Congratulations to members of the QSC Human Media Lab whose work on flexible interfaces was highlighted by the CBC among the year’s top technology and science stories:
To read the entire article, click here.
Ed Koush on why a Cell Ban is not the Answer
The School of Computing’s Ed Koush was recently interviewed by the Kingston Whig Standard. He explains why the recent recommendation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to ban the use of all portable electronic devices while driving, including hands-free devices such as Bluetooth, is not the answer we need. Read the full article here.
Wendy Powley Receives the Queen’s Equity Award
Queen’s School of Computing’s own Wendy Powley is the inaugural recipient of the Queen’s Equity Award. “Wendy Powley is a deserving first recipient of this award because her exemplary efforts have fostered a climate conducive to employment equity. Her significant contributions in the School of Computing have set a great example for the entire University,” says Gordon Smith, Chair, Queen’s Council on Employment Equity.
Wendy was nominated by over 90 of her fellow faculty, staff and students for her tireless efforts to promote the cause of women in computing – a field which is typically viewed as being geared more toward men. “Unfortunately, there exists a huge misconception regarding the nature of computing jobs and people who choose them. Once we are able to reach girls and educate them as to the opportunities that await them, they become more open minded and able to see the possibilities,” says Ms Powley. “Our efforts within the school have been highly successful; our current female enrollment numbers are 23 per cent higher than the national average.”
Ms Powley founded Women in the School of Computing (WISC) at Queen’s, an informal support, networking and social group for all women faculty, staff and students. The group has provided outreach and mentorship to young women in the Kingston community through the LEGO robotics program with the hope of educating and inspiring more girls to consider a career in computing. Ms Powley is also the founder and organizer of the annual conference Ontario Celebration of Women in Computing (ONCWIC).
Cobra: Flexible Displays for Mobile Gaming Scenarios
The Human Media Lab’s Zi Ye and Hammad Khalid are breaking ground for the next wave of mobile gaming. Code named “Cobra”, the system combines wearable components and flexible screens which will heighten the gamer’s experience in new and exciting ways. Read the whole story here!
David Skillicorn Weighs in on the 25 Worst Computer Passwords
David was interviewed widely about the top 25 worst/most common computer passwords in the Toronto Star and on the Sun News Network and 10 CBC Radio stations across Canada. You can watch an interview with David here:
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/featured/prime-time/867432237001/problematic-passwords/1290649480001
Announcing a New Book from TRL
Congratulations to QSC Telecommunications Research Laboratory members:
Hossam Hassanein and Abd-Elhamid Taha on the publication of their new book (with Najah Abu Ali of UAE University):
LTE, LTE-Advanced and WiMax: Towards IMT-Advanced Networks (Wiley, December 2011).
TRL Wins Best Paper Award
Congratulations to our colleagues in the QSC Telecommunications Research Laboratory:
Fadi M. Al-Turjman, Hossam S. Hassanein, and Sharief M.A. Oteafy, who had their paper “Towards Augmenting Federated Wireless Sensor Networks” selected as Best Paper at the Second International Conference on Ambient Systems, Networks and Technologies (ANT-2011).
Save the Date: Queen’s School of Computing Open House – Friday, December 9, 2011
That’s right, save the date and make plans to attend Queen’s School of Computing’s Open House! Friday, December 9, from 10am – 2pm the School will open its doors to local and area high school students, their teachers, Queen’s students, faculty & staff and the Kingston community.
The day will be packed with information, hands-on demos and lab tours. This will be a terrific opportunity for everyone to see first-hand the exciting and ground-breaking research that is happening right here at Queen’s School of Computing, every day.
Come back to this site and visit our Facebook Page for further updates on the day’s planned events!
Our Open House is being presented as part of Computer Science Education Week. For more information on CSEd Week, visit their website.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Queen’s School of Computing!
Queen’s School of Computing Wins Silver at ACE
The 8th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology (ACE) was held in Lisbon, Portugal, November 8 – 11, 2011. Queen’s School of Computing graduate student Jason Kurczak won a Best Paper Silver Award at the conference for his paper:
Hearing is Believing: Evaluating Ambient Audio for Location-Based Games
Jason Kurczak, T.C. Nicholas Graham, Claire Joly and Regan L. Mandryk.
Jason conducts his M.Sc. research in the EQUIS lab under the supervision of Dr. Nick Graham.
For more details, please visit the ACE 2011 website.
School of Computing Faculty Member, Mary McCollam, Fights Food Waste
Every year in Kingston thousands of pounds of surplus food end up in the garbage. Mary McCollam feels strongly about food security and sustainability, so she volunteers with Loving Spoonful, a volunteer-driven organization that diverts some of those perishable items to local meal programs, shelters and other agencies. Ms McCollam’s involvement with Loving Spoonful has grown since 2008 and she currently serves as the chair of the board of directors.
“I wanted to make a contribution in a small way to important issues such as food security and sustainability. Loving Spoonful’s food reclamation program matched my interests because it enhances healthy food access for low income families while combating food waste and its adverse environmental effects,” says Ms McCollam, an adjunct associate professor in the School of Computing.
Ms McCollam and other volunteers collect surplus perishable food from restaurants, caterers, cafeterias, farmers, wholesalers and market vendors. Loving Spoonful has delivered over 12,500 pounds of this perishable food to local organizations so far this year. Several Queen’s establishments, including the Lazy Scholar, Leonard Hall cafeteria and the Donald Gordon Conference Centre, donate unused perishable items to this worthwhile initiative.
Queen’s students have volunteered to support many of the organization’s different programs. As well, Loving Spoonful hired a Queen’s Work Study student last summer to help with its Grow a Row program, which delivered over 7,000 pounds of locally grown produce to agencies this year. Grants from the United Way in 2010 and 2011 assisted with this and other programs.
The United Way serving Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFLA) has helped Loving Spoonful build capacity and work toward becoming a United Way agency. The directors attend board development sessions and workshops hosted by the United Way.
Queen’s faculty, staff, students and retirees are one of the biggest contributors to the United Way serving KFLA. Queen’s has raised $277,000 of its $320,000 goal to date. Pledge cards can be returned to the Human Resources department (Fleming Hall, Stewart-Pollock Wing) or sent through campus mail.
Visit the Loving Spoonful website to learn more about its programs.
