theoretical aspects of computing and information technology. The new ACM Fellows, from some of the world's leading industries, universities, and research labs, made significant advances that are having lasting effects on the lives of citizens throughout the world.

"The breadth and depth of the contributions these computing scientists and professionals have made to our world and the way we live are remarkable," said ACM President Stuart Feldman. "Their work reflects outstanding displays of creativity and commitment to the computing community, which continues to drive innovation in industries and enterprises across the globe. These individuals deserve our acclaim for providing dedicated leadership, solving complex problems, and pursuing productive careers in information technology that have advanced the quality of life for people everywhere."

The Fellows are drawn from major names in the corporate sector, including Microsoft, Google, IBM, Yahoo! and Hewlett Packard, as well as some of the world’s leading universities.

The only institutions to be honoured in Europe were the University of Dundee and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale, Lausanne, in Switzerland, each of which has a Fellow in the Class of 2006. One recipient had a dual affiliation with Colorado at Boulder and the Imperial College London.

The technology areas for which recipients were honored span a wide range of disciplines and applications, including: computational complexity theory; parallel and distributed computation; programming languages; artificial intelligence and cognitive science; information processing and web analysis; resource management of data networks; mechanized theorem proving; numerical algorithms; user interface technology; system software for parallel and distributed computing; database management systems; protocols for packet switched networks; information management and security; and broadening participation in computing.

ACM will formally recognize the new Fellows at its annual Awards Banquet on June 9, in San Diego, California.

NOTES TO EDITORS

A former Deputy Principal of the University, Alan Newell is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the British Computer Society, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and an Honorary Fellow Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. He was a member of the Thematic Panel of the 1999 UK Foresight Exercise on the Ageing Population, and is an advisor to the Scottish Executive and the UK Department of Trade and Industry on accessible and inclusive Communications and Information Technology.

Additional information about the ACM 2006 Fellows, the awards event, as well as previous ACM Fellows and award winners is available at awards.acm.org

For media enquiries contact:

Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk