Waterford Institute of Technology Joins Strategic Internet Security Project

By: Margaret Grene

The emerging domain of Ambient Intelligence is possibly the most exciting development in Information Technology (IT) since the creation of the PC. Ambient Intelligence promotes the concept of self-configuring and self-organising computer systems, which are aware of the capabilities of computer systems and the requirements of their users within a given environment. Ambient intelligence incorporated into smart-devices and software should radically improve the usability and usefulness of IT to people at work, play or rest. It's helpful to think of Ambient Intelligence as a form of technological integration where everyday items such as light switches, ovens, video recorders, TVs, projectors, sound systems, PCs etc. understand each other and can communicate freely.

The promise of this freedom of communication where PCs, mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and even standard household devices can all communicate seamlessly with each other also raises the question of how to make all this communication secure and private.

With this in mind the European Commission has signed a research agreement for a two-year project Security Expert Initiative (SEINIT) with a European consortium of 13 partners, including the TSSG at Waterford Institute of Technology and the Internet Society(ISOC). The aim of this project is to address the issues of security and privacy and the next generation Internet based on the Internet protocol IPv6.

The SEINIT project, funded by the European Union and Switzerland with 5m, will develop a trusted and dependable security framework, working across multiple devices and heterogeneous networks, being organisation independent (inter-operable) and centred around the end-user.

In particular, SEINIT defines innovative security models and policies to address the new issues of the expanding computer world.

SEINIT is the first project in the 6th Research & Development Framework Programme of the European Union that will delve into the security challenges posed by the advent of Ambient Intelligence. Thanks to the complementary skills of its partners, and to their high commitment and dedication, it will pave the way for key European researchers to develop the security technologies, architecture, models and policies needed to fully reap the benefits of Ambient Intelligence", said Gerald Santucci, Head of the Unit Trust and Security in the Directorate General Information Society that partially funds the project.

The European IPv6 Task Force welcomes the project SEINIT as a major contributor to the roadmap of validation and deployment of new security models for IPv6, driving security from a showstopper status to a new business and communication enabler", commented Latif Ladid, Chairman European IPv6 Task Force.
The consortium partners of SEINIT are:

Thales Communications (France- Coordinator), 6WIND (Fr), BT (UK), ENST (Fr), IABG (Ge), Kyos (CH), T-Systems (Ge), Telscom (CH), Thales Research and Technology (UK) Ltd, University College London (UK), University of Murcia (ES), Waterford Institute of Technology (IRL), and ISOC (Intal).

For further information, please contact the TSSG at info@tssg.org or visit the TSSG Web site: www.tssg.org.