Intel/Nokia: common R&D resources for mobile 3D

Intel and Nokia are continuing to jointly develop solutions following MeeGo, with the announcement that they are putting into place a joint research and development affiliate linked to Intel Labs Europe.

Last February, Intel and Nokia surprised many by announcing that they were jointly developing a new mobile platform, MeeGo, with the name being derived from Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo. Taking this partnership further, the two companies have now announced the creation of the Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Centre, a common R&D structure created in partnership with the University of Oulu (Finland).

This new entity will be attached to the Intel Labs Europe network, founded in 2009 which is spread out over twenty sites (with numerous in France, from Paris to Nice / Sophia Antipolis) working on development in various fields.

It will include more than twenty researchers focusing on the mobile users experience and the various technology possibilities made available by mobile devices.


Development of 3D interfaces
The aim is to develop more intuitive and natural interface elements, which are more immersive thanks to the use of 3D applied to the mobile universe. The open MeeGo platform will of course be a crucial element in this research, with most of the results obtained in this structure to be made available as open source.

Another research example which has been cited will please Star Wars fans, as they will be studying the possibility of displaying a 3D hologram of the person you are talking with. Clearly, 3D will be the major topic of research being undertaken by Intel and the Nokia Joint Innovation Centre, with the idea being to prepare the group for tomorrow’s mobile interfaces.

The new research centre will be installed at the University of Oulu, who also has a laboratory studying applications associated with sensors and technological and social innovations.