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First prize for Middlesex Computer Science Department

30/10/2019
The Middlesex Research Group on Development of Intelligent Environments has won first prize in the 2019 British Computer Society Machine Intelligence Competition

The Smart Spaces Lab includes a Smart Home with sensors that can detect activities of daily living and make recommendations. These systems aim mostly at safer and healthier lifestyles as well as economy. Examples of system positive interventions illustrated during the competition were reminders for people experiencing cognitive decline.  These systems can also issue alerts on perceived safety issues (e.g., when an individual has fallen) to carers/family members designated as contacts

The Research Group on Development of Intelligent Environments, headed by MDX Professor Juan Carlos Augusto, headed off rivals from Imperial College, Manchester Metropolitan, Southampton Solent/Algobroz and the University of Lincoln to win this year’s British Computer Society (BCS) Machine Intelligence Competition.

The research team gave a live demonstration transmitted from the Smart Spaces Lab, currently hosted on the campus, showing real advances in ambient intelligence and context-aware intelligent support. This research particularly aims at supporting vulnerable people and their carers at home. The technology uses sensors and actuators in a home automation setup, supported by a sophisticated AI architecture that reasons by analysing sensor data and provides intelligent analysis and services based on context and personalisation in real time.

"The Smart Spaces Lab has the potential to revolutionise independent living.  With increasing numbers of people living with dementia, the need for more innovative approaches to support them and their carers will be essential.” Professor Juan Carlos Augusto, Middlesex University

Professor Juan Carlos Augusto and colleagues M. Ali, O. Benes, J. G. Manuel Gimenez, G. Ogbuabor, Ch. Oguego, and M. Quinde presented the system during the competition. The wider team involved in the research extends much further across the Faculty of Science and Technology.

“We are thrilled to win this award," Juan Carlos said. "We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of the Department of Computer Science, the Faculty of Science and Technology management as well as technical assistance from our university infrastructure.

“The Smart Spaces Lab has the potential to revolutionise independent living.  With increasing numbers of people living with dementia, the need for more innovative approaches to support them and their carers will be essential.”

Find out more about Computer Science at Middlesex University

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