Newcastle University, England, joins the race to develop a new generation of intelligent microelectronic devices which could revolutionise the way we live.
Tiny sensors and mini-computers will be built and tested in new facilities costing £3m which have been created by the university in collaboration with Agilent Technologies, the world's leading supplier of electronic test and measurement equipment.
The suite of laboratories, equipped with the latest electronic instruments and Computer-Aided Design software, were officially opened today by the University's Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes, in the presence of Tom White, President of Agilent's Operations Support Systems Group and General Manager for UK and Ireland.
Lord Patten and Mr White took the opportunity to tour the new facilities, which have been developed with funding of over £3m from Agilent Technologies and UK Government grants.
Lord Patten is pictured above, viewing micro-circuits through a microscope, as Mr White looks on.
Agilent has its headquarters in the US and operates in more than 110 countries. It was formerly part of the Hewlett Packard organisation and became independent in 1999.
Newcastle University's School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, where the new facilities are based, is ranked by the Government as a 5A research centre, signifying international excellence.
The facilities are among the most advanced of their type in Europe and enable the university to join the global race to develop 'ambient intelligence' systems, involving tiny sensors and computing devices embedded in almost everything we use and which can communicate wirelessly with each other.
The effect would be to create an environment which was much more responsive to the needs of individuals and society. Examples of what may be possible in the not-too-distant future include:
HEALTH: Sensors could be implanted in the body of a patient with a disease, such as diabetes or a heart disorder, to constantly monitor levels of harmful chemicals or hormones in the blood. If the levels increased, the sensor would send a signal to an alarm or could even trigger the automatic release of drugs from a pod in the patient's body. Such a system would enable patients to leave hospital and lead much more normal lives and provide more warning of a relapse.
TRANSPORT: The current system of control centres and cameras monitoring our road network could be replaced by sensors embedded in roads that constantly measure traffic flow and send signals to networks of computers that could continually optimise traffic lights and traffic routes. Other sensors detecting queues at bus stops could signal bus depots to sent extra buses on particular routes.
SOCIAL: Dating by text message could soon be a bygone practice. Mobile phones of the future may contain a device which allows the owner to log personal details and those of an ideal partner whom they would wish to meet. The device would automatically try to match-make by signalling to other mobile phones that came within range, for example in a pub or nightclub, and comparing the details of the two owners. If a good match were found, the devices could cause both phones to ring, so the owners talked to each other, or could automatically make a diary entry for a suggested first date.
These or similar scenarios are likely to become reality in the not too distant future. The technology already exists to build computing devices, with sufficient computational power, smaller than a matchbox but even these are too big and their battery life too short. Sensors can be built on a small enough scale but they are too limited and their wireless communications capacity is too low.
The new research facilities will enable the university to develop and test new, low-power multi-chip microcircuits and new technologies for future wireless communication systems, such as 'ultra-wideband'.
A wireless research laboratory and two new 70-seat teaching laboratories have also been built so that the next generation of technology specialists can be educated, using the latest interactive teaching methods.
Declaring the facilities officially open, Lord Patten said that Agilent Technologies' collaboration with higher education was setting an excellent example for others to follow.
"By investing in these state-of-the-art facilities, Agilent have shown the generosity and vision that one might expect from a world leader," he said.
"We are very grateful and I believe that this exciting work will have enormous effects regionally and is also very important nationally because leading edge research and teaching will drive forward this dynamic technology to the benefit of all."
Tom White said: "Global companies like Agilent need the best graduates to succeed and stay ahead and our philosophy is to forge relationships with top universities throughout the world."
"We certainly aim to attract more graduates from Newcastle over the next few years. I believe the university is currently ranked seventh in this field and I hope that our investment will help it rise into the top three."
Professor Oliver Hinton, Head of the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, said: "We are delighted with this massive vote of confidence in Newcastle University, which helps to confirm our position as one of the best electronics research centres in Europe".
"Our aim is to provide the highest quality research and teaching in next generation electronics and we would welcome contacts from individuals and companies alike who would like to join us in this endeavour."
Newcastle University is committed to bringing about change for the better at international, national and regional level. Its Transforming Horizons document states that the University is committed to transforming business by helping to shape, drive and transform the fast-moving knowledge economy and by enabling businesses of all sizes to draw on the University's expertise.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/
Posted 11th May 2005
