In July 2004, I graduated from the University Of Reading with a First class degree in MEng(Hons) Computer Science & Cybernetics.

I started the degree in the department of Cybernetics in September 2000, and over the four year period covered a variety of topics. These topics included staple courses, such as Cybernetic Systems, programming, Operating Systems, Discrete Mathematics; and far more diverse topics, such as Machine Intelligence, Bionics, Mechatronics and Virtual Reality.

The structure of the 4 years Masters programme resulted in the completion of two final year standard projects - one in the third year and one in the fourth year.

My third year project, completed in conjunction with David Barrett in 2003, was titled “Self-evolving controllers for robot systems”. The project revolved around a robotic arm controlled via 5 servos, which we interfaced with a PC. We modified the arm so that it had a cup which it could use to hold a ping-pong ball. Essentially the aim of the project was to use the arm to throw the ball into a target cup. The clever part was though that the arm would not be programmed to throw the ball, but rather it would teach itself, via trial and error how to hit the target. In addition, the only feedback the arm was given was the distance by which it missed the target. The system we developed used some complex maths and artificial intelligence techniques to work out the best way in which to move each of its joints to get the best throw. Our project was successful, and we were able to demonstrate the arm learning how to throw and show how this was happening.

My fourth year project was conducted in a rather different field of research. Titled “Interaction via Motion Observation (IMO)”, the aim of the project was to look to how we could evolve the ways in which we currently use computers and other technology. The system I developed used a cheap web camera as an input device, effectively replacing a mouse. Mounted above the desktop, the system was able to track the location and movement of the user’s hand allowing them to control the computer by simply moving their hand around, with no physical interaction with the computer. The demonstration applications developed included a simple game in which the user had to grab a selected bubble as quickly as possible, and an interface with Windows Media Player, allowing music tracks to be changed and paused by simple gestures.

The success of the research and the potentials released by the development of the system resulted in the publication of a paper at the International Conference Series on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies at Oxford in 2004, and another publication at the 11th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction held in Las Vegas in 2005.