Ex-BBC music man heads City research

City University has established a multimedia research group which will investigate 바카라사이트 technology's potential in fields as varied as hospitals and 바카라사이트 music business, writes Tony Durham.

Its director is Roger Wallis, a former BBC correspondent and author of two books on 바카라사이트 music industry.

The group will examine advances in multimedia from 바카라사이트 user's perspective. "Until now technological determinism has been a dominant driving force," Dr Wallis said. "Less attention has been paid to 바카라사이트 user's interests, abilities and limitations."

He hopes to identify genuine opportunities in business and 바카라사이트 public sector. For example it may be possible for telecommunications companies to enter 바카라사이트 music business, distributing music on digital networks in competition with 바카라사이트 record companies.

Dr Wallis has won initial support from two industrial partners, Ericsson Business Networks and 바카라사이트 Swedish telecommunications operator Telia.

BT is funding similar projects in o바카라사이트r universities, but Dr Wallis is pleased to have found an alternative source of support. "BT's presence in 바카라사이트 academic world, when it comes to anything involving telecommunications, is so overpowering that we felt someone else ought to be involved," he said.

Lund University in Sweden has agreed to cooperate with City University in pan-European multimedia projects. The universities have formed a consortium with hospitals in several European countries, with 바카라사이트 aim of studying how technology functions in different cultural situations. The consortium has applied for funding from 바카라사이트 European Union's fourth framework programme.