The Information Access Division is developing a test bed, data transport system, and metrics, to support the development by industry of Smart Work Spaces. These will blend sensor-based perceptual interfaces, pervasive computers, flexible networking, and information retrieval tools to support the knowledge workers of tomorrow. They will use numerous, easily accessible computing devices connected to each other through both wired and wireless network infrastructure. This trend is creating new opportunities and challenges for IT companies to place computers and sensors in virtually every device, appliance, and piece of equipment in buildings, homes, workplaces, factories, and even clothing. Successful deployment requires new techniques in measurement, compatibility testing, frequency management, human computer interactions, and biometric security.
As part of this program, the Information Access Division has developed the NIST Smart Flow System software to integrate and encourage interoperability of the numerous computing, imaging, speech, and other devices which may be incorporated into a Smart Space environment. The Smart Flow System is actually a middleware data transport and distributed processing system, and is now being deployed, along with a unique 59-element microphone array, in several R&D labs including the MIT AI Lab, Rutgers CAIP Center, Georgia Tech, Bell South, and Kaiser Permanente. Products developed in the Smart Space Test Bed are also being used in the Division's Smart Meeting Room project, and will be used in a joint project with the Advanced Network Technologies Division in wireless networking performance and compatibility testing.
The program has also developed a novel signal to noise measurement algorithm based on gaussian mixture estimation procedures. The algorithm allows measurement of the root mean square (RMS) power for the mixture of background noise, unvoiced fricative speech, and voiced speech encountered speech recognition experiments. This metric allows precise measurement of performance of noise reduction algorithms such as adaptive filters and beam formers used in speech signal acquisition.
ITL/IAD has conducted a series of annual industry conferences on Smart Spaces and pervasive computing. Some of these have been developed in cooperation with the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). They have been held in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The 2001 Pervasive Computing Conference will be held at NIST on May 1-2. Details about the conference may be found at
www.nist.gov/pc2001. More details about the NIST Smart Space Laboratory can be found at www.nist.gov/smartspace.CONTACT: Vince Stanford, ext. 5399