Fall 2006 Media Lab Projects

The i-Teams program was created in partnership with the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation. In previous years, all i-Teams were paired with MIT faculty Principal Investigators chosen by the Deshpande Center. This year, we pilot a new partnership with the MIT Media Lab. We offer two i-Teams projects drawn from work done by Media Lab faculty and students, with guidance from the Media Lab's corporate sponsors.

Modular communications device (based on work sponsored by Motorola)
Physical modularity offers a new approach to communication device design. The ability to physically dock and undock elements of the device provides flexibility, yet keeps the ability to handle the aggregate device as a single unit. One approach consists of a base unit that contains most of the intelligence and local applications along with components that can be separated for use. On each side of the base is a removable earpiece that contains a speaker and microphone. These earpieces communicate with the base via Bluetooth. When receiving a call, removing either earpiece will answer the call and replacing it back into the base will terminate the call. Both can be undocked for stereo music. The display can be separated and used away from the base. It communicates with the base via Bluetooth. It contains a touch screen and a high-resolution Graphical User Interface, but no resident memory or applications. On the back it contains a digital camera which uses the display as a viewfinder and to preview the pictures. Depending on the display's orientation when docked, it can enable videoconferencing or game playing.

Context-aware networking services (based on work sponsored by Cisco and Hitachi)
Exploration of the dynamics around context-aware networking services. Specifically, what types of new network-based services could be enabled by having access to enhanced context information (derived from sensors on an individual's body, environmental sensors, etc.)? What is the value of this new capability to the user / organization? What issues might arise (e.g., security and privacy) and how might these be addressed?

 

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