| The research activities in this cluster are focused on various aspects of information systems. The activities in INS1 are dominated by large-scale activities in the area of multimedia information retrieval and database architectures. The information retrieval activities are focussed on algorithms for inclusion in a database kernel. The focus on DBMS architectures is triggered by the requirements posed in both multimedia information retrieval and emerging ambient settings. Much of the work in INS2 is centered around multi-media applications. In particular, a grand challenge is to automatically generate multi-media documents maintaining their semantic structure regardless of the communication channel. In this context constraint-based methods are the leading technology basis. A side-track deals with facial impression simulation geared towards industrial R&D in the context of the Epictoid spin-off. The research theme INS3, visualization, studies those mechanisms that support the development of visualization techniques at the systems and user levels. These techniques include those found in virtual reality, multi-dimension visualization and information visualization The core of theoretical investigations into new computing paradigms and machines -Quantum Computing- is undertaken in INS4. In coming years the extensive knowledge on algorithms will be increasingly put to work in the area of bio-informatics, e.g. DNA sequence matching. The remaining activities within INS are projects geared at knowledge transfer towards research and industrial communities. An important output of the work in this cluster is the development of prototypes for demonstrating and experimenting with solutions. Many of these prototypes are used by affiliated research groups or find their way through partners in (inter)national consortia. The policy regarding their construction is to develop them up to the point that real applications can be built and exercised. |
