DTC opens new possibilities for research and application on diverse fronts

Transcription

1 BULLETIN Moving Forward SPRING 03 DTC opens new possibilities for research and application on diverse fronts The Digital Technology Center In a cylindrical form, 11 centimeters Biological applications (DTC) moved into new facilities in long and four centimeters in diameter, When first introduced, antibiotics Walter Library almost a year ago. the scout fits into a protective covering proved highly effective in battling The DTC brings researchers, faculty, that absorbs much of the impact during bacteria. As use increased, though, the and industry members from diverse the launch. The covering allows the bacteria began to fight back with strains backgrounds together in one place to scout to break through a glass window, that resist antibiotics. discuss, explore, and pursue innovative land safely, and begin its mission. Now researchers are applying work in digital technology. As a hub of Joining the DTC has helped the combined power of information activity, the DTC supports the kind of Papanikolopoulos further his research. technology, engineering, and biology to cutting-edge thinking and projects that For example, discussions with fellow find new drugs and treatments against come only with the presence of strong faculty at the DTC inspired the team s multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria. collaboration. recent work on sensor networks and We use computational tools to The move opened new possibilities resulted in several large research investigate biological systems, from for DTC faculty, both in terms of proposals, says Papanikolopoulos. both a physicochemical and an furthering their current research and in The DTC provides great opportunities for interactions to researchers with Kaznessis, assistant professor of chemi- evolutionary perspective. says Yiannis spurring new initiatives. The following summaries offer a sampling of some of similar interests in digital technology. cal engineering and materials science. those efforts and the impact of the DTC in moving the work forward. Robots at work Firefighters, police, emergency rescue crews, and soldiers all face inherent danger in their jobs. If a machine instead could help reduce those dangers by going first to investigate and perform dangerous tasks, how many lives might be saved? In a laboratory at the DTC, Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos, computer science and engineering professor, and his team are working on robotics technology that offers the potential to save lives and improve productivity in a variety of applications. The scout robots that the team has designed and built can carry out lowlevel, usually parallel tasks. Scouts can include simple sensory units or units with locomotion, says Papanikolopoulos. All scouts have a similar form factor to enable delivery by a uniform mechanism. Members of the robotics research team: (clockwise from left) Ersa Kadioglu, Ian Burt, Nikos Papanikolopoulos, Bradley Kratochvil, and Andrew Drenner.

2 Ovispirin (in blue) interacts very strongly and disrupts a layer of DMPG molecules (in red), which are a major component of bacterial cell membranes. Ovispirin is a particularly promising antibacterial therapeutic peptide. Those computational tools allow researchers to sift through the vast amount of available data on human and bacterial genes and develop computer simulations that clarify biomolecular interactions, narrowing the search for the most promising therapeutic solutions. Kaznessis stresses the innovative integration of computer modeling and bioinformatics methods is indeed enabling rational engineering of novel antimicrobial agents. The DTC offers the perfect place to explore biological systems, he says. No one researcher has all the answers when it comes to biological systems. A center that brings together scientists and engineers with different backgrounds helps advance the work. The DTC already has made a mark in this interdisciplinary area of bioinformatics, which applies information technology tools to biological questions. This summer, it will host the first Bioinformatics Summer Institute, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health. Toplevel undergraduate students from the University of Minnesota and across the country will come to learn and participate in bioinformatics research projects. It was with the help of the DTC that we are able to offer this great opportunity to undergraduate students. Virtual design The laboratory on the first floor of Walter Library is taking shape for a new revolution in design-aided computer tools. A team of five faculty from architecture and computer science Lee Anderson, Andrzej Piotrowski, Victoria Interrante, Baoquan Chen, and Gary Meyer and students are working together to create a virtual reality design environment. They form the core team of the DTC Digital Design Consortium (DDC), an initiative that marries the expertise of several disciplines. Established through a gift from University of Minnesota alumni Ted and Linda Johnson, the DDC is developing tools for architects, landscape architects, and other design and building professionals with which they can experience their designs almost as if they already were built. Chen and Piotrowski are working on the project s scanning component. They captured images throughout the University and community with a laser sensor, which allows them to digitize and input a real-world environment. Anderson and Interrante are creating a physical space where users can, with the aid of a headmounted set of displays, walk through a site simulation and make changes. Meyer is applying his work on accurate color representation in simulations to design elements, such as flooring and building materials. As researchers refine their virtual design laboratory, the consortium continues to draw interest from industry and generate new proposals to funding organizations such as the National Science Foundation. The DDC soon will establish an industrial affiliates program as a way for industry to collaborate with the DDC on projects that improve the architectural design cycle. The nuances of color Physics, psychology, and computer science all play important roles in the work of Gary Meyer, associate professor of computer science. An expert in computer graphics, Meyer specializes in the science of bringing realistic depictions of color, its reflectivity, and other qualities in images to computer screens. Designers and engineers who must understand the appearance of color in product applications can make good use of those representations in 3D simulation programs. In the paint and automotive industries, for example, designers want to know how color truly looks on different surfaces and at different angles. A design tool that allows them to accurately visualize the color can help them save time and money in narrowing down the color options that they may choose for full-scale prototypes. Meyer has developed software that applies research on color properties and is testing the program. Not only does it give designers control over the geometry but also gives them control over surface reflections in an interactive way, he says. The DTC laboratory facilities have helped further Meyer s research, as does another DTC initiative, the Digital Rendering of a goniochromatic automotive paint that shifts from green to yellow. 2 DTC Bulletin

3 Design Consortium. It s opened possibilities to expand the work to architecture and other design applications. Wireless wonders An expert in the technology behind wireless communications, Georgios Giannakis holds one of the five ADC endowed chairs associated with the DTC. Giannakis immediately recognized the potential of the DTC and wanted to participate. At the DTC, he continues his research to improve the speed and performance of wireless services aided by the facilities and support of the DTC. His research on ultra-wideband communications makes use of the existing infrastructure to bolster wireless communication systems. In other projects, he explores the application of multiantenna technology as a means of improving performance and capacity of wireless links. His work has attracted the interest of several companies, which are considering licensing his patented technology for the development of next-generation systems. DTC collaborations have helped to expand his research into new applications. He has joined the robotics research initiative, adding his expertise in ultrawideband communications as a wireless solution to directing the robots. Already, the interdisciplinary team has submitted a proposal to fund a project. He also sees potential in applying principles of signal processing to biological projects. As a major center, the DTC makes it easier to attract funding and work with industry on technology transfer, he says. A more robust Internet In less than a decade, the Internet has turned from an interesting new technology to a powerful social and economic force. Its future may be assured, but its growth also opens new issues of performance and security. Zhi-Li Zhang, associate professor of computer science, and his colleagues are examining new approaches to help the Internet run more smoothly and effectively. A five-year grant from the NSF Georgios Giannakis focuses on the technology behind wireless communications, which opens new possibilities for wireless home and office networks. funds a project to improve the quality of service. We are exploring the fundamental network issues to enhance current Internet reliability and performance, says Zhang. The technical part of the research involves determining the changes in network architecture that expand capabilities and support a more robust service. Discussions at the DTC between Zhang and Andrew Odlyzko, DTC director, recently opened a new aspect for study economic factors that impact technology. The two want to better understand the public policy and business issues that accompany the deployment of technological advances. The work complements technical development, allowing the researchers to weigh the practical implications of new technologies. There are technical issues that we need to resolve, but there are also economic tradeoffs, says Zhang. The DTC helps broaden our focus in ways that move us closer to solutions that strengthen the Internet. Revealing data The world may be full of data, but when it comes to generating meaningful information, there s still plenty of room for improvement. The ability to advance the science of data mining, or the development of computational tools that can extract useful information from large data sets, offers potential in many directions from fine tuning the business of consumer marketing to helping predict cell behavior. At the DTC, George Karypis, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, applies his expertise in developing algorithms for computer programs the heart of data mining on several fronts. His work helps unlock a wealth of information about consumers, their behaviors, and their preferences data that allows such businesses to better identify new customers and to strengthen existing customer loyalty. His work in bioinformatics can help researchers identify the most-promising chemical compounds for new life-saving drug targets. One recent related project resulted from collaborations with DTC colleagues. The applications are very different, but some of the core techniques are the same, says Karypis. What I like about the DTC is it allows me to meet faculty and students from other areas and expand the boundaries of my work. A powerful network Jon Weissman, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, focuses his research on an emerging area known as computational grids, which offer researchers from many disciplines a powerful tool for their work. The grid is an infrastructure for enabling high-performance computing on distributed resources, says Weissman, who joined the DTC because of the opportunity to collaborate with faculty from different areas. Grid computing has become highly interdisciplinary, so it was a natural marriage for my research interests. Weissman already is contributing to several DTC projects. One project, funded by the NSF Computer, Information Science, and Engineering (CISE) RESEARCH, continued on page 6 SPRING 03 3

4 FROM THE DIRECTOR The Power of Collaboration Our primary goals focus on that commitment... to strengthen high-technology industry through research initiatives and partnerships with industry, to promote interdisciplinary research on campus, and to develop proven technologies that expand the scope of education. E ach Monday and Thursday afternoon, in a reception area on the fourth floor of Walter Library, faculty and students gather for tea, cookies, and serious conversations about their research. Rooms nearby often fill with teams of faculty and students who meet to discuss the next steps in their work. The Digital Technology Center moved into its home in the remodeled space of Walter Library about a year ago. The new facilities have helped the DTC become a hub of research, outreach, and educational activities. This first edition of the DTC Bulletin features stories about many of those activities. Through this newsletter and our web site ( edu), we want to share news about the DTC and the work of its faculty, students, and industrial colleagues. This issue includes brief summaries of several research initiatives that involve collaboration among faculty and students from different disciplines. It also highlights the DTC Intelligent Storage Consortium (DISC). The consortium brings together faculty, students, and industry representatives who are exploring new technologies for storage. In is in this spirit of collaboration that the DTC was formed. In 1997, then-university President Mark Yudof identified digital technology as one of the five key areas that are essential to strengthening the University and advancing the state s economy. The DTC resulted from Yudof s initiative to help Minnesota regain its leadership in the digital technology areas. Our primary goals focus on that commitment: We seek to strengthen high-technology industry through research initiatives and partnerships with industry, to promote interdisciplinary research on campus, and to develop proven technologies that expand the scope of education. Current University leaders in particular University President Robert Bruininks, Executive Vice President and Provost Christine Maziar, Vice President for Research David Hamilton, and Institute of Technology Dean H. Ted Davis were heavily involved in setting up the DTC and made the realization of these goals a high-level priority at the University. As a result, in just over a year, we have brought together almost 30 faculty from disciplines as diverse as architecture, physics, biology, chemical engineering, and computer science, among others. They and their students support research in a number of key areas: Computational biology Computer graphics and visualization Intelligent data storage and retrieval systems Data mining and scientific computation Networking Robotics and artificial intelligence Wireless communications Applications of those technologies, including digital design Our laboratories offer researchers first-rate facilities for technical work. The DTC houses the Supercomputer Institute for Digital Simulation and Advanced Computation for supercomputing research, the Laboratory for Computational Science and Engineering for computational science and engineering and visualization, and the Usability Laboratory for evaluations of computational solutions. Additional, specialized laboratories assist with research projects. We welcome industry representatives to visit the DTC and learn more about its research and the possibilities for formal and informal collaborations. Our partnership program serves as a gateway for companies to access the DTC and the research that relates to digital technologies (see page 7). We offer different levels of involvement, depending on the interests and needs of companies. The power of our collaborations is already bringing new ideas and proposals to the table. Please consider joining us as we continue to make new advances in digital technology. Andrew Odlyzko, former head of the mathematics and cryptography research department at AT&T Labs, serves as the first Digital Technology Center director and is an ADC Professor and Assistant Vice President for Research. 4 DTC Bulletin

5 A Window to the Future Intelligent Storage Device Consortium advances development of storage technology As senior fellow for StorageTek, Jim Hughes focuses on the search for next-generation technologies that offer the most promise for development. When he learned about the Digital Technology Center Intelligent Storage Consortium (DISC), he saw an opportunity to enhance his company s effort. We were looking for a place to explore the theory behind the opportunity, says Hughes. We were looking for a physical location where we can come and work with researchers. StorageTek found that place at the DTC, which established DISC to help bolster the storage industry by advancing research and development in storage technology. In fall 2002, StorageTek became the first industry affiliate of DISC. The consortium acts as a rally point for companies who are interested in the early-stage development of Intelligent Storage Devices, says Tom Ruwart, DISC technical manager. DISC evolved from ongoing discussions with companies that began in 2001 when the DTC began investigating ways to match its strengths with industry needs. The DTC needs a foundation project that is far enough in the future, but represents a significant area of research that also has the potential to be commercially successful, says Ruwart. Intelligent Storage Devices meet and exceed these criteria. Huge potential We are very excited about the potential of object-based storage, says Hughes. I view it as a fundamental change that will make a major difference in the market. How does making a storage device smarter open such possibilities? When storage devices not only store data, but also recognize data objects, the devices can do much more with that data than they can now. An Intelligent Storage Device understands the content of the objects it stores, and because of that understanding, can better manage and manipulate those objects and potentially the contents of those objects. On a basic level, Intelligent Storage Devices make data storage and retrieval much more efficient, improving performance for end users. Because of their sophisticated capabilities, Intelligent Storage Devices also can perform data management and manipulation tasks. For example, a specialized Intelligent Storage Device could be programmed to automatically present different views of X-rays to physicians. From the researchers to the storage vendors to the users and consumers of this technology, the potential impact is very significant, says Ruwart. It is quite possible that Intelligent Storage Devices will be an entirely new class of program- DISC researchers include (clockwise from left) Abed Lawabni, Feng Wang, Yingping Lu, Tom Ruwart (DISC technology manager), Keqian Wu, Vishal Kher, Jon Weissman, and Ahmed Twefik. SPRING 03 5

6 For more information about DISC, contact Tom Ruwart at umn.edu. mable devices that allow for expanded differentiation among storage vendors and more choice for end users. Leaders of the pack Another attraction for StorageTek involved the quality of the DISC faculty. The company had previously collaborated with David Du, DISC director and computer science and engineering professor. Du and a group of researchers including Yongdae Kim, Jon Weissman, and Zhi-Li Zhang from computer science and engineering and David Lilja and Ahmed Twefik from electrical and computer engineering and their graduate students are investigating issues related to Intelligent Storage Devices. In his work, Du and his associates have built networks of storage devices, which allow for sharing of data by host computers that coordinate the data sharing on those storage devices. Object-based storage, though, takes that work to the next level. Because the storage devices manage the data, it widens the architectural possibilities for storage and data networks. The data becomes accessible from a laptop, desktop, or hand-held device that connects to the storage device through the Internet, says Du. Faculty members are pursing research on a number of fronts, including object-based storage device protocols and associated file systems, as well as network and security issues. For example, current efforts to develop a hierarchy of structure will help a globalbased directory identify data for storage and retrieval. The goal of these activities is to capitalize on technology transfer, says Du. The existence of the consortium makes it much easier to realize the full benefits of application. Leveraged benefits Because of its focus on driving new technology, DISC is also considering more than just technical issues. The consortium involves faculty members from the Carlson School of Management to work on issues of successfully and smoothly integrating technological advancements into the marketplace. Business issues influence the development and introduction of new technologies, says Ruwart. We want to look at this from both the technical and business perspectives, so that we can give the member companies a more complete outcome something more than simply technology. DISC industry affiliates participate in shaping the research agenda, says Hughes, and they also gain access to the top-notch team of faculty members and graduate students. As an industry affiliate, Hughes can spend time and has working one-on-one with faculty and students at the DTC. The connections with top-notch students help companies such as StorageTek find qualified candidates for job openings, and the connections with faculty pave the way for additional collaborations. Return on investment DISC helps companies expand their investment in research and development. Members can leverage funding from the DTC and funding from other companies, giving them about a 10-1 or higher return, says Ruwart. The investment often continues to multiply. Companies also can tap into the results of faculty work that receives funding from federal or other sources. In turn, the consortium and its connections to industry assist DISC faculty in obtaining additional funding from other sources. The more companies participate, the greater ability they have to shape and take advantage of what develops. For example, consortium members can decide whether they want the first opportunity for licensing. The corporation needs to protect significant intellectual property, says Hughes. But on the other hand, it s not in the best interest for a company to do everything. We are working with the consortium to enable object-based storage. DISC offers a neutral meeting ground for companies to work on issues that relate to the storage industry and that pave the way for new market opportunities. The merger of storage and networks and what that allows is only now starting, says Hughes. I believe that our partnership with the consortium will really help move this forward. RESEARCH, continued from page 3 Directorate, involves expanding the capabilities of a student computer lab to allow for data processing and analysis when students are not using the machines. Weissman also participates in the DTC Intelligent Storage Consortium (DISC), a collaborative effort among faculty, students, and industry members to advance research and development in storage technology (see page 5). He also is beginning a bioinformatics project with colleagues. By putting faculty and their student labs in close proximity with common spaces for socializing and interactions, the potential for interdisciplinary research is great, says Weissman. In addition, the DTC support structure identifies grant opportunities for collaborative research and provides substantial grant preparation support. 6 DTC Bulletin

7 A Gateway for Industry Jim Licari, assistant director for industrial liaison When the Digital Technology Center (DTC) began talking about the most effective ways to involve industry, it quickly concluded one option alone wasn t enough. We have a broad spectrum of technology, says Dr. Jim Licari, assistant director for industrial liaison. As a result, we structured our Partnership Program to give companies the opportunity to learn about the work as a whole and to focus on a strategic technology of interest to them. The DTC Partnership Program offers three levels: Affiliates Program, which includes participation in DTC Advisory Teams, an annual meeting to review DTC research and digital technology trends, updates, access to member-only web pages, exclusive access with reduced fees to the Usability Laboratory, and free or reduced registration fees to Supercomputing Institute workshops and symposia. Current affiliates include ADC Telecommunications, IBM, 3M, StorageTek, Unisys, EMC, and Thomson Legal and Regulatory. Consortium Program. The DTC currently has organized two consortiums the DTC Intelligent Storage Consortium (DISC), see page 5, and the Digital Design Consortium (DDC), see page 2. DTC plans to expand the consortium concept into other specific research areas. Consortium members work as a team with a group of DTC faculty and graduate students to advance the research and application of a specific area of technology. Because projects receive funding from other sources, members multiply the impact of their investment. Special consideration has been given to intellectual property (IP) ownership, sharing, and licensing. A representative from the company also can work onsite with faculty and staff as part of the consortium s Residency Program. Companies must join as affiliates before they can participate in a consortium. Research Program, which allows companies to work one-on-one in proprietary relationships with DTC faculty. The DTC is really a gateway for companies to access digital-based research, says Licari. With the Partnership Program, we want to encourage involvement that will benefit the company and support the industry. This will help us achieve one of our key goals of technology transfer to continue to enhance Minnesota s position as a technology leader in the United States. To join the Partnership Program, or for more information, contact Jim Licari at jplicari@dtc.umn.edu. DTC receives $2.4 million computer gift The Digital Technology Center (DTC) has received a gift of two ES7000 supercomputing systems worth $2.4 million from Unisys Corporation. The DTC Supercomputing Institute and the DTC Laboratory for Computational Science and Engineering (LCSE) will use the systems. The donation has been made possible, in part, through the assistance of Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, in partnership with Unisys. University researchers will use the equipment in an array of high-performance computing applications in the areas of biological sciences, chemistry, fluid dynamics, genomics, and geophysics. Both supercomputers are large 32-processor systems, one employing Intel 64- bit 1.0 GHz Itanium 2 instruction processors, and the other employing 2.0 GHz Xeon processors, using the Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter operating system and SQL Server 2000 database software. This gift will give us the opportunity to undertake interesting new projects, because the Unisys systems are significantly different from other supercomputers, said Andrew Odlyzko, DTC director. They run on a Windows operating system and are ideal for projects involving large amounts of data and complex data structures. The DTC is committed to enhancing and expanding our partnership with Unisys. The ES7000 systems will make an excellent vehicle around which we can base that interaction. University Vice President and Provost Christine Maziar and Vice President and General Manager, Unisys, North America, Scott Vogel spoke at a March event to recognize the donation by Unisys of two ES7000 systems. SPRING 03 7

8 DTC awards ADC Fellowships Yuan Zhao In , the Digital Technology Center awarded two new ADC Graduate Fellowships to Ben Miller and Yuan Zhao. A Ph.D. student in computer science and advisee of Professor David Du, Miller focuses his research on wireless and advanced networking, distributed computing, distributed storage, and operating systems. A Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering, Zhao explores wireless telecommunications and networking. Funded by ADC Telecommunications, the fellowships are designed to advance research in wireless and advanced networking technology. Zhenhai Duan, computer science and engineering Ph.D student, and Shengli Zhou, electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student, received fellowships. The DTC will select three ADC Graduate Fellows in Ben Miller The DTC Bulletin is published by the Digital Technology Center (DTC) at the University of Minnesota. Direct comments or questions to: Editor, The Digital Technology Center, 499 Walter Library, 117 Pleasant St. SE, Minneapolis, MN Walter Library 117 Pleasant St. SE Minneapolis, MN For information about the DTC, contact us at: phone (612) fax (612) info@dtc.umn.edu The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer Regents of the University of Minnesota Printed on recycled paper, 10% post-consumer fiber.