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YEAR BOOK |
Dundalk Institute of Technology
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Software Technology Research Centre (SToRC)
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Initially, the Centre was primarily involved in applied research, through Enterprise Ireland funded Applied Research Programme (ARP) projects, in collaboration with a number of software firms located in DKIT's Regional Development Centre (RDC). Since then, it has grown considerably, and has successfully expanded its research activity to include projects funded by the Technological Sector Research (TSR) Strand I and Strand III research initiatives. To date, the Centre has secured almost �350K in external funding and has developed strong collaborative links with national research centres.
CURRENT PROJECTS
NOMAD: Next Generation Wireless Software Services: Modelling And Developing Usable Applications
The NOMAD project, a collaboration between SToRC, the Telecommunications Software Systems Group (TSSG) at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), and the Centre for Creative Technologies and Applications (CCTA) at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, is developing usable software services for next generation wireless systems. The three-year project, led by SToRC, started in October 2002 and is funded through the TSR Strand III initiative.
Flexible Processes for Small Software Teams
This TSR Strand I research project is examining the deployment of agile software processes. The innovative process developed through this work is currently under trial within the NOMAD project.
Usability Models for Virtual Learning Environments
This project is currently investigating the deployment of usability models to guide the design of user-centred virtual learning environments. A presentation on this work was made at the EdTech 2003 conference hosted by WIT.
Software Reliability Improvement through Defect Analysis
This Innovation Partnership, in conjunction with Fujitsu Services, has examined the benefits of analysing and tagging software defects found during testing and operation. Papers on this work have been presented at several events, including the IEEE's Symposium on Software Reliability and the ACM's Symposium on Applied Computing.
Modelling the Occurrence of Software Issues
SToRC, in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, is conducting significant research into the problem of how to decide when to stop testing software and to release the software product. Papers on this topic have been presented at workshops, over the last 12 months, at DKIT, TCD, UCD and WIT, and at the Conference of Applied Statistics in Ireland, 2002.
Bayesian Belief Networks in Software Engineering
The Centre is conducting research into the use of Bayesian Belief Networks to select test inputs and to predict the quality of software. Presentations on this work have been made both to academic and industrial audiences.
Software Processes for Small Software Enterprises
SToRC is currently working with a number of small companies nationally to investigate the use and effectiveness of software process in indigenous software SMEs.
Software Adapters for Heterogeneous Devices
In January 2003, SToRC, in conjunction with Utopia Business Solutions, received funding, under the Enterprise Ireland Feasibility Study scheme, to examine the development of software adapters, or interfaces, for heterogeneous devices.
UPCOMING PROJECT
Improving the Prediction of Software Reliability through the Operational Profile
SToRC, in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, has just been successful, with a project under the TSR Strand I initiative to examine how to predict the quality of software based on the expected pattern of use and the times that failures occur during testing.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
SToRC has worked with a number of small companies to assist them in developing Innovation Partnership submissions under the Enterprise Ireland funded industry support programme.
SToRC has a policy of active liaison with local and regional industry, and SToRC personnel have been involved in delivering software training to participants on the North East Enterprise Platform Programme (NEEPP).
SToRC members have also acted as technical consultants for several companies and assisted others in the preparation of funding submissions to national bodies.
Contact: Gerry Coleman, The Software Technology Research Centre, Regional Development Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Dundalk;
Tel: +353 42 9331161; Fax: +353 42 9331163;
E-mail; [email protected] ; Web: www.storc.ie (for the Research Centre's site) and www.nomadireland.org (for the NOMAD project)