Sensing Computers and Telepresence

The program - in a new wave of information technology - is based on Hungarian, multi-disciplinary research results successful and significant internationally. The program aims at establishing the basis of new products and services generally important for the society. It is defined to be on the new frontiers of electronics, computer science and telecommunication, partially in the field of artificial and biological information processing.

The scientific and technological fundamentals of the program are analogical spatio-temporal sensory computers (a revolutionarily new computer concept), programmable sensor arrays sensing in different modalities (visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory etc.), multi-modal sensing, complex event detection in visual, auditory and tactile scenes, mobile and combined telecommunication networks and services, and diagnostics in echocardiology.

One of the sample application areas is the ultrasound-based heart diagnosis where a system with on-line 3D reconstruction and real-time 2D morphological and motion tracking capabilities will be designed. With the envisioned innovations the planning in heart surgery and also the efficiency of routine heart examinations will be significantly enhanced.

The engineering result of the other key area will be a multi-modal sensing computer that, in different modular configurations, could be used as a system for in- and outdoor security/surveillance, industrial quality control or biometrics based recognition combined with telepresence capabilities. Typical products in these areas could be: blind helper bionic eyeglasses identifying characteristic objects and movements, and home watcher-tackers with seeing, sniffing, hearing and mobile communication capabilities.

Members of the consortium: MTA SZTAKI, Jedlik Laboratory of Péter Pázmány Catholic University, Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science of HAS, Neurobiology Research Unit at Semmelweis Medical University, Research Institute of Psychology of HAS, Saint Francis Hospital, György Gottsegen Hungarian Institute of Cardiology, Center for Pediatric Cardology, AnaLogic Computers Ltd., IT Consult Pro Inc., GE Medicor Inc. The project co-ordinator is Dr. Csaba Rekeczky (MTA SZTAKI).