Student Job

Serious Games: prototyping ubiquitous computing

Background
Fraunhofer FIT is developing a system for prototyping ubiquitous computing (UbiComp) applications. This
system allows users to try UbiComp prototypes both in a virtual environment and the real world, with the
prototypes being either completely virtual, completely real, or a mix of both. The prototypes’ functionality
as well as environmental conditions may be partly simulated, making it possible to try and evaluate proto-
types that are yet impossible or impractical to build or use. The core of the system is a distributed multi-
player environment through which both real and virtual clients can interact with a mixed-reality simulation.
One application focus for the system is ICT support for emergency situations, including fires, earthquakes
and large-scale incidents. The dedicated system for this purpose is called FireSim. For example, FireSim is
currently being used to investigate navigational support systems for firefighters. See www.firesim.eu.

Job Description
This job is focused on implementing prototypes with the UbiComp prototyping system. Most importantly,
the prototypes have to be actually usable by the targeted user groups, which currently are mostly emer-
gency response professionals such as firefighters and earthquake response teams. Therefore, the engineer-
ing focus is on creating appropriate interfaces and interactions. The job also includes programming the be-
haviour and interactions of prototypes both in the virtual environment and for physical UbiComp systems.
From an engineering perspective, this includes interfacing with the UbiComp prototyping system through
c++ and writing the software for the prototypes in either c++ or other languages appropriate for the hard-
ware platform. The programming requires good software engineering in terms of extensibility, flexibility,
consistency, and performance. From a conceptual perspective, the job includes understanding the work
practices of the targeted users to be supported by the UbiComp systems and participating in the design and
evaluation of appropriate interfaces and forms of interaction. It also includes addressing the methodological
questions of mixed-reality UbiComp prototyping. The job is located at Fraunhofer FIT, Sankt Augustin.

Skills
Required: z software engineering z object-oriented analysis and design z interest in ubiquitous comput-
ing z interest in human-computer interaction z structured and independent working style z active com-
munication
Advantageous: z c++ z interface and interaction design z interest in user studies

Benefits
z Learning from experienced researchers and developers z Participation in on-going research projects z
Option to participate in user studies across Europe z Option to carry out a master or diploma thesis in col-
laboration with RWTH Informatik 5 z Option to co-publish on the work z Well-equipped working envi-
ronment

Questions and Applications

Markus Klann
Fraunhofer FIT
Schloss Birlinghoven
53754 Sankt Augustin
www.firesim.eu
markus.klann@fit.fraunhofer.de