The University for World-Class Professionals Informatics Research Centre Improving our world through computer science
Welcome to the Informatics Research Centre The Informatics Research Centre is an interdisciplinary hub, conducting leading work on fundamental and applied computer science. Complex Future Networks and Distributed Our Centre is characterised by its distinctive mix of expertise, research strengths and interdisciplinary activities. We combine top-quality foundational work with a portfolio of threads that reach out to make significant contributions in important areas. Our over-arching aim is to address societal challenges, and our research has impact in significant domains such as healthcare, future cities, and security. Informatics Research Centre Areas of Research We are supported by funding from the European Union, the research councils and other government agencies including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council and the Food and Environment Research Agency, charities such as the Wellcome Trust, and professional bodies such as the Royal Academy of Engineering. We also have excellent links with industrial partners, and our research-driven enterprise activity is evidenced by a significant number of active Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Our founding principles are to be inter-disciplinary, applied, rigourous, open, collaborative and outward-facing. We understand that teaching, research, enterprise and engagement are all central to our mission to make a positive difference to society and the world around us. Intelligent Interactive
Complex Future Networks and Distributed Our research in complex systems focuses on theoretical and synthetic biology, artificial life, bio-inspiration and other novel forms of computing, including in human organisations. We rely on computational methods such as agentbased modelling and simulation, and apply our expertise to problems in healthcare, crowd science and swarm robotics - asking in particular how emergent collective behaviour can be guided and improved. One main paradigm, morphogenetic engineering, draws from multicellular development and insect constructions to design agents capable of self-assembling into functional architectures without central planning. This can have an impact in socio-technical systems comprising a myriad mobile devices and human users, such as the Internet of Things, smart energy grids or disaster response coordination. We develop novel methods, techniques and solutions to address fundamental challenges in computer networks and distributed systems and issues associated with data-centric computing/data intensive (big data) computing. We focus on: Intelligent management and optimisation of networks and distributed systems, for example cloud/ Grid/Service-oriented computing/ Internet of Things. Both fundamental and applied research in data-intensive computing, for example big data processing and analytics/data mining, with applications in different domains such as health, food, energy, cybersecurity and smart cities. Network security and computer forensics. Computational methods based on self-organizing system models, and the assessment of risks emerging from globally distributed systems interactions.
Intelligent Interactive The focus of our interest is on the elicitation of information, knowledge representation, the extraction of consistent information from collected facts, verification of information accuracy, development of real-world applications, and associated software development. We particularly work on biologically and linguistically motivated computational paradigms, with emphasis on neural networks, evolutionary computation and fuzzy systems. Our key research activities are in the following areas: Fuzzy and genetic fuzzy systems Psychological profiling with neural networks, including Silent Talker and Fathom Conversational agents and dialogue systems Conversational intelligent tutoring systems Short text semantic similarity measures Data mining small and big data, specialising in forensics and social media Quantum annealing. The Interactive group carries out research into computer vision, emphasising imaging and mathematical and statistical modelling of humans and their physiological and psychological processes. It has a significant interest in issues associated with human-computer interaction and psychological modelling of perceptual and attentive processes. Topics of interest include the following: Facial processing with applications to recognition, facial expression recognition and facial age determination Human motion capture concentrating on interpretation and measurement of actions, especially in the context of assessment of aging and neurological impairment or recovery Medical imaging with regard to characterisation of muscle-fibre movements, joint modelling and embryonic cytometry Human attention description centring on interpretation of eye-movements and their interaction with wider task and environmental constraints Human computer interaction centring on the usability of hand-held device software, serious games and cognitive assessment.
Knowledge exchange Facilities Informatics Research Centre members participate in a number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), leading to successful delivery of business-specific projects. Recent examples include the remote control of building systems via an iphone app, logistics optimisation, smart city data monitoring, and cognitive functioning measurement of people with dementia. Working with MMU has been extremely beneficial and has ensured we have been able to stay on the front edge of the development curve. Ged Tyrrell, CEO and founder of Tyrrell Recent multi-million pound investments have strengthened our facilities, which include a suite of research laboratories with advanced graphics workstations and NEC SX61 and SX8 vector supercomputers. Our state-of-the-art usability laboratory is purpose designed for the analysis of human behaviour. We capture this using a host of devices including cameras, computers, mobile devices and video game consoles, and then analyse it using the latest hardware and software. The facility also includes an observation control room and an observation lounge which is designed to mimic the look and feel of a domestic living room.
International impact Public engagement Research in the centre was rated internationally excellent, with some rated world leading, in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. Much of our research occurs at the intersection of computer science and other disciplines, which offers significant opportunities for high-impact work. Specific current or recent research projects with potential impact include: Real-time muscle activity interpretation using ultra-sound Interpretation of facial images for recognition of micro-expressions Tele-rehabilitation Automatic detection of glaucoma Informed consent processes during drug trials Detection of disease in food crops. IRC researchers have helped to shape the University s approach to public engagement. We firmly believe in the power of public participation and members of the IRC play a central role in this. Our involvement includes traditional outreach activities, such as participation in science festivals, giving talks in local schools, making appearances on TV and radio, contributing to newspaper and magazine articles and consulting on documentary TV series. We also emphasise the two-way flow of ideas and expertise, for example, a recent collaboration with the Manchester Digital Laboratory, funded by the Wellcome Trust, has given rise to a thriving independent citizen science initiative, where members of the public participate in scientific research projects. We also work with award-winning local publisher Comma Press - recent projects include a collection of science into fiction fiction, and the Macguffin jukebox app, which allows users to download audio versions of short stories.
Contact Us If you are interested in collaborating with us, or you think that we can contribute to your work, please get in touch. Executive Suite Informatics Research Centre Faculty of Science and Engineering Manchester Metropolitan University John Dalton Building Chester Street Manchester M1 5GD irc@mmu.ac.uk www.mmu.ac.uk/irc