University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada 10 January 1997

New Hewlett-Packard computer lab puts U of A students on fast track

Ten years ago, a computer of this speed would fill a room 144 square feet in size

By Folio Staff

Students in several departments will be forerunners in digital imaging technology with the help of a new Hewlett-Packard Computer Laboratory on the third floor of the Central Academic Building.

The new imaging systems laboratory will be fully operational this month.

The University of Alberta established the lab with a $357,695 Hewlett-Packard instructional grant. It's the first time in its history that the company has made a grant under this program to a Canadian university

The laboratory will house some of the fastest single-processing computers in the province. It includes five powerful HP workstations, 12 X-terminals (each with a 20-inch high resolution monitor and a MPEG decoder, one top-of-the-line printer and one colour scanner.

The HP Imaging Systems laboratory provides students with a wide variety of applications based on emerging imaging technology. The applications include image acquisition, video and 3D object capture, integration of real and synthesized images, high resolution enhancement, image/video compression, video processing, medical imaging systems and visualization, multi-media applications and communications.

The Department plans to teach a number of graphics and imaging courses in the laboratory.

Less than 10 years ago, a computer of this speed would fill a room 144 square feet in size. Today the Hewlett-Packard computers sit easily on top of a desk allowing undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines to collaborate on imaging and multimedia projects. For example, computing science and engineering students will work with art and design or medical science students to develop applications in areas such as engineering design and medical imaging.

Computing Science Department Chair Paul Sorenson thanked Hewlett-Packard Ltd for their grant.

"Leading universities such as the University of Alberta will play a central role in shaping the digital imaging revolution, both in the research they will advance and the students they will teach," Hewlett-Packard spokesperson Mike Kostoff said at the lab's recent official opening. Kostoff said imaging systems will emerge as a significant field involving many disciplines including engineering, science, arts and education.

The departments involved in the laboratory to date include Computing Science, Art and Design, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Psychology, Radiology and Renewable Resources.

Computing Science administrative professional officer Brian Pinchbeck said the Department has a number of young faculty members interested in the area of imaging. There is a real potential for growth, he said. Moreover, some of the Department's practicum students have used these kinds of computers when they were placed with Northern Telecom.

"This grant couldn't be more timely," President Rod Fraser said. "It allows us to offer a world-class instructional environment in an area of growing demand by students and employers. It allows the University to build on its significant expertise in one of our emerging areas of excellence."

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