Completed projects

Digital traffic mirror Eichenzell

Together with the town of Eichenzell, ComTec is developing a concept for a "digital traffic mirror". The project is about approaches to increasing road safety in confusing traffic areas by evaluating sensor data and displaying traffic information.

Funding phase: January 2024 to August 2024

Contact: Michael Wojtek, University of Kassel, ComTec

Client: City of Eichenzell

Rapid BOS

Development of an AI-based engine for traffic light control

Anyone who has ever been stuck in a traffic jam knows how frustrating waiting can be. But what if it's not just a matter of arriving at an appointment on time, but a matter of life and death? For emergency services, especially at peak times, the prescribed rescue time of ten minutes often becomes an enormous challenge. An innovative project in Bad Hersfeld, funded by the Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development, could be the solution that is needed in many German cities.

In the Rapid BOS (authorities and organizations with security tasks) project, a new approach to meeting the rescue deadline is being demonstrated with the volunteer fire department in Bad Hersfeld. This is about much more than just a clever app or a new navigation system. It is about building a bridge between different traffic-related systems.

ComTec is responsible for researching an AI-based engine for traffic light control as well as the accompanying research.

Funding phase: November 2022 to June 2024

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Regionalmanagement Nordhessen GmbH, AFUSOFT Kommunikationstechnik GmbH, GEVAS Software GmbH, Graphmasters GmbH, Urban Software Institute GmbH

Sponsor: City of Bad Hersfeld (Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development)

Ahle sausage meets AI

The traditional natural maturing process in sausage production (Ahle Wurst) is a complex process in which the experience of the individual employees is very important, in addition to factors that can hardly be influenced such as the weather.

Unlike in industrial production, the traditional natural maturing of Ahle sausage does not take place in highly controlled maturing chambers with precisely controlled parameters (temperature, humidity, shielded from external environmental influences), but in a natural environment in clay chambers in the attics of historic half-timbered houses in northern Hesse. This procedure ensures that the sausage has a characteristic, particularly intense aroma during the maturing process, but at the same time involves an exceptionally high level of monitoring and care of the products during the various stages of maturing. Every sausage in the maturing process must be regularly checked for its degree of ripeness and, if necessary, transferred within the maturing rooms. Possibilities are being sought to support these processes by recording and AI-based evaluation of environmental data. The method could be transferred to other products with natural ripening processes in the future and support production there too.

The aim is to clarify on the basis of measured environmental data: When does ventilation need to be provided? How warm should it be? When does the sausage need to be washed? How high must the air humidity be at the various degrees of ripeness? Suitable methods are to be found that determine the degree of ripeness of the products using sensor data in combination with AI algorithms and provide reliable data on the ripening process.

Funding phase: 2022 - 2023

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Sponsor: Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development

Safe_VR - Safe micro mobility through digital data in virtual reality

Every year, around one thousand VRUs (Vulnerable Road Users, pedestrians/cyclists) die in German road traffic. Cooperative VRU protection systems promise to significantly reduce the number of accidents. Their development requires a detailed understanding of the relationship between VRU movements and accident scenarios.

Traditionally, VRU accidents are investigated using simulations or dummies. Both approaches do not take into account the behavior and reactions of the VRU, as there is no real VRU moving in them.

The Department of ComTec (Communication Technology) at the University of Kassel, headed by Prof. David, is working with the Kassel-based company Flavia IT in the joint project Sichere_VR to develop a new test methodology that addresses this problem. The test methodology makes it possible for the first time to carry out and measure VRU accidents realistically for the VRU. A VRU moves along a real road and at the same time completely safely for it by means of VR (virtual reality) in an accident scenario. The VRU positions and activities are recorded in parallel via the VR system and the VRU's smartphone sensors. The data obtained in this way can be used in further projects to optimize VRU protection systems in order to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries.

Funding phase: January - December 2022

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partner: FLAVIA IT

Sponsor: Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs

ZuKIPro

The ZuKIPro Future Center creates a practice-oriented format for consulting, qualification, testing and diffusion of digital technologies. The aim is to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to make better use of the potential of digital technologies in work and business processes through participatory work and technology design. ZuKIPro is intended to be a contact and transfer point for SMEs, sponsors, technology providers and social partners. Using a platform module, SMEs can bring a mobile AI lab directly to their premises and experience and try out prototype AI applications and consider their applicability in their own company. Planned training opportunities, such as a learning and knowledge platform or massive open online courses (MOOCs), bring the topics of digitalization and artificial intelligence to life for employees. Through these formats, the Future Centre enables companies and their employees to identify and analyze the challenges in their own company, to independently initiate, design and implement learning and solution processes and to evaluate the results.

The overarching aim of the project is to create low-threshold access to the topic of AI for SMEs. To this end, SMEs are supported in the participatory, co-creative introduction and human-centered design of AI systems. Across all modules, the Future Center informs and advises SMEs according to their needs and enables them to implement concrete solutions. A total of three offices will be set up for this purpose: North Hesse (Kassel), Central Hesse (Frankfurt a. M.) and South Hesse (Darmstadt).

Funding phase: 2021 - 2022

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: RWTH Aachen University, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Institute for Technology and Work, Technical University of Kassel, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Kassel-Marburg and Regional Management North Hesse

Sponsor: Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

RoboTrust

Human-like robots have been used in various industries for several years now. There is great potential in customer service and in professions where human service providers are overworked due to a shortage of skilled workers. Thanks to their special physical presence, anthropomorphic robots can establish an emotional bond with human users. However, the combination of software and machine also gives robotics the power to physically harm bodies and property.

RoboTrust is an initiative of various research groups at TU Darmstadt to shape the future of human-robot interaction. In cooperation with the Goethe University Frankfurt and the University of Kassel, an interdisciplinary team is being formed that covers all relevant dimensions of responsible digitalization such as psychology, AI and robotics, law and context. RoboTrust investigates the necessary foundations for anthropomorphic robot assistants to develop and evaluate standardized technological platforms.

The RoboTrust team consists of six high-level research groups and generates important benefits for society in addition to new scientific insights.

The research is based on the principles:

• The robot assistant supports humans
• The robot assistant acts transparently
• Liability is clearly regulated.

Funding phase: 2020 - 2022

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Darmstadt University of Technology and Goethe University Frankfurt

Sponsor: Hessian Ministry for Digital Strategy and Development

DFG project NORA

The aim of the NORA project funded by the German Research Foundation is to develop a practicable method with which collaborative context-sensitive applications and machine learning algorithms can be designed in accordance with the normative requirements of data protection law and computer science right from the design stage. The project consortium consists of the project group verfassungsverträgliche Technikgestaltung (provet) headed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Roßnagel and the Department of Communication Technology (ComTec) headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, both based at the University of Kassel.

Publication as part of the project:

• L. I. Löber, I. König, S. Lange, K. David, and A. Roßnagel, "Privacy by Design using the example of the collaborative context-sensitive NORA app for communication support of knowledge work", ITeG Technical Reports, vol. 15, kassel university press, 2023
• Löber, L.; Lange, S.; David, K.; Roßnagel, A. (2021), "Privacy-friendly algorithms. Data minimization in context processing", DuD Datenschutz und Datensicherheit 09/2021, 616-622.
• Anderson, C.; Heinisch, J. S.; Deldari, S.; F. Salim; S. Ohly; David, K.; Pejovic, V. (2023), "Toward Social Role-Based Interruptibility Management", in IEEE Pervasive Computing, doi: 10.1109/MPRV.2022.3229905.

Funding phase: 2020 - 2022

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partner: Project group for constitutionally compatible technology design (provet), University of Kassel

Sponsor: German Research Foundation

Mobile and digital - innovative access to the university and the library

The modern student expects information and content to be provided as a digital product, to be usable via mobile devices and has high demands on the availability of the necessary infrastructure. In addition, a change in the communication structure can be observed, which further increases the dependence on such systems. The project aims to transform traditional information, research and mediation solutions into usage scenarios that are substantially characterized by the use of mobile devices and the dominance of digital media. Media disruptions and fragmented forms of access to information services at Hessian universities are to be largely overcome.

The project combines nationally and state-wide coordinated preliminary work on university-specific apps, library research systems and sustainable media supply. It transfers these strands of development into the coordinated development of an information service for universities in Hessen that is unique in this form in Germany. To this end, the Hessian universities and the Hessian Library Information System (HeBIS) are working in a development partnership on the core components (e.g. the integration of campus management) of a technical infrastructure, whereby their interfaces and location-specific functionalities are adapted to the needs of the universities using them.

Funding phase: 2017 - 2020

Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Terecik, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Goethe University Frankfurt, Philipps University Marburg, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Darmstadt University of Technology, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences, Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences

Sponsor: Hessian Ministry of Science and Art

The smart grid showcase into the future - C/sells

The energy transition is leading to more renewable energies and decentralization. The resulting greater diversity, comprehensive participation and greater complexity with shorter response times require a far-reaching restructuring of the infrastructure for distributing and storing energy. The cross-sector, intelligent networking of technical elements, business processes and market mechanisms is key.

What the "C" stands for: In our energy system of the future, autonomously acting cells interact in a coordinated manner in the regional grid. The use and supply of electricity will be optimized together with heat, gas and mobility. Flexibilities within and between the cells will be utilized.

What the "s" stands for: Virtual platforms enable diverse players to act autonomously and simultaneously connected. This results in new value propositions and business models. Services, solutions and products are given a new marketplace - the "s" therefore stands for "sells".

Funding phase: 2017 - 2020

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: EnergieNetz Mitte, Tennet, Städtische Werke, Intel, DLR, Fraunhofer, University of Stuttgart, University of Constance and many more

Sponsor: Federal Ministryfor Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)

Digital Neighborhood Assistance Warburg (DiNa-Warburg)

Developments in demographics, mobility and digitalization in Germany affect not only the major German cities but also rural areas and a large number of medium-sized towns in rural areas in a specific way.

These places of living and working face a variety of challenges. Their quality of life and attractiveness depend on their economic and cultural sustainability. Citizens in these regions are aware of the increasing challenges in their everyday lives. Age-appropriate mobility as well as care and nursing in rural areas together represent a constantly growing challenge for government agencies and civil society self-organization.

The DiNa-Warburg project aims to create sustainable structures for self-organization in the age of digitalization. To this end, a communication platform and coordination mechanisms are to be developed that enable simple and uncomplicated neighborhood assistance to be used and operated sustainably via a smartphone app.

Funding phase: 2019 - 2021

Contact: Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Michael Wojtek, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partner: PhoneTec GmbH

Sponsor: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food

FastAR - New paradigms of activity recognition to optimize recognition time

Real-time information and data on the means of transport used and the type of movement and transportation are a basis for the future viability of logistics and mobility in Hesse. This information will play an even more important role in the important fields of innovation, autonomous driving, accident prevention and for a networked transport infrastructure. For these applications, the detection of human activities (such as standing, walking or running) provides an important input variable that must be recognized quickly or in real time. Mobile sensors, e.g. in smartphones, and machine learning algorithms are used for this purpose. The aim of the FastAR project is the fundamentally new research and validation of methods for the evaluation and optimization of the recognition time and accuracy of human activities, compared to the usual focus in the research field on the optimization of recognition accuracy, which thus makes a fundamental contribution to the above-mentioned application possibilities.

Funding phase: 2020 - 2021

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Sponsor: This project is funded by the state of Hesse and the HOLM funding as part of the measure "Innovations in the field of logistics and mobility" of the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing.

KonteSt

The joint project "Context-sensitive security using machine learning methods" ("KonteSt") is researching novel context-based approaches for an intelligent burglary protection and alarm system. By using modern sensor technology on windows (derived from smartphone sensor technology), algorithmic machine learning approaches are used to differentiate between the different types of window opening, normal opening and burglary attempts. Based on the available technologies, context detection in conjunction with human-technology interaction offers the possibility of developing systems that go far beyond currently available products. Adapted operating concepts are to be developed for this purpose.

Funding phase: 2018-2021

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: BSC Computer Systeme GmbH Allendorf and Mayer & Co Beschläge GmbH Salzburg (MACO)

Sponsor: BMBF

Grid-friendly use of heat pumps

Heat pumps in particular offer a high load shifting potential due to their high connected load and the presence of thermal storage in the building. The aim of this project is to develop a supply-adapted controllable system for heating buildings and providing hot water using heat pumps with optimum utilization of electricity from renewable energies.

The approach follows the principles of self-power optimization and load shifting towards times of surplus electricity from renewable energies, whereby the system relieves the electricity grid and, with appropriate cost models, represents an attractive option for end users to provide heat. As part of the project, the potential for the grid-friendly use of decentrally controlled heat pumps is being researched and investigated. Both the technical characteristics and the effects on the user are being investigated. The project results will be demonstrated as part of the "Zukunftsschaufenster Energiewende Hessen". With the increased use of SmartGrid / SmartMeter solutions and an increased penetration of heat pump systems in buildings, it will be possible to implement networked control systems for heating and cooling systems in the future.

Funding phase: 2016 - 2018

Contact: Dr. Immanuel König, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partner: Viessmann

Sponsor: Wibank

Load shifting potential of buildings for electricity from renewable energies (LAGE-EE)

The LAGE-EE project deals with the topic of demand flexibilization by means of demand-oriented use of Power2Heat technologies in buildings with the aim of contributing to grid stability. The approach follows the principles of load shifting towards times with surplus renewable electricity through the time-adjusted operation of heat pumps as well as direct electricity-to-heat converters, e.g. heating rods or night storage heaters. With the help of intelligent, decentralized networking in a control system, the self-regulation of electricity generation and consumption via heat sources in distribution grids is being pursued.

Funding phase: 2015 - 2019

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Fraunhofer IBP; KIWIGRID, Dresden; Viessmann, Allendorf (Eder); EAM EnergieNetz Mitte, Kassel

Further training in energy consulting - StaySmart

The demand for energy advice has increased enormously and with it the demands on the specialist knowledge of energy consultants. Rising energy prices, stricter energy-saving regulations and the increased use of technologies are the reasons for this. The StaySmart project was developed to ensure that energy consultants are always up to date. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the auspices of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with approximately 1.3 million euros over three years. The StaySmart project is developing an approach with which the experience and knowledge of long-serving employees can be recorded and made available across companies. The aim is to build up, exchange and retain skills among specialists from energy supply companies and trade businesses as well as other companies tasked with energy consulting.

Funding phase: 2015 - 2018

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: BZ Bildungszentrum Kassel; Institut Ingenium, Kassel; EWR AG, Worms

Social Link

The widespread use and rapid innovation of modern information and communication technology (ICT), in particular the internet and mobile telephony, are having a lasting impact on the modern information society. The technology makes it possible to communicate at any time, regardless of place and time in the sense of "always online". Any information, anywhere, anytime" also applies to the possibility of accessing information. This results in a variety of changes in communication and information behavior in society.

The traditional social rules of communication no longer apply in the modern communication and information age: the separation between professional and private life, both in terms of space and time, is increasingly being abolished. This opens up new opportunities, but also harbours risks - in particular the risk of the individual being permanently overwhelmed.

The central goal is the interdisciplinary research and design of a new social communication paradigm (social link) to optimize the work of knowledge workers and support their work-life balance.

For this vision, a new type of communication paradigm is to be developed that significantly reduces the attention required by the sender and relieves the recipient through selective information supply (e.g. based on the user context). In the long term, the communication paradigm is to be extended to other target groups and take up new technical developments. To this end, methods of interdisciplinary technology design will be further developed. The disciplines involved are working together from the outset in four work areas in order to develop basic principles and formulate requirements, develop technical demonstrators and social solutions and evaluate these.

The "Social Link" project is being funded as part of the 6th funding phase of the Hessian State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE).

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Funding phase: 2014 - 2017

Project partners: Multimedia Communication, TU Darmstadt; Communication Technology, University of Kassel; Public Law, Environmental and Technology Law, University of Kassel; Business Psychology, University of Kassel; Marketing and Human Resources Management, TU Darmstadt; Software Technology for Ubiquitous Computing Applications, University of Kassel

EnKonSens

The EnKonSens project is dedicated to improving the quality of life in enclosed spaces while at the same time reducing energy consumption through intelligent solutions using integrated electronics.

Proper lighting is very important for the well-being of people who spend time in enclosed spaces. In addition to illuminance, lighting also includes factors such as color temperature and arrangement of light sources and should be dependent on the activities of the people present in the room: concentrated work, relaxation, nutrition and use of media all require adapted lighting conditions. Adapted lighting conditions, however, mean economical use of electrical energy. If room temperature and ventilation are taken into account, there is even significant potential for energy savings.

The user-friendliness of such a complex system must be achieved through automated recognition of the respective context and intuitively operable intervention options. If energy self-sufficient sensors are used to detect the context, almost maintenance-free systems can be created with minimal effort.

Special low-energy remote controls can be used as intuitive operating elements in the rooms. Smartphones, on the other hand, can be used for long-distance control. With these two approaches, seamless control is possible, opening up a wide range of new areas of application, such as room monitoring, remote inquiry and remote control. Incorrect operation in building technology can lead to considerable damage, which is why the electronic components and communication must meet the high standards of safety-critical systems. The design of energy self-sufficient systems therefore requires detailed analysis options for reliability, taking into account component variations, ageing and expected environmental conditions.

Funding phase: 2013 - 2016

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Fraunhofer IIS/EAS; EnOcean GmbH, Oberachingen; BSC Computer GmbH, Allendorf

Betterspace

The interdisciplinary founding team of Betterspace is developing an energy management solution for automatic heating control tailored to office and hotel spaces. This consists of a holistic combination of software and hardware components, digital networking and intelligent prediction algorithms.

Betterspace reduces energy consumption in the building and thus saves energy costs. In addition, the reduction of CO2 emissions sustainably relieves the environment and increases comfort in the building.

The team was supported by the EXIST start-up grant from June 2015 to July 2016.

The team came 2nd in the promotion Nordhessen business plan competition and was also awarded the environmental prize.

Seam4us: Sustainable EnergymAnageMent for Underground Stations

Subway rail (metro) systems are major energy consumers and have a significant impact on energy consumption at regional level. One third of the energy required is used for the operation of subsystems in subway stations. These subsystems include ventilation systems, elevators and lighting. The aim of the SEAM4US project was to develop advanced technologies for energy savings in these areas. By designing systems for optimized and integrated energy management and developing a decision support system to drive medium-term investments, electricity savings of around 5% per year should be achieved. This corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 700 households.

The project was funded by the EU as part of the 7th Framework Program (FP7).

Duration: 03.10.2011 - 02.10.2014.

Contact person: Dipl.-Wirt.-Inf. Andreas Jahn, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: Cofely Italia SpA (Italy) - coordinator; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e. V. (Germany) - coordinator.V (FIT) (Germany); University of Kassel (ComTec) (Germany); Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT (Finland); Università Politecnica delle Marche (Dipartimento di Architettura Construzione e Strutture) (Italy); Almende B.V. (Netherlands); CNET Svenska AB (Sweden); Ferrocarril Metropolita de Barcelona SA (TMB) (Spain); Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain)

Pinta: Pervasive energy through internet-based telecommunication services

Smart offices with low energy consumption

From April 2011 to March 2014, the industrial partners E.ON Mitte and Siemens, together with the Institute for Decentralized Energy Technology (IdE), the departments of Communication Technology (ComTec) and Public Law (provet project group) at the University of Kassel and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES), developed a system designed to save as much energy as possible at office workstations while taking user-dependent behaviour into account.

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (IT2Green).

Duration: 01.04.2011 to 31.03.2014.

Contact: Dr.-Ing. Rico Kusber, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project partners: University of Kassel, ComTec, provet, Siemens AG, E.ON Mitte AG, Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and System Technology, Institut dezentrale Energietechnologien GmbH

VENUS: Design of technical-social networking in situational ubiquitous systems

The goal of VENUS is to explore the design process of future networked ubiquitous systems that are characterized by context-sensitive and self-adaptive behavior. The project aims to explore the foundations of such systems and, in particular, to create a design methodology that supports the development of socially acceptable ubiquitous computing applications, i.e. applications that not only fulfill the functional requirements but also comply with the given user requirements in terms of usability, trust and legal regulations. Consequently, VENUS focuses on the interactions between the new technology, the individual user and society. The long-term goal of VENUS is to create a comprehensive interdisciplinary development methodology for the design of ubiquitous computing systems.

The VENUS project was funded as part of the 2nd funding phase of the Hessian State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE).

First funding phase: 2010 - 2012. Second funding phase: 2013

TAKI: Temporary Ambient Assisted Living through context sensitivity by means of a flexible sensor-actuator infrastructure

The aim of the project "Temporary Ambient Assisted Living through context-sensitivity using flexible sensor-actuator infrastructure" (TAKI) is to develop a system for the context-sensitive and automatic support of people in need of care. The project will develop two exemplary context-sensitive Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) applications based on available components. The first application will automatically recognize when the stove is switched on for no reason and then switch it off automatically. The second application will automatically notify a reference person (e.g. a doctor, relative or neighbor) if movement, location and acceleration contexts indicate that the person in need of care has fallen. These example applications will be implemented as prototypes and set up in a laboratory. The prototypes will be evaluated and tested for functionality and potential for improvement. The project will also develop business models that justify the use of a TAKI system to support people in need of care.

The project is funded with € 283,900.80 (total amount: € 709,752) as part of the LOEWE-KMU joint project of HA Hessen Agentur GmbH.

Duration: 01.08.2011 - 31.07.2013.

Contact: Thomas Hohmann, University of Kassel, ComTec

Project manager and applicant: German Red Cross, District Association Kassel-Wolfhagen e.V. and BSC Computer GmbH, Ringstraße 5, 35108 Allendorf

BlendedContENT: Blended Continuing Education with New Technologies

In the Blended-ContENT (Blended Continuing Education with New Technologies) research project, a productivity-oriented blended learning model is being developed, piloted and evaluated in the skilled trades sector. Current continuing education programs are not focused enough on didactic effectiveness and economic efficiency. There is a lot of untapped potential for informal, workplace-based learning, particularly in the skilled trades sector. Even against the background of technological and demographic change, a target group-oriented, effective form of further training is highly relevant for the future. The project is therefore developing a cross-disciplinary concept that integrates modern Web2.0 technologies and economic considerations into didactically sound learning arrangements and pilots them in the plumbing, heating and air conditioning sector. Key components of the project are the integration of mobile learning services into the work processes of learners ("learning on the job") and the development of a virtual community in which tradespeople can share their knowledge with each other. The organizational linking of learning and work processes as well as proof of the economic added value of further training services are addressed as scientific and economic issues in the project.

BlendedContENT was launched in November 2010

Planned duration: 36 months

Project partners: Institut Ingenium GmbH, shk-aktiv Unternehmensberatung GbR, University of Kassel: Department of Business Informatics

Matrix: Middleware for the realization of internet-based telemedicine services

The aim of Matrix is to investigate specific issues in the development of a standardized middleware platform for Internet-based telemedicine services, context-sensitive services and simple service composition. This middleware platform will be realized as part of the project. The focus is on integrating existing infrastructures and supporting remote medical diagnoses and observations using context data such as mobile phone-based motion detection. In addition, the possibilities for integrating selected data into electronic social networks and the resulting possibilities with regard to the healing process are being investigated. The platform is to be used for patients who either have no or only difficult access to a doctor, such as ALS patients (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or emergency patients on airplanes, but also for the early discharge of patients from hospital.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Duration: January 2009 - December 2011

Contact: Dr. Immanuel König, University of Kassel

Project partners: Charité in Berlin, lesswire AG Frankfurt/Oder, IHP GmbH Frankfurt/Oder, Prisma GmbH Berlin and GHC (GlobalHealthCare)

MERKUR: MobilER Context-based, ubiquitous travel companion

The aim is to develop a system that informs the traveler in advance of a change of location at work, on the road and at home about disruptions in the transport system in order to avoid annoying waiting times or delays when changing between car, bus or train and, if necessary, to offer alternative routes. This requires both the recording of the user's situation and the actual position of the transport vehicles. This information is enriched with data on vehicle equipment as well as status messages on the system status (system malfunction) and expected delays, for example due to roadworks or demonstrations. This information is presented to the traveler in an appealing and targeted manner, for example with the help of a city map. The consortium will develop a prototype that will be used as an example in the Kassel area and offered as a product throughout Germany and Europe by the partner s.a.d Systemanalyse und -Design GmbH.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Duration: 01.01.2010 - 31.12.2011

Contact: Prof. Dr.-Ing Klaus David, University of Kassel

Project partner: s.a.d Systemanalyse und -Design GmbH Kassel

Smart Mobile Link - Mobile context-based application (EXIST research transfer)

Smart Mobile Link has the vision of intelligently connecting individuals. This means context-based networking with: personally important objects, such as wallets or keys - Gadget smart link (GadLin), with important people, such as family members or friends - Social smart link (SoLin), with important information, such as streetcar information or vocabulary trainers - Info smart link (InLin). This enables individuals to have more fun, be better informed, become more personally effective and offers relief in a wide variety of situations as an everyday companion. The applicants' business idea is to develop and distribute intelligent applications for cell phones, particularly in the field of context-based mobile applications by integrating sensor data and understanding the user's situation.

In order to achieve the vision, the applicants have already realized two reference designs for the technical feasibility study, the further results of which, together with the scientific issues to be worked out, will be incorporated into the company foundation and product development: Loss and theft protection and mobile learning card system. One of the business ideas is the development of a loss and theft protection system for mobile objects. Depending on the situation in which the user finds himself, the software will check the devices to be monitored for their presence. Corresponding hardware is being developed in the form of key fobs or check cards. The technological and scientific innovation lies in the context-based query cycle, which searches for the paired devices in the user's various situations depending on the level of danger.

Duration: 01.01.2009 - 31.08.2010

CASCADAS: Component-ware for Autonomic Situation-aware Communications, and Dynamically Adaptable Services

It demonstrates an innovative architectural vision based on self-organizing components for the provision of "autonomic" and "situation-aware" communication services.

It is funded by the European Commission from 2006 to 2009.

Project partners: Telecom Italia, British Telecommunications, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Imperial College London, Institut Eurecom, Politecnico di Milano, University of Kassel, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Università degli Studi di Trento, University of Ulster, MIP School of Management, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Université Libre de Bruxelles

S4ALL: Services for All

The project deals with innovative, mobile applications and platforms (including WEB 2.0/3.0).

It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2006 to 2009.

Project partners: Fraunhofer FOKUS Berlin, Vodafone Pilot Development Munich

SPICE: Service Platform for Innovative Communication Environment

The research project was funded by the European Commission in the 6th Framework Program (Information Society Technologies) from January 2006 to December 2008. The aim of the project was the conception and prototype development of a service platform for innovative mobile services. In addition to the University of Kassel, 22 other partners are involved in the project. The project was successfully completed at the end of 2008.

mik21: Migration competence as a key factor in the economy of the 21st century

The project "mik21 - Migration competence as a key factor in the economy of the 21st century" has been carried out as a regional research focus at the University of Kassel since 10/2003. The project, initially funded by the BMBF for four years, aims to expand and enrich existing, successful Internet applications and business models with mobile forms of application. The object of research is the interdisciplinary exploration of fundamental questions of the Wireless Internet. Within this framework, the extent to which existing solutions found for fixed network-based systems are suitable for migration to a mobile application is being investigated. The focus is on the development of mobile Internet applications and processes from an economic, legal and technological point of view as well as from the perspective of user acceptance.

With the aim of researching the fundamental transferability of existing solution and implementation models from a technical, economic and legal point of view as well as aspects of system design, the project pursues an interdisciplinary scientific approach, which is reflected in the project structure by combining the research expertise of four departments at the University of Kassel:

• Department of Communication Technology, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus David (FB16)
• Department of Public Law, Prof. Dr. Alexander Roßnagel (FB7)
• Department of System Design, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tom W.H.A. Sommerlatte
• Department of Business Informatics, Prof. Dr. Udo Winand (FB7)

mik21 is funded by the BMBF as part of the Wireless-Internet-Initiative, duration 01.10.2003 - 31.12.2007

MobiLife

The project deals with innovative mobile applications and platforms.

It is funded by the European Commission from January 2005 to December 2006.

Project partners: Nokia Corporation, Alcatel-CIT, Ericsson AB, Oy LM Ericsson Ab, Hewlett-Packard Italiana srl, Motorola Ltd, Motorola SAS, NEC Europe Ltd, Siemens Mobile Communications SpA, DoCoMo Communications Laboratories Europe GmbH, Elisa Corporation, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., University of Helsinki, University of Kassel, Department of Communication Technology, The University of Surrey, NEOS, Stichting Telematica Instituut, UNIS, spol. s. r. o., Suunto Oy, BLStream SP.z o.o, Helsinki University of Technology, Telecom Italia Lab

mCDN: Multimedia Content Discovery & Delivery Network

The project deals with "Multimedia Content Delivery".

It is funded by the European Commission from 2004 to 2006.

Project partners: Intrasoft International SA, The Netherland Organization for Applied Scientific Research/TNO Information and Communication Technologies (TNO-ICT), Siemens AG, Siemens Mobile Communication, University of Kassel, Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus (VTT, Technical Research Centre of Finland), FOKUS, Institute for Open Communication Systems of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft e.V., University College London, INTRACOM S.A, National Technical University of Athens, Wunder-Media

Wireless Internet Ad Hoc, Cellular and Kiosk

Communication and access to services and information via the Internet have become a matter of course. At the same time, wireless networks and portable end devices are becoming increasingly powerful, so that Internet services can soon also be used on the move on a large scale. In view of these developments, the projects of the Wireless Internet Initiative were founded to research concepts and system architectures for the provision and mobile use of innovative Internet services. The projects are of central importance for further expanding the leading position of German and European industry in the field of mobile communication. This is why this initiative is funded by the German government via the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (bmbf).

The initiative is guided by the vision that we will soon be surrounded by intelligent systems in both our professional and private lives that will make our lives easier and more pleasant. A first step in this direction are context aware services, which provide us with appropriate information depending on our location, identity and activity as well as the current time. In a further step, this dependency will become even more intelligent and, above all, less visible. We then speak of ambient intelligence. This refers to subtle digital services that are adaptable and responsive in the presence of people and at the same time easy to use. To make this kind of vision a reality, different mobile communication technologies need to be integrated with each other. At close range, for example in buildings and at hot spots, these are wireless LAN and Bluetooth. In urban areas, the UMTS network will soon be available, while GPRS and GSM will still be used in rural areas for a transitional period.

Such an integrated communications infrastructure opens up a wide range of possibilities for new applications and services. The architectures and basic technologies required for this are being examined in three projects within the Wireless Internet Initiative:

• Local hot spots create opportunities for innovative applications with limited coverage. In hot spots, services can be offered via short-range radio technologies both via local infrastructures and without any infrastructure (i.e. peer-to-peer). This enables ad hoc scenarios such as those being developed in the "wireless Internet - Ad Hoc" sub-project.
• In order to make optimum use of hotspots, they must be connected to each other. Global GPRS and UMTS mobile networks are used for this connection and for the mobile use of any situation-dependent Internet services. The "wireless Internet - cellular" sub-project provides the necessary concepts for this in order to ultimately realize comprehensive ambient intelligence scenarios for industrial and private users.
• Applications must provide attractive content for users. The "wireless Internet - kiosk systems" sub-project is investigating how this can be achieved in a situation-specific manner.

The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2003 to mid-2006.

Project partners: Prof. Dr. R. Krämer (Computer Science, Brandenburg University of Technology), lesswire (Frankfurt/Oder), Siemens (Munich), T-Systems (Berlin)

IPonAir: Next Generation Wireless Internet

The project, funded by the BMBF from 2001 to 2004, is part of the "HyperNet" funding program. Mobile and wireless communication has great economic potential in the coming years. Comprehensive broadband coverage and capacity increase / bandwidth efficiency are two major problems of future mobile communication. For this reason, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports knowledge and results-oriented basic research for bandwidth-efficient use of the spectrum. Against this background, the IPonAir project has been launched as part of the hyperNet funding program.

hyperNET:

• Increasing capacity and bandwidth efficiency Self-organizing ad hoc networks
• Multihop networks to increase range and capacity
• Flexible and dynamic allocation of bandwidth, space and time

The future of mobile Internet:

• Wireless and broadband Internet access
• Transparent, IP-based direct communication of mobile systems
• Reliable, variable bandwidth and quality requirements

IPonAir is being carried out as a joint project by various companies and universities. The Chair of Communication Technology at the University of Kassel (ComTec) is working closely with Alcatel.

In addition to general system design, the main focus of this collaboration is on investigations into multistandard radio resource management and the connection of ad hoc networks to cellular systems.
The basis of these considerations are scenarios in which infrastructure is available for different communication systems (e.g. UMTS, GPRS, WLAN) and users employ multimode terminals that support several communication systems including self-organizing networks (e.g. Bluetooth, WLAN).

The exciting challenge here is to find intelligent algorithms for managing the available resources in order to enable efficient utilization of the available bandwidth and consistently high transmission quality. In addition to theoretical work, the focus is on the simulation of various algorithms.
A suitable simulation environment based on the professional simulation tool OPNET is to be created for this purpose and the results obtained subsequently evaluated.

eL-IT: eLearning modules for degree courses in information, communication and media technology

The project, funded by the BMBF from 2001 to 2004, is part of the "New Media in Education" funding program. It includes a vision with the declared aim of making Germany a world leader in the provision of teaching and learning software by 2005 and helping the introduction of interactive, web-based teaching and learning platforms into normal operations to achieve a breakthrough. Workshops will be held to deal with issues relating to the choice of suitable platforms, didactics and legal issues as well as security and standardization.

Notebook University

More and more students are using mobile computers for their studies.

The University of Kassel was one of 22 universities nationwide to be selected by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the 'Notebook University' project.

The aim of this project (together with the WLAN project) is to ensure that students are constantly connected online to modern teaching software and important databases via their notebooks. The aim is to enable them to advance their individual projects from any location and to coordinate their joint group work.

The project aims to develop a university-wide overall concept for a Notebook University. The strategy presented here differs from comparable concepts in its occupational field-oriented approach to initiating lifelong learning processes and in its integrative overall strategy, which encompasses a technical-scientific and humanities-social science orientation. Learning scenarios and concepts of supervision for new teaching cultures (project teams, international teams, theory-practice transfer) are being tested, combined with a broad information and training program to develop media skills and motivate lecturers and students for a mobile university. The concepts are specifically evaluated for their suitability as an integral part of regular operations in order to reach students with limited resources and media skills.

To this end, representatives of the various disciplines, which represent over half of all students at the university, will work together to examine the development and application perspectives of multimedia, mobile network use from the perspective of the respective specialist applications on the one hand, and to determine the qualities and opportunities of using notebooks in everyday academic life in a generalized manner on the other. In this respect, the study design is divided into two parts, a very specific main part oriented towards the specific skills and subject interests and a part that demonstrates the possibility of generalizing the specific experiences. On the basis of the knowledge and practical experience gained here, the aim is to generalize the results, which will be integrated into the existing multimedia concept of the University of Kassel. In parallel, three models of financing, sales and sponsoring for the sale of notebooks to students are being investigated in close cooperation with producers and industry in order to implement a socially and gender-balanced distribution of notebooks in the long term. Cooperation with the Scientific Center for Vocational and Higher Education Research will ensure that the learning scenarios are evaluated and their broad utilization is guaranteed.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2002 to 2003.