Design thinking

At the Australian eLearning Congress in Sydney, Cathie Howe, Game Design Project Manager, Macquarie ICT Innovation Centre, mentioned they are teaching "Design thinking" to teachers. They develop games for education and also use Edmodo to provide a safe social networking forum for students. From a brief look, Edmodo appears to be a more hip looking tool which provides similar features to Mahara and Moodle. Cathie also mentioned use of OpenSimulator for building educational 3D worlds.

Research and teaching with impact outside academia

Greetings from the Australian National University, where Professor John Hosking is speakingon "Research and teaching with impact outside academia". John started by talking about Christian Hirsch's work on "Visual Wikis". There is also Video talk by John on this. They pro0duced including Thinkbase and Thinkpedia. This provide a directed graph visualization of the relationships between items, alongside a traditional textural display of the wiki. The diagrams are similar to the "Social network analysis of the Iranian nuclear weapons program" by Graham Durant-Law. However, the visual wiki tools can operate in real time.

John then changed topics to talk about "technology roadmapping", using the approach from Robert Phaal at Cambridge University (Cambridge innovation has been analyzed in detail). The particuar project was to improve the innovation capability for small to medium New Zealand companies. It happens that Innovation ACT for 2011 will be launched here at the ANU at 5:30pm.

John then discussed "Learning at the elbows of experts" and how ICT students should be trained to work with other disciplines, in a strategic way. My view is that this can be done using on-line mentoring teaching techniques and I will be investigating this in my studies of research and teaching. This approach is taken in the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Courses. This could be applied to correct some of the problems in DMO in the Defence Department.

As academics we tend to excel at understanding and measuring the impact of our research within academic circles and our teaching on our students. We are also very good at adapting to those measurement instruments, as witnessed by the intense debate and behavioural change instruments such as the ERA cause. Stepping outside academia and looking for industry or organisational impact beyond the laboratory and classroom is something that is less often measured, but is something I consider vital for a College of Engineering and Computer Science. In this talk, I will discuss a current research project that is leading to commercialisation outcomes and a teaching initiative that is having strategic impact on ICT businesses and examine lessons from the experience gained.

Business Impact of Computer Research

Professor John Hosking will speak on "Research and teaching with impact outside academia" At the Australian National University, 4pm, 17 August 2011:

As academics we tend to excel at understanding and measuring the impact of our research within academic circles and our teaching on our students. We are also very good at adapting to those measurement instruments, as witnessed by the intense debate and behavioural change instruments such as the ERA cause. Stepping outside academia and looking for industry or organisational impact beyond the laboratory and classroom is something that is less often measured, but is something I consider vital for a College of Engineering and Computer Science. In this talk, I will discuss a current research project that is leading to commercialisation outcomes and a teaching initiative that is having strategic impact on ICT businesses and examine lessons from the experience gained.

Innovative Companies Invest More in ICT

A research paper "Business Innovation and the Use of Information and Communications Technology" by Jessica Todhunter and Ruel Abello at the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that innovative companies invest more ICT. But what the analysis can't show is if using ICT makes the company more innovative, or just that companies invest more to support their innovation.

The study uses data from the ABS Business Longitudinal Database (BLD) to examine the association between the intensity of use of information and communications technology (ICT) by businesses, and innovation. Firm level data for 6,442 businesses from the 2005–06 and 2006–07 waves of the BLD are used. An ‘ICT intensity index’ is constructed to represent the levels of sophistication in the business’ ICT usage. The association of this indicator with different types of innovation is modelled using multivariate regression. The types of innovation considered include product, process, organisational and marketing innovations.

The analysis finds a strong relationship between ICT intensity and innovative activity at the firm level. Businesses which use sophisticated types of ICT are significantly more likely to undertake innovation of any type. The more intense ICT users are likely to undertake more types of innovation, more novel innovations and are more likely to develop the innovations internally. The relationship between ICT and innovative activity holds when controlling for a range of other business characteristics, such as employment size and industry division.

From: "Business Innovation and the Use of Information and Communications Technology" by Jessica Todhunter and Ruel Abello at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3 March 2011

What programming is

Greetings from the Australian National University in Canberra, where Dr Richard P. Gabriel and Dr Guy Steele are reprising their presentation "50 in 50: 50 Programming Languages in 50 Years" from JAOO Aarhus 2008. This started with a slick video presentation. I was worried this was going to be all art and no algorithms, but the first topic was the "do loop" in Fortran.

The two presenters are taking turns to comment on each programming language since Fortran, each with 50 words about the fifty languages. This is interspersed with diagrams, animation, cartoons and music. There are school students from the Australian Informatics Olympiad in the audience to whom this is all ancient history. But the presentation encompasses the arc of my professional life and the music might be described as "soundtrack for career".

Not only were many songs from the sixties, but some with new lyrics such as "God wrote in Lisp code...". This is from "The Eternal Flame" by Bob Kanefsky (a parody of “God Lives on Terra” by Julia Ecklar).

There is a list of all the languages covered in the presentation, and a video of it, avialable. One thing which not be on the video is where a cricket sounded. At this point I thought there was surround sound, but it was a ring tone from someone's phone.

ps: One language which does not seem to get a mention, but perhaps has been used more than any other, is JavaScript.

What is programming

Dr Richard P. Gabriel and Dr Guy Steele will present "50 in 50: 50 Programming Languages in 50 Years", at the Australian National University in Canberra, 9 December 2010. To register for pre-lecture drinks (commencing 5.15pm). Please respond by Tue 7 December:

ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) present:

ANU Public Lecture Series 2010

50 in 50: 50 Programming Languages in 50 Years

Dr Richard P. Gabriel and Dr Guy Steele

Thursday 9 December 2010, 6-7pm

Haydon-Allen Lecture theatre (the tank) building 23, University Avenue, ANU

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Enquiries t: 6125 6601
E: Heather.mcEwen@anu.edu.au

People keep inventing new programming languages. What is programming, and how can the design of a programming language help or hinder that process? We have learned a lot over the last five decades: principles, conventions, theory, fashions, and fads. As George Santayna stated, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

In this multimedia presentation, the presenters survey numerous design features and important lessons from the past that future programmers - and future programming language designers - ought not to forget. They illustrate each lesson by discussing specific programming languages of the past, and endeavour to shine what light we can on the future.

Dr Guy Steele is a software architect who researches programming languages at Sun Labs, Oracle. He is the co-author of several books on programming languages, including The Hacker’s Dictionary, and Common Lisp the Language. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery.

Dr Richard Gabriel is a distinguished engineer working on programming language and software engineering at IBM Research. He is the author of five books on various topics including Lisp benchmarking, software and patterns, creative writing, a poetry collection and software development.

Please note there is limited availability of parking at ANU and guests should consider alternative forms of transport or allow sufficient time to find appropriate parking. For a map of the ANU campus visit http://campusmap.anu.edu.au To join the ANU Public Lectures mailing list and to listen to selected podcasts,
visit www.anu.edu.au/publiclectures

The views expressed in this lecture are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent the views of The Australian National University. Printed on recycled paper. CRICOS# 00120C MO_10363

Green IT Skills at World Computer Congress

This is to request comments and corrections for my talk "Teaching Sustainable ICT Competencies with Tablet Computers", in the Sustain IT stream of the World Computer Congress 2010, Brisbane, 12 noon, 23 September 2010. The new Australian Government could use these techniques to provide skills via broadband in regional Australia.

The first globally available and accredited Green ICT course for computer professionals commenced in January 2009. Sponsored by the Australian Computer Society, as part of an international program for professional education, the course is also now run at the masters’ level by the Australian National University and several other Australian and North American institutions. Course designer Tom Worthington discusses how e-learning is used with mentored and collaborative techniques to deliver professional education on mobile devices.

From: Teaching Sustainable ICT Competencies with Tablet Computers: My first year's experience setting the global standard for green ICT professional education, Tom Worthington FACS CP HLM, Version 1.0, 15 September 2010

Web slides to accompany the talk are also available.

Ethical aspects of computer mediated communication

Yve Dougall gave an entertaining and informative talk on "The ethical aspects of computer mediated communication" at the ACS Canberra Branch this evening. She is undertaking postgraduate research in ethics and information technology at the Centre of Applied Philosophy and Applied Ethics (CAPPE) at ANU.

Yve started by relating Kant and Plato's Cave to the use of Facebook. She pointed out that research shows there are characteristic linguistic patterns used online which can be used to detect deception. Deception induces similar responses in the brain as being in a position of power over others. Yve pointed out that that there are only three centres of excellence in this field in the world: Department of Communicators, Cornell, Open University of Israel, and Delft University of Technology.

Yve claimed that the level of deception is related to the medium of communication: the faster the communication, the higher the rate of deception. Email is less subject to deception, perhaps because it is more likely that the messages will be used as evidence. However, even in the case of email, evasiveness may be used.

It occurs to me that this research could have practical application. Techniques could be used for business, government and education to encourage people to be more honest in correspondence, applying for funding or doing tests. This could be done by making the system seem less immediate and make it very clear that all documents are recorded. It might also be useful to make the system appear personal, for example by having a photo and name staff member which the client is communicating with.

One curious finding Yve reported was that online dating sites have low rates of deception. Also gender is not correlated with honesty online, although men and women have different views as to what is dishonesty.

Another aspect is that if the online user trusts the other party, they will reveal more information than they would do in person. This might be useful, for example, for patients to be more honest with their doctors.

In response to a question Yve Dougall described "Second Life" as "The After Life", being a failing system, with Facebook now taking over as the hot online place to be.

The ethical aspects of computer mediated communication

Exploring the interplay between deception and identity on: social networking sites (SNS); text (SMS) and email.

The ability to control what information one reveals about oneself over the Internet and to control that can access this information, only becomes an ethical issue when there is a causal concern for Internet privacy. Internet users may achieve an adequate level of privacy through controlled disclosure of both personal and factual information about themselves. The technological configuration underlying the Internet has a considerable bearing on its ethical aspects. The Internet blurs the boundaries between self and game, self and role, self and simulation, self and communication. Participants are whatever they can pretend to be. They enjoy the artificial social construct on social networking sites or the manipulated façade of virtual worlds, without questioning where it comes from, who created it, or for what purpose. The popular culture that appropriates everything and turns it into a simulation and a story line becomes the model for the self, society and reality. Life becomes a symbolic arena for the acting out of manufactured identity selves that is then communicated in a contained and controlled storyline through selected ‘friends’.

The goal of this presentation is to inform and dispel myths with academic factual research on how prevalent online identity deception actually is and to examine the effects of and the conditions that give rise to it.

Biography: Yve Dougall

Analyst of ACS, based in Canberra. Prior to joining ACS nearly two years ago, she was working with the Office of Transport Security, heading the Aviation Security Technologies Team.

She initially studied Engineering back in the early eighties and was the first female civil engineer to be awarded a cadetship by then Telecom Australia. After working in Building Design Standards, for four years - she shifted gears and decided to embark on journalism. She was based with Reuters in Hong Kong as a war & foreign correspondent, returning to Australia in the late eighties to work for SBS.

A return to fulltime study followed with a major in Philosophy, where upon graduating she moved to Canberra with her husband in 1994.

She has held diverse Government contracts over the years specializing in addressing ICT Business Cases within the Federal Sector, her areas of expertise are in change management, project management, policy to program service delivery and stakeholder engagement. Other contracts have included Minter Ellison and Engineers Australia.

She is currently undertaking postgraduate research in ethics and information technology at the Centre of Applied Philosophy and Applied Ethics at ANU.

Teaching Green IT at World Computer Congress 2010

The World Computer Congress 2010 has invited me to talk on "Teaching Sustainable ICT Competencies with Tablet Computers: My first year's experience setting the global standard for professional education" (as featured in my book Green Technology Strategies), in Brisbane in September. This should be a more relaxed experience than WCC 1996, when I was President of the Australian Computer Society, hosting the event in Canberra.

The list of confirmed industry and plenary speakers so far has some familiar names:

WCC 2010 confirmed industry and plenary speakers

Plenary

• Nicholas Carr, Author of The Big Switch
• Prof Penny Sanderson, University of Queensland & NICTA
• Richard Stallman, Free Software Foundation
• John Suffolk, CIO, British Government

LearnIT

• Sir John Daniel, President & CEO, Commonwealth of Learning, Computers for Secondary Schoolchildren: A Busted Flush? New book: http://www.col.org/mega-schools/
• Mr Nick Weidemann, CIO, Education Services Australia, Aligning existing digital learning resources and systems with the Australian Curriculum
• Steve Hargadon, Elluminate's Social Learning Consultant & founder of the Classroom 2.0 social network http://www.classroom20.com, Web 2.0 in Action
• Dr Marcus Bowles, Director, Institute of Working Futures, ICT Competencies
• Mike Collett & Jenny Hunt with Prof Phil Candy, USQ, Principal Consultants, Schemeta, United Kingdom, E-Learning Readiness Toolkit
• Prof James Dalziel, Director, Macquarie E-Learning Centre Of Excellence (MELCOE) http://www.melcoe.mq.edu.au , Web 2.0 Meets Lesson Plans: Sharing Good eTeaching Ideas
• Dr Yong-Sang Cho, Director, Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS) which is a government institution of the Ministry of Education & Science Technology (MEST), e-Books & e-Learning The Korean Open Digital Publication Forum
• Simon Brown, http://simonbrown.wikispaces.com, Success Factors in Online Teaching
• Carol Skyring , Founder and CEO, LearnTel Pty Ltd, Visual communication: From zoopraxiscope to YouTube
• Adrian Janson, Director, ICT Melbourne High School, The National ICT Curriculum Controversy
• Allyn Radford, Director, Learnilities Pty Ltd, Lessons from an Open World
• Mark Keough, Principal, M2 Consulting, Toward Learning Utility with Ultra Fast Broadband
• Steve Sudgen, Editor, Spreadsheets in Education, Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education

TreatIT

• Bill Vargas, CIO, Children’s Hospital - Westmead, eHealth - Beyond a Hospital's Electronic Medical Record, what we do need from a consumer's perspective?
• Adam Powick, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, eHealth in Australia - The Way Forward
• John Neville, CEO, Data Agility
• Peter Grant, Consultant, Intelligent Business Research Services (IBRS); Professor Information Systems, QUT & UQ
• Denis Tebbutt, Managing Director, iSOFT
• Phil Gurney, Australian e-Health Research Centre

TrustIT

• Marcus Sachs, Executive Director - Government Affairs for National Security Policy, Verizon, Cyber-espionage and Cyber-warfare
• Paul Ducklin, Head of Technology, Sophos, Asia Pacific, Malware analysis and detection
• Dr Peter Gutmann, Researcher - Department of Computer Science, University of Auckland, Unsolveable problems in computer security (TBC)
• Dr Wietse Venema, Research staff member, IBM T.J. Watson researchcenter in the USA, Software security and secure programming

ValueIT

• Dr Eva Hopper, European Patent Office http://www.epo.org, Intersection between protecting IP and making innovation happen – in time!
• Mr Ralf Abbing, European Patent Office http://www.epo.org, What are the “big” issues in IP in relation to computing technology?
• Lachlan James, Business Director, NICTA’s Queensland Laboratory, Innovation processes in Commercialization of ICT
• Robert Hillard, Partner, Consulting, Enterprise Information Management, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu , Information-Driven Business http://www.infodrivenbusiness.com
• Peter Nevin, Executive General Manager - Business Processes, Sedgman Limited (previously CIO Apac, Sinclair Knight Merz)
• Vince Gill, Director, Capability Consulting, IT is not about me
• Guido Governatori, Business Process Compliance Project Leader, NICTA’s Queensland Laboratory, IT role in business process compliance
• Stephen Kowal, General Manager - Finance, CSC, TBA

• Dharmender Kapoor, Associate Vice President, HCL

GovernIT

• Peter Harrison, IBM, Value Governance
• Peter Carr, Longhaus
• Peter Green, University of Queensland, TBA

• Tony Hayes, Director, ISACA
• Carsten Larsen, CIO, Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
• Rimas Skeivys, Principal, Ugovern, Governance of IT - the role of the project sponsor

SustainIT

• Bianca Wirth, CEO, Computers Off, The global "Computers Off" campaign
• Graeme Philipson, Research Director, Connection Research, Australia’s IT Carbon Footprint
• Bob Hayward, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, CSC Australia & Asia, Data Centre and Cloud Computing innovation
• Glenn Gore, CTO, MelbourneIT, Enterprise virtualisation automation and green computing
• Dr Paul Campbell, Principal Consultant, Cogentia, Control Modelling and Energy efficiency in Software Engineering
• Josh Millen, Corporate Social Responsibility, AIIA, A national approach to eWaste management
• Tom Worthington, Australian National University, Green ICT Education of ICT professionals
• Phillip Nyssen, Delivering sustainable business benefits through GreenIT
• Turlough Guerin, General Manager - Sustainability, Telstra, The Australian NBN enabling sustainable workforces
• Craig Roussac, General Manager, Sustainability, Safety and Environment Investa Property Group, Buildings come clean: it’s time to see the data!

DeliverIT

• Ashley Goldsworthy, Director, Unidap Solutions; Chairman, CertainEdge, Business Models of the Future - Certain Edge / Unidap Solutions
• Ben Patey, CIO, CSC Australia, Leveraging Social Networking
• Brett Hooker, MD Roarz
• Clarence Tan, Qld Technologist in residence, Enabling mobile transactions with information assurance
• Craig Batty, CTO, Fujitsu, Changing Needs of Data Centres and use of Clouds (TBA)
• Damian Hickey, CEO, Zac-Ware, Profits and pitfalls of segmenting web presences on a regionalised basis
• Dharmender Kapoor, Associate Vice President, HCL Australia
• Dr Kelvin Ross, Managing Director, How does Australian Industry Measure Up for Software Testing and Quality
• Ian Dennis, Chairman, Whitehorse Strategic, Changing structure of ICT occupations and the ICT industry in the Digital Economy
• Jackie Korhonen, CEO, Infosys Australia
• John Puttick, Chairman, GBST Holdings, If IT is to be…
• M. Rosemann and Stephen Goodwin from BAC, Professor, Airport of the Future
• Nick Brandt, CIO, Brisbane City Council, Virtualisation and Clouds (TBC)
• Peter Effeney, CEO, Sparq Solutions, Electricity Utility related presentation
• Peter Grant, Consultant, Intelligent Business Research Services (IBRS); Professor Information Systems, QUT & UQ, Influencing Industry and Government Technology Decisions and Alliancing
• Prof Reg Coutts, Principal, Coutts Communications, Network of the Future
• Prof Simon Kaplan, Executive Dean, QUT - Science and Technology, Socio-Technical Networks - Panel Discussion
• Robert Hillard, Partner, Consulting, Enterprise Information Management, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Information-Driven Business http://www.infodrivenbusiness.com
• Rob Livingstone, CIO, Ricoh, Is your organization instrument-rated to fly in the cloud?
• Rohit Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Satyam
• Scott Stewart, CIO, Wilson HTM, Convergent roles of IT and Business
• Stephen Kowal, CSC General Manager Financial Services; Past Vice President, ACS
• Stuart Guest Smith, Thoughtworks, Agile delivery and unique models
• Todd McGregor, Commercial Director, Any3 connectivity – Anywhere, Any place, Any time
• Max Jennings, Director, Wireless Engineering Telstra, Mobile / comms network design, embedded systems
• ACS Award Nominee, Student, Super Performance Database Web Grid (with Locked Record update)
• Aileen Cater-Steele, CS Award Nominee, IT Service Management
• Les Williamson, Vice President, Cisco Australia & New Zealand
• Phil Mumford, CEO, QLD Motorways, Free Flow Tolling
• Baden Sharples, CIO, Qsuper, Transformation Change

PlayIT

• Fergus Carroll, General Manager, Krome Studios
• Morgan Jaffitt, Impossible Changing Brain Foundation, Casual Game Development in Australia
• John Passfield, Chief Creative Bloke 3 Blokes Studios, Social Games
• George Fidler, Business side of Casual Game Start-Ups
• Eve Penford-Dennis, FreePlay, Creative Side of Games

YoungIT

• Rangan Srikhanta, Executive Director, OLPC, One Laptop Per Child Program
• Anastasia Govan, ACS NT Branch Chair and the First YIT Board Director. Anastasia won the 2006 Young Professional of the Year Award, How I made a Business out of Information Management
• Jill Noble, Pivotal HR Resume Professionals, Communication with a focus on speaking and elocution for Young ICT Professionals
• AJ Kulatunga, Darwin-based entrepreneur
• John Ridge AM, Executive Director, ACS Foundation, Accelerating Your Career
• Kate Southam, TBA

Pearcey Roundtable

• Dr David Skellern, NICTA
• Dr Alex Zelinsky, CSIRO
• Dr Arun Sharma, QUT
• Dr Rohan Gilmore, AIC
• David Waldie, Allegro Networks

History of Internet in Australia on Paper

The book "AARNet : 20 Years of the Internet in Australia : 1989-2009" by Glenda Korporaal was launched in November 2009, but only in the last week have I been able to access it. This is due to the irony that AARNet, a pioneer of online information access, chose to distribute its history on paper, in the form of a limited edition, hardback book.

The book is a well researched, well written and well presented 128 page, handsome hardback, with numerous historically interesting photographs. The book could do with an index and seems to draw more than a little of its inspiration from Roger Clarke's "Origins and Nature of the Internet in Australia".

The author does not shy away from discussing some of the controversies in AARnet's history. I recognised many familiar names and faces, many of who were fellow members of the "Internet Conspiracy" to get the Australian Government on the Internet in the 1990s.

It is a shame, and symptomatic of the problems which have held back AARnet, that few people will ever see this work. After making a bold move into a new technology AARnet tends loose it nerve and fails to follow up and make effective use of the what it has done. In this case they have commissioned a book, but ensured almost no one will ever read it, by not making it available using the technology they advocate.

The message AARnet is sending out to its clients in Australian universities and to its backers (the Australian Government), is that AARnet does not think the Internet is suitable for the distribution of important information: AARnet prefers paper delivery.

The copy of the book I read will sit on the shelves of the ANU Menzies Library, several floors away from the nearest student (who will be tapping away at a keyboard) and on the other side of the campus from the School of Computer Science.

AARnet could have provided the book online, as a valuable educational resource, in the form of a free web site and e-book. Australian students could have then learned about the role which Australian played in creating the Internet. Instead Australians will be educated using materials from other countries and not know Australia had a role in development of the Internet.

AARNet and the Internet in Australia

The book "AARNet – 20 years of the Internet in Australia" (ISBN 9780646521114) by Glenda Korporaal was launched yesterday. This claims to document the role of the Australia Academic and Research Network (AARNet) had in introducing the Internet to Australia. Unfortunately AARNet decided not to make their book about the Internet available via the Internet.

This decision is symptomatic of the problems which have plagued AARNet. The organisation has excellent technical skills and is still at the forefront of applying the Internet to research and education. However, AARNet after making a bold move into a new technology tends loose it nerve and fails to follow up and make effective use of the what it has done. In this case they have commissioned a book, but ensured almost no one will ever read it, by not making it available using the technology they advocate.

The message AARnet is sending out to its clients in Australian universities and to its backers (the Australian Government), is that AARnet does not think the Internet is suitable for the distribution of important information: AARnet prefers paper delivery.

AARnet could have provided the book online, as a valuable educational resource. Australian students could have then learned about the role which Australian played in creating the Internet. Instead Australians will be educated using materials from other countries and not know Australia had a role in development of the Internet.

During the early years of the Internet I was asked by MPs and senior policy makers in Canberra (and still am) who were the important people in the world to talk to about the Internet, the web and other IT developments. When asked this in Parliament House I would point in the direction of the ANU, CSIRO and other research bodies saying: "down there". The response would usually be "no we don't want to talk to Australians, we want world leaders". AARNet are perpetuating that problem by failing to get their message out.

As well as not making the content of the book available online, AARNet do not seem to have made the paper book available either. I was unable to find the book on Amazon.com, nor anywhere else on the Internet. About the only way to get the book seems to be ask AARNet and at some time in the future they might tell you where it is available.

CSIRO ICT Centre Conference

Greeting from the 2009 CSIRO ICT Centre Conference. Each year the CSIRO ICT Centre runs a conference for its own staff and invited guests. This year I have been helping with a project featured in the conference and so had the opportunity to attend. There are several hundred people at the conference, with two days of presentations and about two hundred posters. Ken Taylor's VotaPedia system (a CSIRO product) was used last year to choose the best Best Poster and is being used again this year.

After recent success with its wireless patent, the ICT Centre is making sure to protect any idea with commercial potental. But some papers from previous years are available from CSIRO and those from this year will be availble. One or two papers are alreadyavialable, such as "FEM registration for pre- and post-surgery images of Brain Cancer Patients" (Poster, article).

Canberra Launch of 2009 Australian ICT Trade Update

Professor John Houghton will present the results of his "2009 Australian ICT Trade Update" in Canberra on 6 October 2009.

MEDIA ALERT

Canberra Launch of 2009 Australian ICT Trade Update

A Joined Event between Australian Computer Society and Australian Services Roundtable

When: Tuesday 6 October 2009
Time: 6pm for 6.30 pm start

Where: Australian Service Roundtable (ASR) 2a Mugga Way, Red Hill, Canberra (closest corner Tennyson Street Red Hill/ACT Chapter Australian Institute of Architects Building)

Presenter: Professor John Houghton

What: The findings of the 2009 Australian ICT Trade Update, revealing a growing annual ICT trade deficit of $28 billion, reflecting Australia's increasing demand for ICT equipment. Despite the global financial crisis, Australia's ICT exports continued to grow, reaching almost $6.6 billion in 2008 around 2.3% of Australia's total export earnings.

The Report shows that in 2008, Australia's ICT exports increased to $6.6 billion while imports cost $34 billion, creating an ICT trade deficit of $28 billion. Strong export growth and surpluses on trade in computer services stand out. It is the only area of ICTs in which Australia has a surplus on trade and is clearly an important area of local strength.

Commissioned by the ACS and authored by Professor John Houghton, the Report identifies computer services as holding Australia's greatest domestic performance promise. It also highlights innovation and a slowing of risk-oriented seed and venture capital investment as areas that Australia's governments and ICT industry stakeholders must support,
to improve the ICT Trade Performance and enhance Australia's competitive advantage.

Australian ICT Trade Update 2009 Report can be downloaded at
www.acs.org.au/09icttradeupdate

About the Presenter:

Professor Houghton is a prolific author and commentator on ICT. He is currently Professorial Fellow at Victoria University's Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (CSES) and Director of the Centre's Information Technologies and the Information Economy Program. He has significant experience in information technology policy, science and technology policy and more general industry policy related economic research. He is a regular consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris and was a co-author of the
recent Centre for Innovative Industry Economic Research report for the Federal Government, "The Australian Software Industry - Globally Competitive - Domestically Undervalued".

To confirm media attendance: Seni Murni, senim@acs.org.au, 02 8296 4433 or 0410 029 706 / PR and Special Projects Executive

ICT Statistics for the National Broadband Network

Greetings from the ICT Statistics Reference Group Meeting at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra. Major federal ICT agencies and industry bodies are represented in the group (I am here on behalf of the ACS). Major items discussed were the rollout of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania (where I was last week) and the creation of the NBN Company. I talked about the Australian ICT Trade Update released yesterday. Another item was that the Queensland Government has released a "ICT for tomorrow's Queensland - Strategy" and Action Plan.

One issue which keeps coming up at these meetings is the lack of resources for the ABS to collect ICT statistics. One suggestion I have made is to ask the new NBN Company for funding. The NBN Company has a very close interest in the use of ICT in Australia and is well funded by the federal government. An extra ten million of dollars per year spent on statistics may save tens of billions of dollars on misdirected investment in broadband infrastructure.

One statistical detail which may become important is that the ABS will start recording the number of home fibre optic connections in Australia (currently there are only though to be about 400). ABS will look from the home point of view, as a result a fibre termination to cluster housing will not count as fibre to the home. This has very significant implications for the statistics and for pubic policy. As an example, there is a fibre node in the basement of my apartment building, with copper cable the last few tens of metres to the apartment. This would not be counted as fibre to the home by the ABS. In my view it should be counted as this is fibre to the premises and provides essentially the same service as if the fibre was terminated in my apartment. This will skew the statistics, and undercount the FTTP statistics. It is very much cheaper and easier to use copper for the last tens of metres, than fibre, so there will be a lot of this. It would be unfortunate if many Austrlaias missed out on better broadband because of a statistical definition.

Here is the agenda for the meeting, I will comment on other items as we go along:

ICT Reference Group Meeting

23 September 2009

Agenda

1. Welcome – 5 mins

2. Minutes from last meeting and action item status – 5 mins

3. ICT Strategic issues – current and emerging (for discussion by group members) – 50 mins

1. Updates in policy landscape and priorities since the last reference group meeting.

2. Emerging regulatory priorities and trends in technology.

3. Future directions for ICT statistics from a user perspective.

4. Other, as identified by members.

4. Updates on ABS business collections (for information and discussion) – 40 mins

1. ICT Industry Survey (ICTIS): Developments since the last reference group meeting.

2. Development of 2009–10 Business Use of Information Technology (BUIT) survey.

3. Changes to Internet Activities Survey (IAS)

4. Update on Farm Use of Information Technology (FUIT)

5. Data in respect of Government Use of IT [update by the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO)] – 15 mins

6. Update on ABS collections relating to Non-business Use of IT (for information and discussion) – 15 mins

1. Census of Population and Housing: Developments in relation to 2011 ICT related questions – update from previous meeting – 5 mins

2. Developments in Household Use of Information Technology (HUIT) statistics – 10 mins

   1. Status of development for 2010–11 HUIT.

7. ICT related statistics produced by other organisations (for information) – 15 mins

1. Cyber Crime Survey by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) – update on status (presentation by AIC)

2. ICT compendium and ICT Remuneration Survey by the Australian Computer Society (presentation by ACS)

8. Analytical projects undertaken by ABS (for information) – 20 mins

9. International developments – 10 mins

1. Working Party on Indicators for the Information Society (WPIIS) meeting in Paris 23-24 April 2009.

2. OECD Project on Analysis and Classification of Internet activities – status on ABS contribution.

10. Recent developments: work underway, recent releases and upcoming releases (for information) – 10 mins

1. Work underway: Surveys and other work currently in development.

   1. BUIT 2009–10

   2. HUIT 2010–11

2. Recent releases (since March 2009):

   1. Internet Activity Survey, Australia, December 2008 (6 April 2009)

   2. Summary of IT Use and Innovation in Australian Business, 2007–08 (25 June 2009)

   3. Use of Information Technology on Farms, 2007–08 (17 August 2009)

   4. Business Use of Information Technology, 2007–08 (20 August 2009)

   5. Internet Activity Survey, Australia, June 2009 (14 September 2009)

   6. Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, 2007–08 (17 September 2009)

3. Upcoming releases:

   1. Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2007–08 (25 September 2009)

   2. Business Longitudinal Database, Confidentialised Unit Record File (October 2009)

   3. Household Use of Information Technology, 2008–09 (16 December 2009)

11. Other business and Conclusion

2009 Australian ICT Trade Update

The Australian Computer Society released its 2009 Australian ICT Trade Update on 22 September 2009. This is really for 2008 and shows a ICT trade deficit of $28b for the year. It is not all bad news with Australian ICT exports being $6.6b, 2.3% of the total Australian Exports. There is a one page summary "2009 Australian Trade Update" as well as the full 96 page "2009 Australian ICT Trade Update" (2.2 Mbytes of PDF).

Professor John Houghton has done his usual thorough analysis for this annual report for the ACS. Unfortunately the news has not changed over the years this report has been done: ICT still holds promise for the Australian economy. It would be interesting to see what the figures were if ICT education was included, with Australia's large intake of overseas students studying computing (I am contributing to exports by educating international students in Australian and other overseas via the Internet).

Unfortunately, as with previous reports, the material is published as a poorly formatted, difficult to read PDF document. This makes it very much harder to disseminate the information and must be resulting in much of the impact of work being lost. The summary document suffers from this problem with a lesser extent, with the table of figures not being correctly marked up in HTML for web display.

Summary of 2008 ICT Trade Figures & Findings

2008	Imports		Exports
ICT equipment	computers communications components audiovisual other	$29,719 m $8,276 m $5,485 m $3,511 m $6,047 m $6,402 m	computers communications components audiovisual other	$3,571 m $1,058 m $697 m $521 m $410 m $885 m
ICT services	communications computer audio visual software royalties	$4,896 m $1,162 m $1,543 m $1,250 m $941 m	communications computer audiovisual software royalties	$3,006 m $924 m $1,673 m $214 m $195 m

Note - 1,000 million = 1 billion

Key Import And Export Trends
Exports

• ICT goods and services are amongst the top ten principle exports for Australia - accounting for around 2.3% of Australia’s total export earnings.
• The largest markets for Australian ICT equipment exports are New Zealand, USA, China, Germany and Singapore.
• The largest recorded markets for ICT services are USA, Hong Kong, UK, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. China (incl. SARs) is also a major market.
• Computer and information services exports are the biggest category of exports for Australia, having increased three fold in the last decade. Major markets are the US, UK and New Zealand.

Imports

• Imports of ICT goods and services accounted for around 13% of Australia’s total import debits.
• Largest ICT equipment import sources are China, USA, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Germany.
• Largest ICT services import sources are USA, UK, India, Germany, New Zealand Hong Kong and Singapore. ...

From: "2009 Australian Trade Update", Media Release, Australian Computer Society released its 2009 Australian ICT Trade Update on 22 September 2009

Weapons Systems Defence Research Summer Vacation Scholarships

Here are the Weapons Systems projects for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Scholarships. DSTO is offering 68 university students $4,050 tax-free each for a 12-week research project in the Summer Vacation Scholarship Program. Applications can be made online and close 19 July 2009, with the projects running from late November 2009 to mid February 2010 accross Australia.

The Projects

WSD 01 Enhancement of Ground Based Air Defence Planning Tools

Weapons Systems Division has developed a ground based air defence planning tool that is used by the 16th Air Defence Regiment for optimizing air defence layouts. The Air Defence Command Post Automation (ADCPA) tool is a Microsoft Windows based tool that is currently being upgraded based on user requirements. Developments will consider GUI, functionality and potential integration of Geospatial products.

This project involves: a) continued updating the existing ADCPA tool; b) design and development work for migration of the tool to a new simulation architecture; and c) general support to the development of simulation architectures. The student will gain experience in software engineering in a research environment, state of the art simulation architectures and an understanding of weapon systems.

Update the existing ADCPA software application with user defined modifications. Assist with the re-design of ADCPA to be compatible with the new simulation architecture developed by Weapon Systems Division. Assist with general simulation application architecture development as directed by MSTARS team leader.

Engineering (Aerospace, Information Technology, Software), Applied Physics, Computer Science. C++ programming, Visual C++ MFC, wxWidgets, knowledge of GIS products.

Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

WSD 02 Enhancement of Simulink Missile Models using MSTARS

Weapons Systems Division has developed an environment to aid the development of physics-based models of missiles called MSTARS. MSTARS is a Model Architecture developed under Matlab Simulink that provides templates, GUI’s and utility blocks to aid the construction of missile models and the export of these models to C++ simulations. Sample missile components and models are included to serve as a worked example to users. This project involves updating some of the sample MSTARS models to enhance their functionality and better represent the capabilities of modern missiles. The student will gain experience in modelling complex systems in Simulink, software engineering in a research environment and an understanding of modern missile technology.

Update example MSTARS model components to represent more advanced missile capabilities, such as launch aircraft to missile datalink and lock-after-launch infra-red seekers. Integrate Simulink models from other missile modeling environments into MSTARS. Assist with general MSTARS architecture development as directed by MSTARS team leader

Engineering (Aerospace, Information Technology, Software), Applied Physics, Computer Science.

Matlab and Simulink, C++ programming.

Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

WSD 03 Replacement of Safety Status Monitor and Display

The Safety Status Monitor and Display (SSMD) is a critical safety component of the Primary Infrared Scene Projector. Its role is to monitor analog safety sensors and communicate this data to a host PC over an RS232 serial interface. The SSMD must be replaced and this project requires a requirements analysis and specification of new hardware including ADC and communications hardware. This project may be extended to include the development of a TCP/IP interface in FPGA hardware if time is available.

For SSMD replacement Identification of requirements for replacement hardware Specification of replacement system Selection of COTS hardware

For TCP/IP project extension Implement a TCP/IP interface on Xilinx FPGA Develop a GUI and communications protocol for communication between FPGA development board and host PC

Electronic Engineering or Mechatronic Engineering

Knowledge of ADCs and how to select appropriate ADC for a given task Good report writing and communication skills Some programming skills (C++ or Java) VHDL design experience FPGA design experience MATLAB experience Simulink experience

Must have good knowledge of Analog to Digital conversion theory and hardware and must possess good communication skills.

Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

WSD 04 Characterisation of fuel vaporisation

Experiments and trials that are done to study the interaction of projectiles in a jet fuel-air mixture require knowledge of the concentration and fractional composition of the fuel as it is introduced to the apparatus and vaporises. Following a short review of relevant literature, this project will firstly study in a laboratory apparatus the vaporisation process from initiation to saturated equilibrium, or to a steady non-equilibrium state using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or other methods. It will then assess options for rugged sensors that could be used in a larger projectile interaction chamber. The ability of simple gauges to identify conditions in the vapour mixture and methods of calibration will be addressed

Review of available literature; refinement of experimental methodology; design and construction of laboratory apparatus; supervised operation of gas chromatography/mass spectrometer instruments; analysis of results; search and assessment of measurement product options; reporting of conduct and results of the project

Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petrochemical engineering, Physical Chemistry

Laboratory skills, desktop analysis and reporting

Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

WSD 05 Design, construction, and evaluation of high current Helmholtz coils

Using computer simulation and analytical tools design Helmholtz coils for high current applications. Suitable designs will be constructed and then evaluated. Magnetic fields will be measured and mapped for a variety of current inputs. A final report detailing results will be provided.

Simulation, construction, experiment, report writing Physics, mechanical, electrical, electronic engineering

Mechanical design This is not a desk job Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

WSD 06 Target Detection Algorithm Development for Ground Penetrating Radar Data Algorithms

Real-time detection and discrimination of targets of interest at a standoff distance is a major issue in efforts to develop defence against improvised explosive devices (IED). Threat Mitigation (TM) group, Defence Science Technology Organization (DSTO) in collaboration with universities has developed a number of target detection algorithms applicable to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), metal detector array data, and Visual & Infrared (IR) images. This project focuses on development and testing of enhanced target detection algorithms to reduce clutter signal due to the reflection from the ground surface in ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. The proposed technique will be applied to a GPR, which has been used to detect subsurface anti-personnel (AP) landmines. A very simple model will be is used to model the GPR clutter and the target signal

Data analysis, report writing Electronic and electrical engineering Matlab competency

Weapons Systems Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

Human factors Defence Research Summer Vacation Scholarships

Here are the Human factors projects for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Scholarships. DSTO is offering 68 university students $4,050 tax-free each for a 12-week research project in the Summer Vacation Scholarship Program. Applications can be made online and close 19 July 2009, with the projects running from late November 2009 to mid February 2010 accross Australia.

The Projects

MPD 05 A Review of Fatigue and Performance Models

The Navy Personnel and Material Sustainment Group in MPD are currently involved in a number of research studies where fatigue is one of the key issues. It is well known that fatigue is a persistent occupational hazard and may be an influence in many human factors accidents. Fatigue is also very much part of life within the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), where work demands and stress are high. Part of the research conducted within MPD aims at providing recommendations and initiatives to mitigate against fatigue and improve safety within the RAN.

Over the last decade there has been an increased interest in technologies and procedures that are capable of monitoring and predicting fatigue and performance. This interest has largely been brought about by the requirement for more effective fatigue countermeasures in the transport sector. Within this context, the Navy Personnel and Material Sustainment Group in MPDhave purchased and used technologies capable to some extent of detecting and predicting fatigue. An important aspect for these technologies is that they are properly validated and that critical reviews are conducted before use. This means that the models must be a predictor of fatigue-related performance errors. This project aims to compare and contrast the features and capabilities of two fatigue and performance models and to identify critical gaps in fatigue and performance research. The aim is to review, evaluate and validate these models and provide recommendations on the most appropriate technologies for use within MPD's research mandate.The two models under review will be: o The Fatigue Audit InterDyne (FAID) {1}; o Sleep, Activity, Fatigue and Task Effectiveness Model (SAFTE) {2} o Literature Review o Software Review and Evaluation o Basic Statistical Analysis o Report Writing

The two models will be compared using experimental data available from past experiments carried out by the Navy Personnel and Material Sustainment Group. The outcome of this project will include a report which will cover a description of the models and the results from the validation process. The project will be split up into different phases. 1. A literature review with the aim being to collect data on these models. Important aspects of these models are validity, reliability, generisabililty and sensitivity. This will involve a comparison and critique of these models. 2. Utilising experimental data to evaluate validate and compare the two models. 3. A report which will include information on the review, evaluation and validation results of these models

Human factors: Psychology, Science Maritime Platform Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

PRD 01 Capability Technology Demonstration - Project Maturity Program

Develop options for how the CTD & CTD-EP Programs might improve the ability for existing industry technology projects to enter Defence service

Using imagination and new approaches, consider and develop commercial and technical approaches to improve acceptance of new technology for operational use.

Industrial studies, technical policy, technology commercialisation, engineering & science.

Computer literacy to prepare reporting, tables and presentations. A willingness to look at new and novel commercialisation approaches for high technology industry.

The candidate would be advantaged by having completed some study in commercialisation of technology and an understanding of basic engineering

Projects & Requirements Division DSTO Canberra

Maritime Platform Defence Research Summer Vacation Scholarships

Here are the Maritime Platform projects for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Scholarships. DSTO is offering 68 university students $4,050 tax-free each for a 12-week research project in the Summer Vacation Scholarship Program. Applications can be made online and close 19 July 2009, with the projects running from late November 2009 to mid February 2010 accross Australia.

The Projects

MPD 01 Comparative Study of monohull and trimaran hull forms

This project requires the comparison of two different ship hull forms designed to perform the same primary tasks in order to determine the influence of hull form on ship size and propulsion.

A monohull design would be used as the base ship and the objective would be to initially develop a high level concept trimaran design able to carry out the same primary roles as the base ship.

An estimate of the speed-resistance characteristics and corresponding propulsion demands for both ships would then be conducted to identify other potential implications such as effect on maximum range and/or speed.

This task requires the ability to carry out various naval architectural type activities such as: weight and space calculations, development of concept arrangements and speed - resistance calculations

Naval Architecture Familiarity with commercial and academic naval architectural software codes is essential

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate initiative and good time management skills. Only naval architecture students about to enter their final year or currently undertaking final year bachelor degree studies will be considered

Maritime Platform Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

MPD 02 Submarine Surfaced Stability

To investigate the feasibility of using gyro stabilisers to increase roll damping and enhance the stability of a surfaced submarine.

1. Analyse and model the effect of gyro stabilizers on the roll motion of a surfaced submarine. 2. Assess the effectiveness of gyro stabilizers on submarine roll. 3. Design a roll damping capability demonstrator using gyrostabilise

Engineering/Science ability to analyse, model and design dynamic systems completed the third year of an engineering/science degree with good knowledge in engineering or applied mathematics

Maritime Platform Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

MPD 03 Advanced battery system investigations

Development of infrastructure for advanced battery system test cell. To assist in the construction and commissioning of the Propulsion and Energy Management group’s high current battery cycling test rig and to conduct limited cyclic and classification tests on advanced batteries for submarine and land vehicle applications. If time allows, begin investigations into battery management system architectures in support of these advanced batteries

Electrical engineering knowledge of Labview Safety conscience with power laboratory experience

Maritime Platform Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

MPD 04 Structural Evaluation of Composite Propeller Hub Connections

DSTO has established a research program on developing technology for composite marine propellers. A key aspect of the technology is the design of an effective and practical connection between each composite blade and a metallic hub. The project will aim to develop an understanding of how loads can be transferred between an orthotropic composite blade and an isotropic, higher stiffness metallic hub. The connection concept will facilitate removal of a blade from the hub which may also induce special considerations in relation to load transfer.

The student will be required to refine one or more concept connection designs and develop and analyse a basic finite element model. A report shall be prepared to provide a preliminary evaluation of concept design's) investigated, indicating recommendations on further research

Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Materials Engineering, Marine/Ocean Engineering.

Experience with finite element modelling and analysis and familiarity with composite materials is essential. Familiarity with marine propulsion and marine design is desirable but not essential.

Completion of at least 3 years of an undergraduate engineering/science degree. Australian citizen and eligible to obtain restricted security clearance

Maritime Platform Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

Maritime Operations Defence Research Summer Vacation Scholarships

Here are the Maritime Operations projects for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Scholarships. DSTO is offering 68 university students $4,050 tax-free each for a 12-week research project in the Summer Vacation Scholarship Program. Applications can be made online and close 19 July 2009, with the projects running from late November 2009 to mid February 2010 accross Australia.

The Projects

MOD 01 Developing of a generic model for ambient ship noise

To implement an initial radiated noise model for ships that can be embedded in ship tracks so as to produce a far field spectrum for calibration of ship sonars - leading to an eventual real-time system using GCSS / TESS and operational trialling

Literature search, development and implementation of model. Mathematical modelling; literature review. programming in JAVA or C++; Interest in modelling and GIS displays

Maritime Operations Division ATP Sydney

MOD 02 Investigate the deployment and sustainment options for an amphibious task force.

The Australian amphibious capability will be greatly improved with the introduction of two large amphibious ships. These ships will support more helicopters and landing craft than have previously been possible. This study will use simulation and other appropriate operations research techniques to determine an appropriate mix of helicopters and landing craft for amphibious operations.

Conduct a feasibility study for different simulation packages.

Determine variables including limiting constraints for elements within an amphibious system. Produce simulation.

Operations Research / Mathematics/ Physics/ Computer science Java programming experience and knowledge of the entire software engineering lifecycle

Very good communication, interpersonal and writing skills. Distinction Average preferred.

Maritime Operations Division ATP Sydney

MOD 03 World model for autonomous underwater exploration

Investigation of strategies for efficient representation and update of a ‘world model’ for the underwater environment to be incorporated into a robotic vehicle.

Applicant will be required to undertake theoretical studies into processes by which parameters describing the underwater environment (bathymetry, bottom type, currents, obstacles) can be represented and modified efficiently in the context of an exploratory autonomous underwater vehicle (a ‘scout’) that is tasked with mapping an unexplored underwater area and maintaining a ‘safe route to exit’ as it explores.

Applied mathematics, physics, mechatronics, computer science

Well-developed programming skills are essential

Position would suit an applicant with an interest in artificial intelligence and ocean research

Maritime Operations Division ATP Sydney

MOD 04 Automation of hydrographic survey Investigation of strategies for autonomous survey of coastal waters using an autonomous surface vehicle fitted with a bathymetric sonar.

Applicant will be required to undertake theoretical studies into the efficiency of autonomous survey operations. The work will be based on optimisation algorithms and probabilistic models of hydrographic sensor performance and the marine environment. This work is a continuation of a previous SVS project

Applied mathematics, physics, mechatronics, computer science

Well-developed programming skills are essential and exposure to optimisation algorithms would be beneficial

Position would suit an applicant with an interest in ocean research

Maritime Operations Division ATP Sydney

MOD 05 Enhancements of DSTO AIS Recording Systems

DSTO collects position data broadcast by vessels through the Automatic Identification System (AIS). DSTO currently records this data through a system that consists of java programs to receive and rebroadcast data streams, and to collect and database the information. The information is stored in MySQL databases that are becoming large. Depending on the skills and interests of the summer student, this project will look at improving and optimizing one or more of internally developed tools and systems: 1. Data stream redirection software 2. MySQL databases, including storage, replication/redundancy and query optimization 3. Database and stream management software 4. Geospatial presentation of ship current and historic data (using NASA Worldwind GIS System­java version). 5. Historical analysis toolboxes (MATLAB Based) Software Development and database development and management

Computer Science/Software Engineering OR Mathematics/Physics with strong computing component. Java Programming (essential), Database (essential) MATLAB (desirable)

The successful applicant will require initiative to understand our existing systems and work with the DSTO team to identify and develop system improvements.

Maritime Operations Division ATP Sydney

MOD 06 Scenario Generation and Control Development

The Virtual Maritime System (VMS) is a modeling and simulation framework with a particular focus on the maritime combat system centric domain. The VMS is currently based on a distributed simulation standard (the High Level Architecture (HLA)) that is 10 years old. In that time the HLA has been updated and new simulation standards have appeared. One new simulation standard is the Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA) (http://www.tena-sda.org)

This project will explore the implementation of VMS using TENA. This activity will have several tasks: Evaluating the differences/similarities between HLA and TENA Comparing the VMS to existing TENA object models for similarities Porting existing VMS software written to work with the HLA to work with TENA Possibly developing middleware to allow a simulation model to transition between VMS/HLA and VMS/TENA with no modifications Writing a report providing an introduction to TENA for those experienced with HLA and advice on porting from HLA to TENA

Presentation of work performed during employment.

Software engineering Software development experience with C++ Experience with CORBA (TENA is heavily CORBA based)

Experience with software development best practices (source code management, build systems, release management).

Maritime Operations Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

MOD 07 Cloud Computing Research and Development

Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud".

The project will explore the implementation of Cloud Computing onto a small cluster of computers in the ANZAC Combat Systems Integration Laboratory (ACSIL)'s development and production environments. The activity will have several tasks: For a small set of candidate architectures, evaluate the relative merits of using each Present the evaluation to a small working group of MOD staff Install the selected architecture onto a cluster of computers Integrate, and where applicable, develop solutions to integrate higher-level job and task management functions into the architecture Contrive and implement policies to govern the management and operation of jobs within the cloud. Present the work performed during employment.

Familiarity with Distributed Computing principles and practices.

Experience with software development best practice (source code management, build systems).

Experience with C/C++.

Maritime Operations Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

MOD 08 Scenario Generation and Control Development

DSTO has recently embarked on an ambitious project to construct its own Scenario Generation and Control (SGC) program, which can be used to create and drive simulations in the ANZAC Combat Systems Integration

Laboratory (ACSIL). The ACSIL has a combination of simulated and actual Maritime platform hardware and is used regularly for human-in-the-loop experimentation.

The SGC programme of work is at a relatively early stage; there exists a unique opportunity for a motivated Summer Vacation

Student to get involved in extending the extant capabilities of this work by adding additional platform controller mechanisms. The software program is based on Java, JavaScript and Groovy, and operates as a Web Service; it features a novel time-line based viewing mechanism for developing scenarios.

This project will explore different types of advanced platform behaviours to be folded into the SGC programme of work. Using a DSTO-developed specification for the characteristics of scenario ‘background traffic’, this open-ended activity will involve several tasks: develop, implement code and visualisations of surface traffic in shipping lanes, with pre-defined behaviours based on the relative times of day, etc develop, implement code and visualisations of air traffic in air lanes, with aircraft traversing at pre-defined intervals based on the relative time of day, etc develop, implement code and visualisations of ‘fishing fleets with pre-defined behaviours based on the relative times of day, clustering together and moving as a single unit, etc present the work performed during employment.

Software engineering Software experience with Java/JavaScript/C++ Experience with, and an interest in high-level real-world simulations

Experience with, and an interest in developing GUI controls

Experience with software development best practices (source code management, build systems)

Maritime Operations Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

MOD 09 Integration of Google Earth with Simulation Tools

The project aims to develop a tool that can act as a bridge between an entity level simulation tool and the public domain software Google Earth. An entity level simulation is used to generate war games and is able to represent most military platforms and people.

The reason for this is to enable the use of Google Earth as the common view into the simulation. Using Google Earth has the benefit of any data available in the public domain for Google Earth can be made available during the simulation, making a more immersive simulation possible. The project will aim to enhance and develop on top of some initial prototype work to produce a more robust tool for use in the simulation environment at DSTO Sydney.

Development of a tool to integrate simulation with Google Earth to be utilised during entity level simulations Software Engineering, IT, Computer Science, Geospatial Information C/C++, Google Earth

Maritime Operations Division ATP Eveleigh (Sydney)

MOD 10 GIS Package for Amphibious Assault Toolset

The Amphibious Operations Group has been working on an Amphibious Assault Toolset to aid in the planning and conduct of beach and helicopter assaults. The student will be working towards adding a GIS element to the existing toolset

The project will involve researching GIS user requirements, conducting a study on relevant, existing GIS packages, develop/incorporate an appropriate GIS solution and demonstrate/review its functionality with the end user

Computer Science / Software Engineering Java programming experience and knowledge of the entire software engineering lifecycle

Very good communication, interpersonal and writing skills. Distinction Average preferred

Maritime Operations Division ATP Eveleigh (Sydney)

MOD 11 Development of User Interface for Force Protection Games

FPG have in the past been conducted as table-top exercises, however there is an opportunity to develop a software driven version of the FPG.

The student will be required to analyse the project requirements of developing a software driven FPMG and develop a solution to those requirements. Options for further extension of the interface should be considered e.g. remote access, instant messaging, recording tools

Software Engineering Programming, Human Factors Maritime Operations Division ATP Eveleigh

MOD 12 WebREP integration and support

WebREP is a web-based environmental and geospatial information management tool that provides key information to planners and warfighters. Enhancing WebREP with new and innovative algorithms and adding support for new data sets requires modification to the existing code base. WebREP has been requested for use in the TTCP / NATO REP10 trial in June 2010.

Programming and application support; integration of new data types and web services.

Computing - programming and web design/development

Understanding of Services Oriented Architectures and geospatial data structures

Maritime Operations Division ATP Eveleigh (Sydney)

MOD 13 Enhance real-time monitoring and display of resource consumption in component-based cluster software applications

Starting with a distributed component architecture which runs concept sonar processing applications the project is to improve the amount of information available on how the limited system resources (including memory and network bandwidth) are being allocated and consumed from being system-wide (recorded per-computer) to being per-component.

Upgrading various server software components of our in-house component architecture to support monitoring their individual consumption of CPU, memory and network bandwidth.

Enhance or replace the existing real-time monitoring tool to include the more detailed statistics. Given a generic test application, investigate and optimise for the performance penalty caused by the monitoring. Manage software using a version control system. Document changes made using comments and design documents.

Computer Science or Software Engineering, with understanding of operating systems, distributed computing and IP networking

Competence in programming in C++ Strong familiarity with Linux or UNIX environment and tools including shell scripts and the Eclipse IDE

Understanding of the CVS version control system

Desirable familiarity with Qt graphical toolkit and/or Java

Able to operate a standard desktop environment including Microsoft Windows and Office

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 14 Investigate the utility of Virtual World technology for early concept exploration

Virtual world technology is now being applied to many role rehearsal and scenario exploration tasks across a wide range of disciplines. More recently military organizations have been exploring the use of the technology because of the relatively low cost and for the diversity and richness of experiences using these tools. This project will produce exemplar submarine control spaces in a number of available virtual world technologies. These will then be used to examine metrics that might be applied to measuring the relative performance of people in these spaces and how that might translate to real world implementations

The students will build exemplar submarine control rooms using two or more available virtual world technologies (e.g. Open Simulator and Open Cobalt) and at varying levels of fidelity. Using metrics devised for the purpose the students will then quantify the utility of the models produced in evaluating performance of operators in the virtual spaces. Output of the project will be virtual world models of submarine control spaces, an assessment of the maturity of the technologies used and a comparison of the utility of the designs produced.

Human Factors, Computer Graphic Design Basic programming skills, experience creating virtual world or gaming content.

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 15 Adaptive beamforming for sonar audio

Sonar audio is an important tool used by sonar operators to assist in classifying contacts. Adaptive beamforming is a preferred processing technique for obtain high quality sonar audio. Using adaptive beamforming technique to improve the quality of sonar audio is still at its infancy stage. In this project, we shall test and compare different adaptive beamforming algorithms using simulated and recorded data, and recommend an appropriate algorithm for sonar audio.

Testing and comparing different adaptive beamforming algorithms using simulated and recorded data

Signal processing Programming in Matlab Prefer 3rd year Engineering students.

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 16 Investigate the use of a time stepping simulation for Monte Carlo study

To support the purchase of the future submarines to replace the Collins submarines, DSTO will be performing analytical studies using simulations. Simulations provide insight into the effectiveness of any proposal under various threats and under different environmental contexts. To have confidence in the result, it is essential to measure the outcomes under numerous starting conditions and contexts in a Monte Carlo fashion.

A set of criteria will be given to the student. The duty of the student is to learn how to use a commercial time stepping simulation VR-Force (http://www.mak.com/products/vrforces.php), and to attempt to use it for traditional Monte Carlo study. In the process identify and quantify any limitations of the tool against given criteria.

Operation research / Statistic, Modeling & simulation/ Computing. Basic desktop and programming skill.

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 17 New sensor technology for submarine sonar

This project will involve working in the future underwater acoustic sensors group at HMAS Stirling in WA. The focus is to investigate new sensor technology that can be used for submarine sonars. Current work done covers new sensor materials, re-configurable and smart sensor electronics and sensor characterization and calibration at our on site acoustic facility.

The applicant will be expected to participate in one or all of these existing work areas depending on their subject of specialization and interest. The work would be more suited to the experimental scientist.

Physics, Engineering Computing 3rd year Physics or Engineering students

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 18 Multi-Sensor Data Fusion for Tracking with Bearings-Only Measurements

When tracking a target using sensors that measure only the approximate bearing to a target, the use of data collected from multiple geographically separated sensors can drastically improve our accuracy. In this project, the student will investigate a data fusion scheme which can be used to track a single target using information from multiple bearings-only sensors. This scheme involves the use of Kalman filters and particle filters to process the sensor data. The project requires using Matlab to analyse the performance of the algorithm on simulated tracking scenarios, and to compare its performance to standard multi-sensor fusion schemes. - Understanding literature on the algorithm - Implementation and testing of algorithm in Matlab - Produce a report and give a seminar on the results

Engineering (Electronic or Computer Systems), Mathematics, Statistics Matlab programming Strong mathematical, analytical and problem solving skills

Maritime Operations Division HMAS Stirling WA

MOD 19 Open Architecture CMS Representative

Computing Environment Development - Generic combat system models and test functions

Contribute to the development of a representative combat system computing environment based on open architecture design philosophies and development practices by designing and developing generic combat system models and test functions. Participate in the research and design of generic information flow and functional architecture models for a generic combat system Research and use model driven tools to help with developing UML models and code generation. Participate in the development of UML models to represent the generic information flows and functional architecture for a generic combat system. Develop combat system test functions based on the information and functional models developed for a generic combat system

Software Engineer/Computer Scientist Knowledge of UML, C++ and JAVA

Maritime Operations Division DSTO Edinburgh SA

MOD 20 Open Architecture CMS Representative

Computing Environment Development - Generic Sensor Interface and test functions

Contribute to the development of a representative combat system computing environment based on open architecture design philosophies and development practices by designing and developing generic sensor interfaces and test functions. Participate in the research and design of generic information flows and interface functionality for a generic sensor interface into the combat system Research and use model driven tools to help with developing UML models and code generation. Participate in the development of UML models to represent information flow and interface functions of a generic sensor interface. Develop the interface code and test functions to test the design of the generic sensor interface.

Software Engineer/Computer Scientist Knowledge of UML, C++ and JAVA

Maritime Operations Division DSTO Edinburgh SA