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The key focus of NZi3 is overlaying academic research strengths with industry-based themes, with each theme having an industry-led project leader. This is the business model for the highly successful MIT Media Lab and has been accordingly embodied in the governance and management models for NZi3. This is also the business model for the well-known and highly successful HIT Lab NZ.
The initial industry-linked research themes for NZi3 are:
Human interface technology is about revolutionising the way people interact with computers. This theme is being led by the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab NZ) which is based at UC.
Wireless communications, in particular radio technologies and networks, are rapidly advancing technologies to enable communication in remote locations.
Enabling computers and networks to solve problems requires the correct
analysis of the problem, and the design and implementation of an
appropriate solution. Research opportunities exist to enhance our
ability to undertake all aspects of the development and evolution of
large, complex software systems more efficiently and with less risk.
Business analysis, project management, qualification and testing are as
important to successful software engineering as constructing systems
architectures, designing user interfaces, writing systems specifications
and the associated logical instructions.
Geospatial technology involves the gathering, storage, processing and use of data that is referenced to geographical location, eg: surveying, navigation and global positioning systems.
This theme will identify technologies, processes, services and programmes which have potential to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.
Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. ICT applications include medical imaging and automated drug delivery.
Nanotechnology is the design, characterisation, production and application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at the nanoscale (the human hair is approximately 70,000 to 80,000 nanometres thick).
UC is home to New Zealand's most powerful scientific research computer, supplied by IBM. The UC Supercomputer is a 128 processor Power 5 machine capable of just under one trillion floating point operations per second. It has a storage capacity of 11.5 Terabyte, enough to store 3,500 full-length feature films.
