Grant: Research Networks

The SurfNet Network is a Canadian research alliance of academic researchers and industry partners. The goal of SurfNet is to develop human-focused software applications for digital surfaces that will enhance collaboration and interaction activities in many vertical markets. Digital surfaces, such as multi-touch screens, table tops and wall sized displays, are an increasingly pervasive technology in today's working world as well as at home. To support group work and collaboration, several digital surfaces are often interconnected to form collocated and distributed multi-surface environments (MSEs). Digital surfaces will become the basis for socia computing applications and create new and innovative markets that go beyond the existing personal computing paradigms. Our network will invent, build, and provide human-focused processes and technologies for digital surface oftwares and MSEs in four vertical markets (represented by SurfNet's four application areas): Learning, Gaming & New Media; Digital Homes; Planning, Monitoring & Controlling; and, Software Team Rooms. Requirements from our application areas will trigger and drive research in both the technological and human factors inherent in social-computing environments. SurfNet's fundamental research is clustered in three themes: Theme 1: Application Interface Design for Surface Computing Platforms; Theme 2: Agile Processes for Surface Application Development; and, Theme 3: Architecture & Design for Digital Surfaces.