Intel opens research facility for pervasive computing

Intel has opened a university research centre devoted to studying and developing systems for pervasive computing applications.

The Intel Science and Technology Center for Pervasive Computing is based at the University of Washington, and will focus on platforms such as web-enabled appliances, mobile medical care tools and scheduling systems.

Pervasive computing has been a goal of technology companies since the first dot-com boom, and growth in tablets and smartphones in recent years has increased interest in embedded and pervasive systems.

"These future apps will be capable of supporting complex tasks such as cooking a soufflé or building a complicated piece of furniture," said Limor Fix, Intel's director of academic programmes and research.

"Consumers will have a far richer experience than the technologies of today can offer, and will be able to spend far more time achieving their goals than figuring out how to make the technology work."

The pervasive computing centre is Intel's fifth such university research facility, and joins centres devoted to cloud computing, security, visual computing and embedded systems.

Intel has recently enlisted the aid of university researchers for projects such as the development of contextually-aware computers.