NICTA Partners With Fluffy Spider Technologies To Enhance the Graphical Capabilities Of Embedded Systems
National ICT Australia (NICTA), Australia's national centre of excellence for information and communications technology (ICT) research, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to engage in joint research with Fluffy Spider Technologies, a world leader in the development of user interface technology for embedded devices such as mobile phones.
Fluffy Spider Technologies will be working with NICTA's Embedded, Real Time and Operating Systems (ERTOS) Program, which focuses on improving the reliability and trustworthiness of embedded systems. ERTOS has developed a unique microkernel-based embedded operating system called L4/Iguana.
"This exciting agreement represents a milestone in fulfilling NICTA's charter to develop commercially viable technologies that improve the way Australians live and work," said Dr Terry Percival, Director of NICTA's Neville Roach Research Laboratory in Sydney. "The partnership will leverage NICTA's research and commercialisation strengths to provide international exposure to a locally developed technology.
Fluffy Spider Technologies' signature product is FancyPants, a unique graphical user interface for embedded systems. FancyPants gives embedded systems sophisticated media handling and image manipulation capabilities previously only found in desktop environments.
"Combining FancyPants with NICTA's L4/Iguana will provide a small and robust software base that delivers a better experience for users of embedded devices," said Professor Gernot Heiser, Program Leader of NICTA's ERTOS Program.
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, NICTA and Fluffy Spider Technologies will engage in joint research to generate technological and business opportunities for both organisations.
"It is a great pleasure for Fluffy Spider Technologies to be working with NICTA, Australia's most significant research and development organisation," said Mr Robi Karp, CEO of Fluffy Spider Technologies. "This collaboration is a significant breakthrough for Australian innovation. Our complementary skills will enable us to create a new generation of cutting-edge products for modern mobile devices that will be deployed across the globe.
ERTOS demonstrated practical applications of some of its groundbreaking research at Techfest 2006, NICTA's annual technology exhibition, held in the Crystal Ballroom at Sydney's Luna Park on 31 May 2006. ERTOS showed how its hardware and software can power typical embedded systems such as those found in vending machines. It also demonstrated a video stream capture and analysis system that can capture live video and analyse the footage in real time, providing analysis, timing and power usage information. A third demonstration showed ERTOS-designed hardware and software being used to run the Sunswift solar car.
Techfest 2006 featured the work of more than 200 NICTA researchers and students from across Australia, including more than 20 live demonstrations of some of NICTA's most exciting new research. Themed 'Getting Connected', Techfest gave the ICT industry a chance to meet leading researchers and investigate commercial collaborations.
About Fluffy Spider Technologies
FST specializes in providing advanced GUI and high-performance multimedia products for embedded application development, backed by comprehensive custom development services.
Since 1995, clients include Toshiba, VeriFone, Ericsson, HP, Optus, Vodafone and GEC. FST also has a Memorandum of Understanding with NICTA - Australia's ICT Research Centre of Excellence.
For more information on FST and its products visit www.fluffyspider.com or email: info@fluffyspider.com
About National ICT Australia ' Australia's ICT Research Centre of Excellence
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has dramatically altered the world's social and economic landscape.
Australia has enormous, untapped ICT talent of an international standard. Established as part of Backing Australia's Ability ' an Australian Government initiative to promote science and innovation ' National ICT Australia (NICTA) aims to capitalise on this untapped potential.
NICTA is funded by the Federal Government's Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and the Australian Research Council. NICTA's consortium partners are the Australian Capital Territory Government, the New South Wales Government, the University of New South Wales, and the Australian National University. With a focus on use'inspired basic research, NICTA attracts, develops, and networks exceptional talent for Australia's future prosperity.
The creation of technology for use in society, the market, and the environment inspire the Priority Challenges. NICTA's two initial Priority Challenges are Trusted Wireless Networks and From Data to Knowledge.
NICTA brings together exceptional people from research and industry to create an ICT research centre of excellence that generates national wealth.
For More Information
| Stan Ghys (Australia) |
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| Business Development Manager | |
| Fluffy Spider Technologies | |
| Phone: +61 2 9281 9055 | |
| Email: stan@fluffyspider.com | |
| www.fluffyspider.com | |
| NICTA, Sydney |
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| Australian Technology Park | |
| Bay 15 Locomotive Workshop | |
| Australian Technology Park | |
| Eveleigh NSW 1430 | |
| Australia | |
| Main Phone: +61 2 9209 4750 | |
| Main Fax: + 61 2 9209 4748 | |
| Postal Address | |
| Locked Bag 9013 | |
| Alexandria NSW 1435 | |
| Australia | |
| Web: www.nicta.com.au |