Intel opens lab to develop 'proactive computing' technologies

Intel opens lab to develop 'proactive computing' technologies
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Intel Corp. here announced that it has opened a new R&D laboratory in Berkeley, Calif. that will focus on its far-out vision of ubiquitous computing and other technologies.

The new lab--called the Intel Research Laboratory-Berkeley--will focus on the development of the company's future vision of computing, dubbed "proactive computing." Located at the University of California at Berkeley, the lab is focusing on technologies that could be commercialized in the 2005 to 2010 time frame.

The lab--part of the Intel Research Network--is one of three sites developing technologies related to "proactive computing." The other Intel labs are located at the University of Washington in Seattle, and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Intel initially described its "proactive computing" technology at the Intel Developer Conference in August (see Aug. 28 story ).

In one example of this concept, Intel demonstrated what it calls the "Ad Hoc Network" project, which is being researched at the University of California at Berkeley. The project involves the concept of end users carrying a tiny computer system, dubbed a "mote." Each '"mote" is linked to a network, which collects and gathers information to a main system.

The "Ad Hoc Network" technology could lead to several applications, such as digital firefighters. It could also lead to the development of far-out medical products like digital socks or bandages.

Each mote makes use of a microcontroller, wireless radio-frequency device, and an operating system called "Tiny OS," said David Tennenhouse, vice president and director of research at Intel.

The "Ad Hoc Network" project is a pure R&D effort right now. Intel has not decided if it will commercialize the technology, Tennenhouse said. "This is only a concept," he said in an interview with SBN.

The Berkeley lab will focus on the development of the "motes" and other technologies related to "proactive computing," he said. Meanwhile, the University of Washington will develop the middleware for the technology, and Carnegie Mellon University will focus on software, he said.

Each lab in the Intel Research Network will house a small staff of 20-25 Intel scientists and student interns, and a similar number of visiting university faculty and members of the larger research community.

Each lab will be led by a local university professor, a research leader in his field, who will take a one-to-two year leave or partial sabbatical from his regular teaching position, and then return to the university. These labs will lay the groundwork for very long-term collaborations between Intel and these professors, their colleagues and their departments.