Australian-Based Industry Leader Takes Centre Stage at International Conference Tomorrow (Thursday)

Australian-Based Industry Leader Takes Centre Stage at International Conference Tomorrow (Thursday)

BRISBANE, Australia, February 16/PRNewswire/ -- An Australian-based research group is set to unveil ground breaking new
digital entertainment and communication technology at an international
conference in the United Kingdom tomorrow -- that could have the same impact
on digital communication as SMS messaging.


The Australasian CRC for Interaction Design (ACID) has been invited to
showcase world-first projects to international industry leaders at the
b.TWEEN Festival of Future Entertainment on Thursday 17th February in
Doncaster (north of London), United Kingdom.


ACID -- an incorporated entity as well as funded through the Australian
Government -- is one of only three Australasian groups invited to participate
in this conference of 36 industry leaders from around the world.


CEO of ACID, Professor Jeff Jones, will unveil two ACID projects to
international delegates -- a world-first SMS game utilising MMS technology
and a cutting-edge interactive installation that challenges technical
infrastructure and communication paradigms.


Professor Jones, as game master, will unveil 'MMS Me' -- a world-first
game application, designed to allow people to compete and communicate with
images broadcast online or onto a screen anywhere in the world.


"'MMS Me' is the new generation of SMS messaging, allowing unlimited
participants to interact simultaneously via images. It's as much based in
social as it is technological research and opens up a whole new world of
mobile phone communication," said Professor Jones.


"The project has already attracted significant global interest, with
possible commercial applications within the advertising and retail industries
and major sporting, musical and other large-scale events.


"ACID is currently working with the Museum of Brisbane (Australia) on
developing MMS me for their upcoming Buddha Exhibition and this is a really
exciting public use," he said.


The 'Intimate Transactions installation' forms part of a larger ACID
research and development project that uses bandwidth -- once the vehicle for
corporate and educational data -- in new and challenging ways.


"This interactive installation allows us to test the social and
technological aspects of streaming-technologies, whilst pushing the
boundaries of what constitutes smart-furniture," said Professor Jones.


"Two people in separate locations, possibly countries, can communicate
using body movements.


"These movements are tracked and transmitted via the 'Bodyshelf,' which
incorporates an array of sensors, detecting the shifting balances of
bodyweight," he said.


ACID will participate in the conference to further establish
Australasia's research credibility and commercial kudos on the world stage.


"It's an honour to show Australasian-based research to some of the
world's most talented researchers and industry professionals," said Professor
Jones.


"This is our opportunity to showcase local research and development
projects, as well as a platform to attract commercial interest and investment
in ACID's and more broadly, Australasian research initiatives," he said.


Professor Jones will also make a presentation to conference delegates on
better ways for universities and industry to work together to fast-track
commercialisation of research projects.


"Establishing robust collaborative arrangements is pivotal to the
end-goal of commercialising research," said Professor Jones.


"Creative research and development collaborations are central to all ACID
research projects and some of our key findings related to those
collaborations will be presented at tomorrow's conference," he said.



ABOUT ACID


ACID is the leading organisation for research and development for
creative industries in Australasia.


Founded in 2003, this initiative has formed strategic alliances with over
20 educational and corporate partners throughout Australasia.




Source: Marketplace Communications

NOTE TO EDITORS: INTERVIEW & PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WITH PROFESSOR JEFF JONES /Professor Jeff Jones, +617-417-723-406, or Sonya Henderson Edbrooke, +617-411-757-431, both of ACID; or Patrick McGuire of Marketplace Communications, +617-412-748-161


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