Proactive computing, PROACT (2002-2005)
Objectives
The Research Programme on Proactive Computing (PROACT) was looking to both hardware and software in seeking to develop new applications designed to make our everyday life easier. Apart from working to produce new technological innovations, the programme integrated this line of work with psychological and social scientific research, which may play a key role in pointing the way ahead. An important objective of the research programme was also to maintain the high international standard of information technology research in Finland.
Themes
In proactive applications the system adapts and adjusts to the user's movements and actions without requiring any conscious control. Proactive technology may be incorporated in an intelligent environment, which could recognize movements or actively muffle noise, for instance. It may be incorporated in clothes or the auxiliary devices used by the elderly and the disabled. Key distinctive features of proactive technology are its integration into small devices and into the environment as well as its ease of control. This trend marks the next significant step in development from the current phase of user-oriented information technology, which is based on interaction between man and machine. Proactive computing needs to combine various technical innovations: new kinds of sensors, energy consumption techniques, methods of data transfer, network techniques, software architectures, interface methods, etc. Proactive computing has indeed been largely inspired by corporate product development in both hardware and software.
Extent
The programme funded 14 projects: 3 French-Finnish consortia, 8 Finnish consortia and 3 individual Finnish projects.
Funding
The funding of the programme was organised in collaboration with Tekes, the National Technology Agency and the French Ministry of Research and New Technologies. The Academy of Finland funded 13 projects with 5.7 million euros and the French Ministry of Research and New Technologies funded the French partners in three French-Finnish consortia with 1.84 million euros. Tekes participated in the funding of the Finnish partners in one French-Finnish consortium.
Duration
2002-2005
Evaluation
2/07 Proact evaluation.pdf
Coordination
This research programme was coordinated by coordinator Greger Lindén, University of Helsinki.
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