The Ambient Computing Laboratory at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s College of Engineering develops advanced cyber-physical systems that combine interactive multimedia with the unique research possibilities offered by the billions of connected devices that are increasingly connected to the Internet. This evolution of the Internet, known as the Internet of Things (IoT), is well underway, with the current 20 billion connected devices projected to surpass 75 billion devices by the year 2025.

The Ambient Lab’s research focuses on several Hawai’i-specific needs, such as remote collaboration, distance education and connected healthcare. Together with UH System’s Academy for Creative Media (ACM System), the lab also helps foster UH’s emerging Computational Media study program, which trains students and working professionals in the areas of video game development, virtual and augmented reality, and digital storytelling and filmmaking.

Recognizing the strategic value of this ongoing digital transformation, ACM System’s Founder and Director, Chris Lee, has spent over fifteen years developing Hawai’i as a center of excellence in media. Lee, who previously served as president of production for both TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, established ACM System in 2003 to promote integrated multimedia, arts, and technology education in Hawai’i as a catalyst for creating 21st century knowledge-based jobs across the islands. Lee has been instrumental raising the public and private capital needed to fund its activities, building initiatives, and attracting visionary researchers—like Carlson to UH in 2016.

Carlson’s appointment complements ACM System’s ongoing support of UH Professor Jason Leigh’s Laboratory for Advanced Visualization & Applications (LAVA) at UH Mānoa. Since 2014, LAVA has served as a dynamic maker space and innovation hub at UH, where researchers develop a wide range of big data visualization techniques for science, engineering and training. LAVA also forms the core of the Hawai’i Data Science Institute, which serves the data intensive science, engineering and training needs of UH System’s 10 campuses.

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.