Public Funding for Pazzby Mobile Ltd

Ever more aspects of modern society depend on software that consists of several pieces that communicate over broadband, such as web browsers/servers. As the capabilities of the software increase, moving into virtual/augmented reality, remote control of robots, remote medicine/surgery etc., and everyday activities become increasingly broadband-based, it becomes ever more important to be able to test that the inherent variability of broadband networks does not adversely impact the performance of the software. Such testing is currently difficult and expensive, particularly for smaller companies looking to deliver innovative applications. This project aims to deliver a facility for testing the impact of network variability on application performance that is cost-effective and easy to use. It will do this by building on earlier work (partly funded by Innovate UK) that produced a stand-alone network emulator, usable by specialists. This project will turn this into an accessible testing platform suitable for small to medium-sized software development companies by: 1. 'Virtualising' the platform so that it can be run in the 'cloud', making it accessible to companies who cannot afford the investment in a piece of test equipment and easy to integrate with cloud-based applications; 2. Developing an intuitive management model and user-interface for the platform.

**Public description** The Exmore platform aims to create a mechanism for capture, management and delivery of an interactive immersive experience based on real world content. The focus is on giving users freedom to explore real world environments in an unstructured and unguided way. This differs substantially from existing game and XR technology where computer models and simulations are used. An example is a virtual visit to an ornamental parks and gardens. Exmore will give the user complete freedom to explore the physical setting, without need to follow any particular route through, or serial presentation, of the venue. High quality audio presentation and hyperfine geolocated audio mark up together with 360 views will enhance the experience. Real time interactivity with high quality visual environments imposes severe constraints on the use of buffered software technologies for media delivery over data networks. This in turn stretches the quality of service of the networks via increased demand for bandwidth and low latency. These changes represent a next generation delivery platform handling data that is an order of magnitude greater than existing media delivery approaches. This aligns with future wider deployment of 5G ad Wifi6 over the next few years, but this will only represent a partial solution to increased demand for bandwidth. Exmore will be testing approaches to resolving these conflicting demand using a pretotyping\* approach made possible by an advanced network simulation platform. Exmore aims to focus delivery on smartphones, tablets and TVs, though VR headsets will be an option. This aligns with the available device base within the wider UK consumer market. Smartphones and tablets will facilitate convergence of media delivery with actual real world locations when users visit them. TVs will deliver an interactive experience representing an extension of the 'slow TV' concept. Users will be able to make extended, relaxing, visits to remote locations with flexible interactive engagement with the immersive presentation. The study will use human centered design practices to ensure user engagement and satisfaction with the delivered immersive environments and the opportunities interaction offers. A study with a focus on user quality of experience rather than a technical solution looking for an application. \* pretotyping -- not a spelling mistake. See [https://www.pretotyping.org/][0] [0]: https://www.pretotyping.org/

The TPEye projects aims to deliver a audio/visual telepresence for use in tourism. Addressing the issue of obstacles to physical travel as a result of Corvid19 and similar constraints due to poor health and age in general which now make conventional tourism difficult or unattractive. Similar constraints apply to younger age groups, lack of funds, destination lock downs and travel coridors as well as health concerns. Wide distibution of the covid virus is going to make many destinations risky, potentialy indefinitely. Telepresence is defined as: the use of virtual reality technology for apparent participation in distant events. Whilst common in areas such as defence, space exploration and hazardous environments it has not yet been effectively deployed in a consumer context. TPEye takes advantage of the developing high bandwidth data networks, such as 5G, the low cost of camera and audio platforms and associated local processing power to deliver an audio/video presence at remote tourism locations in real time. The remote camera platform will be supported by a local guide. The real time link will permit users to request a focus on areas or items of interest. Image processing will facilitate provision of a view linked to the user desire point of attention rather than that of the guide. The user will thereby have a degree of freedom to explore the target destination that would not otherwise be possible in conventional video programming or video linked or recorded guided tours.