Meeting programme for 2008–9

Joining Up Business and IT

James Bacon

Abstract

To be inserted

Committee owner: James Bacon

Geoff Barr / Amazon

Geoff Barr

Abstract

To be inserted

Committee owner: Tim Lambertstock

Imagining an immersive future: the role of serious games and virtual worlds in everyday lives

Dr Sara de Freitas, Research Director, Serious Games Institute

Abstract

Serious Games involve the use of electronic games technologies and methodologies for purposes other than entertainment. These include: e-learning, simulation, team building, collaboration and opinion shaping. Some recent projects are described implementing these technologies.

Committee owner: Brian Day

Contact Details

Dr Sara de Freitas
Director of Research
The Serious Games Institute
Coventry University Technology Park
Innovation Village
Cheetah Road
Coventry
CV1 2TL
Office tel: 024 7615 8208
Office mobile: 07974984061
Skype: saradefreitas1
Second Life avatar: carlotta rivera
Email: s.defreitas@coventry.ac.uk
Web: http://www.seriousgames.org.uk

The Spy in the Coffee Machine

Abstract

We are entering a new state of global hypersurveillance. As we increasingly
resort to technology for our work and play, our electronic activity leaves
behind digital footprints that can be used to track our movements. In our
cars, telephones, even our coffee machines, tiny computers communicating
wirelessly via the Internet can serve as miniature witnesses, forming
powerful networks whose emergent behaviour can be very complex, intelligent,
and invasive. The question is: how much of an infringement on privacy are
they?

Exploring the invasion of our privacy from CCTVs to blogs, O'Hara explores
what-if anything-we can do to prevent it from disappearing forever in the
digital age, and attempts to find the right balance between the benefits and
dangers of this new technology.

Short version

The Spy in the Coffee Machine, subtitled “The End of Privacy as We Know It”, is a new book about the implications of privacy in today's increasingly web-based world. It is written by Nigel Shadbolt and Kieron O'Hara, two prominent figures in the realm of Web Science.

With chapters titled “They Snoop to Conquer” and “A Man's Best Friend is his Blog”, the book treats a serious subject in a refreshingly light-hearted and accessible way.

We are delighted to have one of the book's co-authors, Kieron O'Hara, as our Christmas speaker.
Kieron will talk about the issues raised in the book and the implications for us and the generations to come.

Kieron O'Hara

Kieron O'Hara is a senior research fellow in Electronics and Computer
Science at the University of Southampton. He researches into the philosophy,
politics and sociology of technology, focusing on Web Science, the Semantic
Web and digital memories. He is the author of a number of works, including
“The Spy in the Coffee Machine” (with Nigel Shadbolt), “A Framework for Web
Science” (with Tim Berners-Lee et al), “inequality.com” (with David Stevens)
and “Trust: From Socrates to Spin”. He has worked on a number of Foresight
projects for the Office of Science and Technology, including on Cyber Trust
and Crime Prevention.

Committee owner: Adrian Walmsley

Raymond Flood

Raymond Flood

Abstract

To be inserted

Committee owner: Sheila Lloyd Lyons

Real World RDF Databases

From Christian Davis
“I would be very happy to give a talk to BCS Oxfordshire in February 2009 on the subject of RDF databases.”

Abstract

• An overview of RDF data storage
• Real world application and use of RDF data and RDF data storage
• Insight into Garlik's development of RDF data storage capability:
• Design and architectural challenges
• Development challenges
• Data store metrics (size, performance)
• Use of RDF data storage within Garlik

Speakers

• Christian Davis, Development Director, Garlik

• Steve Harris, Head of Architecture, Garlik.

Committee owner: Adrian Walmsley

Personal Identity Management

? Talis

Abstract

To be inserted

Committee owner: Tim Lambertstock

Sophos Virus Lab

Abstract

To be inserted

Committee owner: Geoff Stone

Silverlight

? Microsoft

Abstract

To be inserted
GS to talk to Dan Matthews

Committee owner: Geoff Stone