Small world

In the 'it's a small world' category...

I'm currently digging into the use of location information captured over time. This information can be used for a number of things by discerning patterns, building models, and predicting future activities. Several researchers have used this in the area of ubiquitous computing and assistive technologies to help disabled or just people in general to go about their daily tasks.

The same basic idea, but extended greatly, has been suggested could help with national security (see DARPA) by analyzing such things as maritime vessel location information.

Whilst reading existing literature, I found an author who had done some interesting work in the field. Kentaro Toyama is the fellow. After having several email conversations, he agreed to share his data set which he had used to produce his research. This is a great thing, as having existing experimental results will allow me to do some validation using different approaches.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I discovered that Kentaro is helping lead the new Microsoft Research Center in Bangalore, India. And of all things, he also does work in ICT4D, or as they call it, Technology for Emerging Markets. This lines up nicely with the work I'm doing in international technology development.

Further conversations actually linked my professor, Mike Best, with Kentaro -- they apparently have done some work together in the past on ICT4D. A conference that Kentaro pointed me to () is one in which Mike Best serves on the conference committee, and a co-editor of the proceedings.

Go figure...