Harald Kaaja

Ubimedia based on readable and writable memory tags

Ubimedia is a concept where media files are embedded in everyday objects and the environment. We propose an approach where the user can read and write these files with his/her personal mobile phone simply by touching the physical objects. This facilitates easy access and storage of, e.g. video and audio files related to the physical object in question. This paper describes our work in developing a technical solution for ubimedia and studying user acceptance of forthcoming ubimedia services. Our technical development of the ubimedia concept has been focused on a mobile phone platform with a tag reader/writer, memory tags with large storage capacity, and the communication between the phone and the tags. Currently, the technical design is in test and evaluation phase. The preliminary results show that the concept works and it can be implemented technically. In parallel with the technical development, we have studied usage possibilities for ubimedia and user acceptance of future ubimedia services. User acceptance has been studied in a web survey and in user evaluations of proofs-of-concept. In addition, an ethical assessment has been carried out. The users appreciated especially the simplicity, speed, low cost and reliability of ubimedia. Ethical concerns were related to control over the download with regard to viruses and other unwanted content.

Spectral slicing passive optical access network trial

An Ethernet passive optical network (PON) based on spectral slicing that has 24 channels has been demonstrated, and this can be readily extended to 32 to 40 channels using available arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and EDFA technologies. Further development of these technologies towards larger numbers of channels, larger optical bandwidths, lower prices and mass production is expected to bring their volume cost to levels acceptable also for residential broadband access. The most critical remaining technological question lies with LED sources. Particularly, the temperature sensitivity of LED sources is critical in the ONU environment. In the field trial the high-quality video services offered were highly popular. The number of broadband services in the public Internet was found to be limited and the bandwidth needs seen in the trial were well below the capacity of the system.