ACADEMIA

Quanta Computer Inc. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced a five-year, $20 million joint research collaboration project ("TParty") aimed at developing the next generation of platforms for computing and communication beyond personal computers. TParty will address one of the most frustrating aspects of today's computing landscape: More than three decades after the emergence of personal computers, we are increasingly relying on "smart" portable devices to deliver much of the information and services that we need in our daily lives. Unfortunately, in the current device-centric world, each one of us is responsible for integrating these new devices into our personal information environment. As a result, users are forced to manage information transfers, configurations, security, maintenance, upgrades, backups, and more. The goal of TParty is to create new systems for the development and seamless delivery of information services in a world of smart devices and sensors. This will require reengineering and an extension of the underlying technical infrastructure, the creation of new interfaces, and exploring new ways of managing and accessing information. Mr. Barry Lam, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quanta, said at the signing ceremony in Taipei: "We are very pleased to team up with the renowned research institution, MIT, to embark on a new IT trendsetting endeavor. Combining the exceptional research resources of MIT with the world-leading innovative design and manufacturing engine of Quanta, we are excited about the prospects of bringing brand-new products and services to the world that will improve all of our lives and cultures." MIT President Susan Hockfield commented: "I am delighted that MIT and Quanta are collaborating in this ambitious initiative, which has tremendous implications for the future of personal computing. This partnership builds on MIT's long traditions of technological innovation and creative interaction with industry to address issues that are increasingly important to all of us in the digital age." Prof. Rodney Brooks, Director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), the MIT laboratory that will house TParty, commented: "We strongly believe that the best value for our research partners is achieved when we work together. Quanta is the world's leading supplier of notebook computers complementing CSAIL's tradition of world-leading research. Together, Quanta and CSAIL will establish a team and work toward a new world of self-organizing devices which make our lives more pleasant and productive."