Media X seeks funding proposals of up to $75,000

Media X announces availability of funding for research about mobile device-centric interactive technology used in collaboration in the context of multimedia.

Proposals for funding of up to $75,000 for one year should be submitted by 6 p.m. May 23 to Keith Devlin at devlin@csli.stanford.edu. Multiyear projects will be considered, but funding will be allocated only one year at a time. Proposals of no more than five pages (including any vita information) should be submitted electronically in PDF format. No other format will be accepted. Awards will be announced by June 1, with research to start on June 14.

Relevant technologies include both synchronous and asynchronous, as well as online and offline creation, editing, repurposing of text, pictures, audio, video and other forms of media. Connectivity methods include, but are not limited to, high-speed cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth and wireline.

Examples of research activities include mobile applications for organizing and finding content (including, for example, pattern matching), multimedia editing, automatic multimedia annotation, nontextual searches of multimedia content and advanced mobile user interfaces for collaboration around multimedia.

Example scenarios of technology use include mobile media blogging, multiplayer games, knowledge worker collaboration, collaborative applications for audience in an event (such as sports or entertainment) and use of mobile devices in education, learning or coaching. Possible constraints on the technological solution space arise from the limitations of mobile devices; for example, need for low power consumption, available bandwidth and special needs for user interface.

A researcher from a Media X partner company with expertise in mobile technologies is available for cost-free consulting on the project, if desired.

Proposals should include a description of the proposed project and vitas for faculty and/or senior research staff who will work on the project. A detailed budget should be submitted at the same time on a single sheet, as a separate PDF file. Expenses may include (but are not limited to) research assistants and postdocs, travel, equipment, data collection expenses and faculty and research staff salaries.

Media X has adopted a standard format (Quadchart) for describing funded projects on its website. See http://mediax.stanford.edu/projects/fidget.html for an example. The proposal cover page should provide four short paragraphs that could form the basis of a Quadchart for your proposal, if funded. (Quadchart formatting is not required; in fact, straight text is preferred.)

Selection will be based on the scientific merit of the proposed project as judged by a committee of faculty, and on any current or possible applications of the research that may be of interest to industrial sponsors of Media X research. One project member must be a Stanford employee with Stanford principal investigator status.

For queries about budget arrangements, contact Christina Doering at cdoering@csli.stanford.edu. Address all other inquiries to Devlin.