Improved depth recovery in consumer depth cameras via disparity space fusion within cross-spectral stereo.

We address the issue of improving depth coverage in consumer depth cameras based on the combined use of cross-spectral stereo and near infra-red structured light sensing. Specifically we show that fusion of disparity over these modalities, within the disparity space image, prior to disparity optimization facilitates the recovery of scene depth information in regions where structured light sensing fails. We show that this joint approach, leveraging disparity information from both structured light and cross-spectral sensing, facilitates the joint recovery of global scene depth comprising both texture-less object depth, where conventional stereo otherwise fails, and highly reflective object depth, where structured light (and similar) active sensing commonly fails. The proposed solution is illustrated using dense gradient feature matching and shown to outperform prior approaches that use late-stage fused cross-spectral stereo depth as a facet of improved sensing for consumer depth cameras

Social scientists have a real opportunity to influence what politicians say in the run-up to the General Election.

Academic researchers – not just media pundits – should have their say in holding policy promises to account. Jonathan Breckon charts the various activities around the country aimed at providing a rigorous evidence-base in the run-up to the UK’s General Election. A whole range of economists, statisticians, social scientists and others are fact-checking what politicians and pundits say so that they don’t get away with iffy promises or sound-bites. But the challenge in the boom of fact-checkers is getting the quality right

Marconi Electronics and Communications Technology (ECT) Project in Secondary Schools

Information and communications technology (lCT) dominates many aspects of most companies and plays a significant role in education, or at least has significant resources focused on it. No one doubts the growing influence of ICT in the world, however our education system has made little significant effort to educate young people in the basic skills that under pin ICT. At the core of ICT systems is electronic communications and at last there is now an ambitious attempt to address the need for educating a significantly larger number of young people in ECT to develop, service and maintain the increasingly complex electronic highways which this country needs. This paper sets out part of the rationale for the scheme and how it is being addressed in the trial phase

National Curriculum Review in Design and Technology for the Year 2000

To those of us involved in design and technology reviewing the National Curriculum appears to be such a regular event that there is real danger that teachers will become disinterested and therefore not participate in the review process. In the past teachers have not had time to reflect on and discuss the curriculum before the review takes place. It is for this reason that in November 1997 DATA produced a consultation document on the National Curriculum Review as it relates to design and technology. This paper will place that document in context, summarise the responses and consider the likely outcome for the new National Curriculum in the Year 2000

Advanced Level in craft, design and technology: the movement towards acceptability

Craft, Design and Technology (CDT) is a relatively new curriculum area, which is emerging based on a sound educational philosophy and considerable political and industrial support. Its origins lie firmly in practical, craft-based work, but the new courses are based on designing and making with a notable technological component and have been accepted by educationalists as having undoubted value in educating children. As this new subject is emerging, its acceptance by Higher Education is frequently questioned. This study places the subject in context within the school curriculum, looking at its origins and the reason for its low social and academic status and discusses how the subject has emerged through curriculum development to a position of considerable support from politicians, educationalists and industrialists.</div

DfEE/DATA CAD/CAM in Schools Initiative - A Success Story so Far

This paper explains the structure and early development of the government's major initiative to develop CAD/CAM in schools as part of an overall strategy to update and enhance design and technology. It looks at the origins of the project and then sets out the structure of the programme and the rationale behind the structure. The paper then goes on to describe the role of pilot schools and CAD/CAM hubs and this is followed by the analysis of the effectiveness of such programmes.There is a brief analysis of what the project has currently achieved, with examples of work and the challenges that are emerging and where the work is leading in the future