Alcatel-Lucent Developing Video Social Networking System Prototype

Alcatel-Lucent and the USA based Penn State University have announced an agreement to jointly develop an innovative mobile video social networking application. The joint work will focus on the development of a mobile phone interface that provides users with the ability to view their video files as a collage or multiple simultaneous video feeds similar to a wall of monitors seen in a TV studio, situation or control room.

"The increasing demands of mobile phone users require the creation of more sophisticated services such as sharing videos with friends and family through social networks. However, the physical constraints of mobile phones (e.g., small screen size, bandwidth limitations, etc.) pose challenges such as how to navigate through such social networks and retrieve and display associated video clips", said Lee C. Giles, Ph.D., Professor of Information Science and Technology for Penn State. "This project will offer valuable insights into other mobile applications, particularly those involving the concept of 'hyperconnectivity' or the idea that everything can be connected to produce a multifaceted quality user experience."

The Penn State research team, led by Dr. Giles and colleague Dr. Xiaolong Zhang, will explore ways to make it easier for people to access video-enabled social networking capabilities on their mobile phones.

"Combining Alcatel-Lucent's leadership in wireless and convergence technology, with Penn State, one of America's top research universities, will spark innovation leading to more exciting and robust applications that carriers can offer their customers regardless of how they are connected," said Jessica Stanley-Yurkovic, Vice President, North America Marketing, Alcatel-Lucent. "Our goal is to create new applications concepts in Penn States' research labs that challenge today's concept of what is doable for the user experience to help develop services and technologies that go beyond today's capabilities, toward a next-generation high-bandwidth user experience."

Posted to the site on 10th September 2008