Shooting for success

Paul Robertson tests the simulator with a volunteer

Paul Robertson has to be one of the luckiest PhD students. Not only is he following his academic dreams but he is doing so by using a hi-tech environment to help police officers improve their decision making. In effect, he is making a shoot 'em up game for grown ups.

The seriousness of this research in the White Space HIVE cannot be overlooked. When faced with a potentially dangerous situation involving firearms, our police forces have to make split second decisions. If that decision is incorrect, the consequences can be fatal.

There is more to this research than deciding whether or not to shoot. Various tests are being carried out to uncover how those crucial decisions are made. Volunteers step into the shoes of those in the front line and their reactions recorded for future use.

Using a blend of pyschology and computer generated environments, Paul Robertson's PhD is as colourful as his hair and is likely to lead to ground breaking results. Anyone who ever thought playing games was a waste of time can certainly think again. If all goes well, Paul could be responsible for helping police make quick fire decisions with confidence and regain the trust of the ever sceptical public.

BBC Prototype finds success in White Space

Iain Donald discusses ideas with a student

Students involved in the BBC Prototype experience are getting to grips with life in the industry.
Prototype is intended as a hothouse, innovation studio, bringing together Abertay University, BBC Scotland and commercial games developers and start-ups in Tayside and beyond, to design and develop new interactive products, technologies and games aimed primarily at engaging with future audiences and online communities.

Teams work between Pacific Quay in Glasgow and here in Abertay's White Space facility where a full time co-ordinator keeps everyone on track. The talented teams include practitioners, technologists and senior academics.

Dare to Be Olympic

Professor Lachlan MacKinnon will be making a guest appearance at the Beijing Olympics. In a virtual sense. Abertay's Head of Computing and Creative Technologies filmed an address in White Space, talking about the importance of international collaboration within academia, the Olympics and the development of the creative industries both globally and locally.

The White Space concept is a key theme throughout Professor MacKinnon's message. Traditional teaching methods are linked with novel concepts which prepare graduates for industry. Set against the backdrop of the White Space facility, this presentation is sure to inspire as well as inform the audience.

The film, due to be shown at the Olympic Digital Arts Exhibition, was captured by the resident Digital Media team who successfully sent the final footage to colleagues in China for all to enjoy.

Space School Soars to Success

Dundee school children were inspired in White Space when their heroes landed in the city. Astronauts and science specialists from Space Centre Houston made a visit as part of the ever popular Space School.

Youngsters gained valuable experience from the many activities on offer throughout this programme by creating space suits, flying model rockets and building Mars rover robots.

In conjunction with STEM, pupils were encouraged to give science, maths and engineering a second look. By coming to the University of Abertay they can also see that as well as being a learning environment, it is a place where ideas can really lift off.

The course culminated with a graduation ceremony for our young space cadets and the hope many will reach for the stars in their careers.

Blue sky thinking

Dare to be Digital 2008 is up and running here in White Space. Teams of young creative computing minds from all over the world are developing games to dazzle the judges and earn a top contract. EA Games and RealTime Worlds are just two of the major gaming companies who regularly take an interest in this competition with many others following suit.

Blue Skies, pictured above, are confident their submission will tick all the boxes. Origami is a platform game where the main character is made of paper. He can fold himself into any creature and his main defence is inflicting paper cuts on enemies.

Team leader Richard and his colleagues Jade, Alberto, Kev and Johnny are all Abertay students. Do they mind working during the summer holidays? "It's hard work but worthwhile. It's like having a job but better."says Richard with the rest of the team nodding in agreement.

Last year there was an additional accolade for one of the teams. Voodoo Boogy scooped the prestigious BAFTA 'Ones to watch' award for their role play game 'Ragnarawk'. Fingers crossed there will be recognition for all entrants as Dare to be Digital launches more careers.

White Space Official Opening May 2008

The First Minister of Scotland certainly knows which buttons to push.

Following a rousing speech by University of Abertay Principal, Professor Bernard King, it fell upon the Right Hon Alex Salmond to officially open White Space by hitting the big red button.

Virtual curtains projected on to the landmark 'S' bend sculpture opened to reveal a plaque, designed by White Space Solutions, commemorating the event.

Mr Salmond was very impressed with the facilities in White Space. He was given a demonstration of our 3D HIVE and shown the excellent Embreonix sector where students can grow their own company.

Support by the Scottish Government is clear with Mr Salmond confirming White Space will allow the University of Abertay's reputation to grow significantly by playing a major role in boosting the creative economy of the country.

Dare to be Digital

Many of our students may be heading off for a well earned summer break but for some the work doesn't stop.
The ever popular Dare to be Digital competition will be launching soon in White Space.

Students from Abertay, parts of the UK and from overseas are creating prototype games and educational programmes in a bid to scoop the top prize.

The competition attracts the attention of the computer industry big hitters including Eidos, EA Games and Realtime Worlds which is based here in Dundee.

It is impossible to miss the energy buzzing around White Space while the competition is underway.

Speak easy

The open bistro and gallery provides the ideal place for relaxation and for informal discussion between lecturer and student. Here one of our Computer Arts mentors is tutoring a student about her web design proposal.

This open area creates a positive and encouraging environment for the constructive exchange of ideas.

Come and experience it for yourself.

All about audio

This is our audio studio, home to broadcaster Lesley Riddoch's live show, creativity zone for our creative sound students and the ideal venue for commercial voice overs.

The system uses Pro-Tools and has a choice of ISDN lines, enabling a variety of options for linking to other sites.

A separate soundproof studio can be set up for all manner of requirements from live talk radio to musical production.