Projects

10/2009 - 9/2011

The main objective of the RealUbi project is to create the UBI Open Urban Service Network (OUSN) and to develop its feasibility with prototype services. The many different types of computing resources of ubiquitous Oulu are organized by means of a middleware software layer called the UBI Middleware.

The UBI Middleware provides the UBI Open Service Network API, which virtualizes the underlying computing infrastructure in form of open and standardized interfaces for developing new applications and services. Further, the RealUbi project produces prototype applications demonstrating the capabilities of the UBI OUSN and underlying infrastructure. This results in a smart urban space in which technology is used in a novel fashion to integrate the physical, social and virtual spaces into a seamless entity. Special attention will be paid on the personal smart phone as a key device in the interaction between the user and the smart urban space. In this context, the RealUbi project will continue developing open source software libraries as means for stimulating user-driven open innovation.

RealUbi project is a part of the UBI (UrBan Interactions) R&D program conducted by a large multidisciplinary research consortium, which is coordinated by the University of Oulu. The main objective of the UBI Program is to create a visible and permanent change in the Finnish urban landscape by building a functional prototype of a future ubiquitous city. It will materialize in form of new urban computing infrastructure and novel services facilitated by the infrastructure. Thus, in this respect, the UBI Program follows the example set by its ancestor, the Rotuaari project. Further, the computing infrastructure will be abstracted with open and standardized APIs, which allow the general public, the open source community and the SMEs to develop their own applications and services into the ubiquitous city. Therefore, in this regard the UBI Program’s target setting is more ambitious that that of many other leading international urban computing research projects.

RealUbi is a part of Tekes’ Ubicom program.

For more information about the UBI Program, see http://www.ubiprogram.fi/, http://www.ubioulu.fi/

Jurmu M, Kukka H, Hosio S, Riekki J & Tarkoma S (2011)
Leasing Service for Networks of Interactive Public Displays in Urban Spaces
Proc. 6th International Conference on Advances in Grid and Pervasive Computing (GPC'11), Oulu, Finland, 198-208.
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Kukka H, Kruger F, Kostakos V, Ojala T & Jurmu M (2011)
Information to go: Exploring in-situ information pick-up in the wild.
Proc. 13th IFIP TC13 Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (INTERACT 2011), Lisbon, Portugal, 487-504.
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Ahola A (2010)
Virtuaalinen A-teline multimediamainosten esittämiseen suurella julkisella näytöllä.
M.Sc. thesis, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland. (in Finnish)

Hakanen T (2010)
panOULU-verkon käyttötietojen kerääminen ja hyödyntäminen
M.Sc. thesis, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Hosio S, Jurmu M, Kukka H, Riekki J & Ojala T (2010)
Supporting distributed private and public user interfaces in urban environments.
Proc. 11th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications (HotMobile 2010), Annapolis, MD, USA, 25-30. (Best Presentation Award)
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Hosio S, Kukka H, Jurmu M, Ojala T & Riekki J (2010)
Enhancing interactive public displays with social networking services
Proc. 9th International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia (MUM 2010), Limassol, Cyprus, article no. 23.
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Ojala T & Riekki J (2010)
UBI Challenge Workshop 2010 – Real World Urban Computing.
Proc. 12th ACM International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp 2010), Copenhagen, Denmark, 535-538.
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Pedraza Rodolfo Patino (2010)
Collaborative music service for shared urban spaces.
M.Sc. thesis, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland.

Tiensyrjä J (2010)
panOULU Conqueror: A Pervasive Location-Based Game for the panOULU Network
M.Sc. thesis, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Hosio S (2009)
Augmenting Public Space With Social Media Elements To Enhance Awareness And Interaction
M.Sc. thesis, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of Oulu, Finland
Abstract  Full paper (PDF)

Bluegiga Technologies
Galaxo
Nokia
City of Oulu
Palko Interactive
Pohjolan Mylly
Pro Display
Sensinode
Symbicon
Tekes

Ubicom

University of Art and Design Helsinki (TAIK)
Intelligent Systems Group, University of Oulu

Timo Ojala

Marika Leskelä