Subject: Invitation for the Disappearing Computer Workshop in Brussels,
     28         March 2000

Dear Colleauges, 

There will be an information workshop for the upcoming call for proposals on the 'The Disappearing Computer', 

on Tuesday 28th March, in Brussels. 

Please come along if you might be interesting in submitting a proposal or in meeting potential partners. If you wish to come please inform us by sending a confirmation email to Theodora.Psaroudakis@cec.eu.int 

A short text from 'the disappearing computer' brochure is attached. 

Further information is available on: http://www.cordis.lu/ist/fetdc.htm

Please pass on this email to anybody that you think might be interested. 

Jakub Wejchert, for the dc team 

____________________

Call for proposals

The disappearing computer       

vision of the future
A vision of the future is one in which our everyday world of objects and places become 'infused' and 'augmented' with information processing. In this vision computing, information processing, and computers, disappear  into the background, and take on the role more similar to that of electricity today - an invisible, pervasive medium distributed in our real world. In contrast, what will appear  to people are new artefacts and augmented places that support and enhance activities in natural, simple and intuitive ways.

mission statement
The 'disappearing computer' will explore how everyday life can be supported and enhanced through the use of interacting artefacts. It will investigate how to create artefacts, how to design the functionality they support, and how artefacts can work together to form people-friendly environments. Research will focus on three inter-linked objectives.


create artefacts
This objective focuses on developing new methods and techniques for integrating information technology into everyday objects. It includes development of new software and hardware architectures, communication methods with other artefacts, as well techniques for embedding processing into materials and objects. 

new functionality
This objective considers how artefacts can be modular, aware and be able to work together. It considers how the functionality of artefacts can be adaptable, and how new functionality can 'emerge' from collections of interacting artefacts, or by their re-combination by people. 

people's experience
Collections of artefacts will together produce whole environments that are distributed in real locations and open to many people to use. This considers how people will participate in these, and how to ensure that experience is coherent, natural and appropriately engaging.

The disappearing computer
The disappearing computer is a new initiative launched by Future and Emerging Technologies, of the European Commission's IST Programme. The call for proposals aims to attract: technologists (communication, devices, embedded systems), designers, architects, social scientists and anybody else who feels that they can contribute, from companies, research institutes and universities alike. 

submitting a proposal
The deadline for receipt of proposals is tentatively May 10th 2000. 

pre-proposals
On a voluntary basis, proposers are welcome to submit pre-proposals, for which feedback will be given. The description of the ideas should be no longer than one page of text. 

Pre-proposals are receivable at any time up to 31st March 2000. 

further information

http://www.cordis.lu/ist/fetdc.htm
e-mail: istfet@cec.eu.int