10 March 2010
Tech questions answered and new computing research revealed
How do blind people play computer games? Is it possible beat the computer at chess? How can computers help people as they get older? The answers to all these questions - and many more - will be revealed at the University of Dundee next week.
The University’s School of Computing will be hosting an Open Evening to showcase the wide range of research into computer games, and related subjects, taking place at Dundee
The event takes place at the Queen Mother Building from 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 16th. A series of talks and demonstrations will outline the work being carried out by staff and students within the School of Computing.
Visitors will also have the chance to try out Microsoft Surface, the revolutionary multi-touch table that lets users grab digital content with their hands and move information with simple gestures and touches. The much-vaunted technology was gifted to the School by NCR, and is one of only two such machines believed in use in Scotland.
Dr Karen Petrie, lecturer and event organiser, said the Open Evening was a great opportunity to reach out to the local community and for them to find out about the exciting computing research taking place at the University.
'The work being carried out from undergraduates, postgraduates and staff will be on display and the wide range of research relating to games and related areas that we carry out here will be demonstrated,' she said.
'It will give them a flavour of the type of opportunities that are available for people looking to study computing, as well as letting the local community know about the leading-edge research that’s carried out here.
'We're sure visitors will enjoy the event. We do a wide range of research in computing here, and a high number of our graduates have gone on to work in the games industry, either in Dundee or further afield.
'We've got an exciting programme of events for the visitors, which will highlight to them the type of things available at the School of Computing. It’s also a chance to showcase the fantastic facilities we have here at the Queen Mother Building.'
Dr Petrie will deliver a talk explaining how Artificial Intelligence can be used to automatically create games while Dr Deb Fels, a visiting academic from the University of Ryerson in Toronto, will discuss how games can be developed for users with disabilities to widen access to technology.
Much of the School’s research concerns assistive technology that can improve the access to, and benefits derived from, computers for older and disabled users.
This reaches into the area of gaming, and many of the demos taking place reflect this. They aim to find the answers to a number of questions, including:
- How do blind people play computer games?
- How can I beat the computer at games playing?
- Why would a Dolls House be used in Computing research?
- How could computers help me as I grow older?
- How can we use technology to learn about communication?
All are welcome to attend this exciting, interesting and entertaining insight into games and the research that goes into making them. Children are encouraged to come along, but under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
More information is available by calling 01382 388085 or emailing amillar@computing.dundee.ac.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
