AHRC and BT: A Creative CollaborationJo Pollock and John Seton

Museums on the WebFriday 26th November, 2010

A D A S T R A L P A R K

Partnership is essential for BT

We double the research leverage through our open innovation partners

Partners

Innovate within each stage and through the entire value chain

Invent Architect Validate & Implement

Operate Productise Channels CustomersPeople& org

Universities GovernmentCustomers Start-ups

Revenue

Customer experience

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IN CONFIDENCE

© British Telecommunications plc

Research & innovation pervasive across all our activities

Blown Fibre Droptube (launched)

Optical Consolidation

Rack (launched)

New tray doubles

capacity of the splitter node

(Trial)

- Home Hub 3.0 Roadmap (delivered)

- Hybrid Home Networking

recommendation (delivered)

- BT Fon (implemented)

Blown Fibre ‘One Man’Installation kit:

- Blowing Head (launched)- Compressor (BC submitted)

- Intelligent Airstone (on trial)

Manifold avoids need to splice at top of pole (Launched)

Content recommendation

for BT Vision(on trial)

Core network Exchange

FibreCopper Underground

Field Force management(implemented)

4

© British Telecommunications plc

Research & innovation pervasive across all our activities

Blown Fibre Droptube (launched)

Optical Consolidation

Rack (launched)

New tray doubles

capacity of the splitter node

(Trial)

- Home Hub 3.0 Roadmap (delivered)

- Hybrid Home Networking

recommendation (delivered)

- BT Fon (implemented)

Blown Fibre ‘One Man’Installation kit:

- Blowing Head (launched)- Compressor (BC submitted)

- Intelligent Airstone (on trial)

Manifold avoids need to splice at top of pole (Launched)

Content recommendation

for BT Vision(on trial)

Core network Exchange

FibreCopper Underground

Field Force management(implemented)

5

Instructions : Watch the video

and then create your own story.

Record your video story.

The Palm House

Options Cancel

Instructions : Watch the video

and then create your own story.

Record your video story.

The Palm House

Options Cancel

Instructions : Watch the video

and then create your own story.

Record your video story.

The Palm House

Options Cancel

AHRC and BT - background

BT has a long standing university programme

Established links to EPSRC and ESRC communities – fixed and mobile networks, software, services etc. but no real links into AHRC’s community

Meeting between CEO of AHRC and BT’s Director or Research - explore a “strategic relationship” between BT and AHRC

Past EU collaborative work on virtual/ augmented reality for museums, digital heritage etc. Growing interest in user-generated content.

Need to look more beyond the technology – need to understand the sector far better and gain insight into the personal, social and cultural contexts of different stakeholders.

Workshop at BT – AHRC and 35 academics and practitioners – “Open Space” conversations, leading to definition of a new research area of broad interest – Digital Heritage

Developing the ModelWhat do we want to achieve? What do we need to achieve it? Who do we want to involve? What are our limitations?

• Encourage new ways of working• Flexible knowledge exchange opportunities• Industry partners and cultural organisations• Money and time

Research Networking!

The Projects

5 Digital Heritage Research Networking Projects with varied interests, approaches and outcomes.

1 community of researchers.

• Inclusive - exciting range of partners• Collaborative - our Network of

Networks• Attractive - interest leveraged due to

BT support• Innovative – new applications for

existing technologies • Ongoing – new projects under

development

Hidden Histories UCL, Science Museum, BT and Illumina Digital

• The varied perspectives of those involved with the network have been both the major positive and the biggest challenge of the project.

• BT contributed archive material, knowledge, contacts and the time of BT Archives’ volunteers.

• Illumina Digital used the ideas and technologies developed through this project to release other products

• The team are keen to develop Hidden Histories further and are investigating future funding opportunities

• Working towards a tangible outcome academically rewarding

Copyright of Hidden Histories

Benefits to BT of research networking with AHRC community

• Ideas and proposals BT can be part of stemming from research networks

• Opportunities beyond the 5 networks– New links to UC Falmouth leading to new research

opportunities on superfast broadband– New links to Glamorgan leading to involvement in Welsh

univeristies network on Digital Heritage– Project on digital storytelling with Glamorgan as part of

Digital Wales Research Hub– Technology trial with Science Museum and Goldsmiths–

Films of Fact – triggered by demo at original AHRC workshop – exploration of using Shape-Shifted TV tools for interactive film-based installations in a museum setting

Wider benefits of research networking with the AHRC community

• Prospect of exciting and compelling applications for next generation broadband – applications to foster sense of place and community

• Stronger links with existing HEI partners, and new links with new partners

• Involvement in new networks• International dimension – US universities• New research council partnership – AHRC very helpful and

easy to work with!• Early sight of emerging AHRC thinking and direction• Don’t expect all the benefits to accrue at the end of the research

networks – we should look again in 3 years

• High priority for the AHRC

• Cultures and Heritage Team

• Independent Research Organisations

• Science and Heritage Programme

• Emerging themes– Digital Transformations in the Arts and Humanities– Care for the Future– Translating Cultures– Science in Culture

• Delivered through current funding mechanisms– Research Grants– Research Networking– Research Fellowships– Collaborative Doctoral Awards

• Connected Communities Programme

The Future for AHRC and Digital Heritage