NRC Tampere Laboratory carries out research in the areas of future user interfaces, rich context modeling and high performance multimedia platforms.

In future mobile user interfaces we study the role of augmented and mixed reality systems to create new user experiences from near eye display Gaze Tracking to dynamic representation of world through Image Space - a world created by people to the people to share, navigate, and discover content. Tangible multimodal interaction gives the user a smooth flow of interaction methods, relevant and adapting to the situation and with maximal ease of use.

We have keen interest in modern media formats, from 3D video (MVC) to Binaural Sound and coding of context into the data stream. We aim to offer solutions to sense and decuce rich human context based on multimodal sensing. Furthermore, we carry out research on platforms and end-to-end user experiences that fully utilize this rich multimodal context.

No technical system will work without careful consideration of user experience and user scenarios. We want to find out how to create a flow of interaction that captures the imagination of users, makes their daily tasks easy, and above all brings out the playfulness out of all of us. We want to show and share – even communicate - to the world in an immersive way.

The rich content has to be shared and enjoyed, with friends, with multiple devices, multiple screens and multiple modalities. The NRC Tampere research in high-performance mobile platforms covers device-agnostic platforms extending beyond a single device, optimized for multimedia and associated user data, offering seamless access to rich services anytime and anywhere.

Cognitive UI (lead by Jari Kangas)

Multimodal Interaction (lead by Vuokko Lantz)

User Experience and Design (lead by Tero Jokela)

Immersive Communication (lead by Martin Schrader)

Mixed Reality Solutions (lead by Ville-Veikko Mattila)

Context Computing (lead by Matthias Grossglauser)

Context-Aware Social Media (lead by Jonna Häkkilä)

Audiovisual Content Representation (lead by Mauri Väänänen)

Multimodal Sensing and Context (lead by Miska Hannuksela)

NRC Tampere carries out active collaboration with national and international universities and research units. The key collaborators in Finland are Tampere University of Technology (TUT), University of Tampere and Helsinki University of Technology (TKK).

One of the main facilities for open innovation in NRC Tampere is the Nokia Innovation Center, a joint activity between Nokia, Tampere University of Technology and University of Tampere. The aims are to promote open communications between the university’s researchers and Nokia’s research, to facilitate new kinds of co-operation and to create innovations. On a practical level, the centre offers facilities for joint project work, meetings and discussions as well as a location for organising theme talks open to all interested parties featuring visiting experts from Nokia or the universities. The centre opened in 2007 and is located next to the TUT campus and Nokia’s R&D facilities. The Innovation Center has helped to establish contacts with universities, professors and graduate students.

In addition to the Innovation Center, Nokia, together with Technology Centre Hermia, other companies and universities in the Tampere region, has developed Demola - an open innovation environment where students can carry out development projects as part of their studies based on project ideas received from companies.

NRC Tampere Call for Proposals extended until end of August

MUM 2009 conference co-organized by Nokia Research Center Tampere

Jyri Huopaniemi, Director - NRC Tampere