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Research at Kingston University into methods for tracking pedestrians and monitoring crowds using computer vision techniques has been translated into commercial products by Ipsotek Ltd and BAe Systems, resulting in economic benefits to these companies from sales of these products.
These products have been sold to high-profile customers including the London Eye, the O2 Arena and the Australian Government, providing significant commercial benefits, employment and growth for both companies, as well as providing an economic impact for these customers.
The research has explored the value of making in developing knowledge and the role of haptic cues and their design application in improving usability of products. The research has informed the design of TacMap whose primary beneficiaries are blind and partially sighted users. Resulting impact of research has been 1) a spin out company TacMap Ltd. 2) greater independence and dignity for blind and partially sighted people who through the use of `TacMap' can move more easily around interior and exterior spaces. 3) more inclusive and compliant services for businesses in relationship to the Equality Act 2010 agenda.
Aston's fibre Bragg grating research on optical sensing has had a global commercial impact, in particular the development of low-cost fibre FBG sensor interrogation methods. The work has been carried out with a diverse range of companies (including BAE Systems, Airbus, Insensys, Schlumberger) working across different sectors including oil and gas aerospace and marine. Specific impacts include the acquisition of 70% of the stock of Insensys Wind for US$15.7 million by Moog in 2009 and continuing employment by Smart Fibres, Moog Insensys and Astasense.
Low-cost wireless solutions beyond the technologies available previously and developed at Loughborough University since 2005 are used by IDC, and Sure, who integrate these technologies in several products and services so generating impacts in terms of:
The technologies have been deployed in a logistics distribution centre (ToysRUs), an automotive manufacturing process (Toyota), and a safety and security system (Sure).
This case study documents the initial impacts of a site-specific theatre project: Fortnight that was conceived and developed by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) contemporary artist Peter Petralia between 2010 and 2012. The project exemplifies research that seeks to explore engagement with place, locality and community using pervasive digital technologies, and utilises these methods to enhance the creative potential of individuals and organizations. Fortnight's impact is social, cultural and economic as documented by the 800 participants and producers involved in the project so far. Fortnight has also generated impact within the creative industries through the innovative application of its use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. To date Fortnight has been curated and hosted in Lancaster and Bristol (2011), Manchester (2012) and Oxford (2013).
Alliance researchers have devised and applied technologies that bridge the gap between the real and virtual worlds, linking digital data to physical entities. The ability to embed personal stories in objects and places has impacted on the way National Museums Scotland sources and displays collections, while Oxfam has used the research to bring added value to donated goods, leading to an increase in store sales of 53% over a week-long period. Mobile Visual Search technology has been taken-up by global brands and advertising agencies, including Nike, Disney, Vodafone, Nokia, Tesco, P&G, King & Partners, Mocom and Ogilvy, leading one industry expert to describe it as "the new model of marketing mobility". The work has led to a patent, the receipt of several awards, and influenced the formation of a spin-off company, Mobile Acuity (with revenue of over £0.5M to date), which has secured a major investment of over £1M, including from international corporation, [text removed for publication], to invest in the US and East Asia.
Human-computer usability research within the university's Sensory Disabilities Research Unit (1993-2002) led to the construction of accessibility guidelines that are widely used, with an estimated reach to a maximum of 30 million people in the EU. PAS 78: Guide to Good Practice in Commissioning Accessible Websites and BSI BS8788 Web Accessibility Code of Practice met 2010 web accessibility law in the UK and subsequent EU legislation. Similarly, BS EN 15823:2010: Braille on Packaging for Medicinal Products met UK, EU and International Standards for Braille on medicine packaging. Further research resulted in award-winning guides for blind users of Windows software that improves accessibility to work.
Gibson's research-led practice has directly influenced the development of motion-tracking technology used to generate new audio-visual performances. Performances using this innovative art form have taken place in China, Canada and Singapore. They offer audiences a new and enhanced interactive participation experience and help to increase awareness of audio-visual interaction technology and its possibilities. The performances of Gibson's most recent motion- based project Virtual VJ have introduced artists, academics and technologists to innovative interactive art forms and have led to technological developments with associated commercial benefits.
A new multi-purpose computer vision system to identify sub-standard food products has been created. The research developed a user-trainable software technology with a range of possible applications, thus overcoming the specificity and other limitations such as the high set-up cost of existing visual inspection systems. This research is achieving impact in several areas within the food industry, including quality analysis of fresh produce, food processing and food packaging. The technology is currently being trialled at the leading post-harvest applied research facility for agricultural storage in the UK, and is also being licensed to a world-leading supplier of food packaging machines and equipment for inclusion in a new product range under development. The longer-term impacts include safer food, reduced food waste, more efficient food production, and better use of natural resources (e.g. reduced use of water, pesticides and other inputs), through early detection of potentially harmful flaws in production and packaging.
This project has made a considerable impact on the teaching of Geometry to school pupils with visual impairment thus ultimately enhancing their teaching and learning experience and quality of life (pupils and teachers from schools in remote villages in the states of Tamil Nadu; Andhra Pradesh; and Kerala in India). The Tactile Graphic Tool (TGT) designed as part of this project is a device allowing hand exploratory movement in making tactile diagrams of graphical and geometrical constructions and then portable digital device (e.g. DigiMemo A402 or a tablet PC) is used to make these accessible as digital pictures through the interface of a computer. The benefits of the tools developed have been in assisting people with visual impairment to overcome the challenge of accessing graphic information contents in mathematics, including graphs, geometry and statistical representations. In particular, the case study's impact represents a practical demonstration of the potential of technology-assisted learning for visually impaired students and is aimed at enhancing their educational and workplace opportunities, as well as access to popular media.