Please note: A minimum ten particpants are required in order for this course to run

Time-series are common in many application areas, in particular finance, bioinformatics and signal processing. Whilst there are many classical approaches to time-series analysis, the potentially bewildering array of models can sometimes obfuscate the commonalities and assumptions underlying them. 

This course focuses on a modern probabilistic approach to time-series analysis with an emphasis on understanding the models and how to develop new models tailored to solve specific problems. The course places an emphasis on getting to grips with the fundamental methods and is aimed to equip users with skills (rather than how to use black-box techniques).

What you will learn:

* How inference and learning works for classical time-series models. including hidden Markov models.

* How to apply these basic models for example to estimate changepoints in the behaviour of the time-series.

Topics Covered:

* Description of Markov chains and Bayesian Belief networks.

* Introduction to Bayesian statistics.

* Use of Matlab to solve example problems in time-series.

* Changepoint detection.

Who should enrol:

Researchers with an interesting in time-series and in particular how to make models of time-series. You should have a basic level of mathematics with some understanding of linear algebra, probability and calculus. A reasonable knowledge of Matlab is useful since the demonstration code is written in Matlab.

Faculty:

David Barber is Reader in Information Processing in the Department of Computer Science UCL. His research spans methodological advances in information processing and also how to solve real-world data-analysis problems. He is the author of Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning, a recent textbook in this area, and also co-editor of `Bayesian Time-Series Models', a research text time-series. Both are published by Cambridge University Press and form the basis for much of the course material.

An increasingly large proportion of modern games and real-time simulations use the Internet. Access to the Internet has also become more pervasive through mobile 3G and domestic broadband. Thus the type of games and simulations that can be supported has changed, with an increasing capability to support fast, synchronous action.

What are the common architectures for games? How are complex systems such as game engines synchronized across the Internet? What are the impacts of latency and bandwidth limits?

What you will learn:

* The basic forms of networking architecture for modern games and real-time simulations.

*The types of approach to build robust networking for games.

*The available supporting infrastructure and examples of good practice.

Topics covered:

* Networking patterns used in practice such as client-server, peer-to-peer, multi-server and hybrid.

* Gameplay requirements on consistency .

* Source of latency and impact on gameplay.

* Bandwidth constraints.

* Case studies of the range of ways in which networking is achieved, and how it interfaces with the real-time engine.

* Overview of APIs and middleware that support networking out of the box.

Who should enrol:

Developers, coders, system architectures and managers responsible for building or analysing network games and simulations. No programming experience is required, though knowledge of basic Internet concepts such a basic understanding of TCP/IP would be very useful.

Other information:

Participants will receive a copy of the author’s recent book in this area.

Faculty:

Anthony Steed is Professor of Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics  in the Department of Computer Science at University College London. His research covers a range of system design and user evaluation issues in virtual reality systems and computer games. Recently his work includes cluster-based rendering, novel tele-presence systems, mixed-reality and augmented-reality systems. He is the author of the book Networked Graphics: Building Networked Virtual Environments and Games, Addison-Wesley, 2010. In 2006-2007 he was on secondment to Electronic Arts, working on software for Xbox360/PS3.

In the past two years augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) have become hot topics.  There are dozens of “AR” packages out there that help you try on clothes in front of a virtual mirror in a store, play with virtual animals on your games console,  see the local bus routes overlaid on video from your mobile phone, etc. Some of these applications are gimmicks, but underlying the demonstrations are some interesting capabilities that might be exploited in a huge range of new applications.

This course describes the fundamentals of AR & MR and explains the sensing, modelling and rendering technologies that are used in them.

What you will learn:

* Clear distinction between the different classes of AR & MR.

* The paradigms of sensing and modelling that under-pin AR & MR systems.

* The range of display and user-interface styles that are enabled by AR & MR systems.

Topics covered:

* 2D & 3D models of space used in AR & MR systems.

* Tracking technologies.

* Computer vision-based systems.

* Interaction and collaboration through AR & MR.

* Tools and platforms to start developing.

* Overview of short-term and likely long-term technology developments.

Who should enrol:

Developers, coders and system architectures wanting to build AR & MR systems. Artists, producers, directors and managers wanting an overview of the capabilities of these technologies. No prior knowledge required.

Other information:

You are encourage to bring a laptop to access demonstrations.

Faculty:

Simon Julier is Senior Lecturer in the Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics group at the Department of Computer Science, University College London. His main interests cover the problem of developing, maintaining and conveying situation awareness - an understanding of whats going on in an environment, in particular problems which are distributed and mobile.  

Anthony Steed is Professor of Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics in the Department of Computer Science at University College London. His research covers a range of system design and user evaluation issues in virtual reality systems and computer games. Recently his work includes cluster-based rendering, novel tele-presence systems, mixed-reality and augmented-reality systems. He is the author of the book Networked Graphics: Building Networked Virtual Environments and Games, Addison-Wesley, 2010.

When a story breaks about your work you need to be able to respond effectively to maximise the benefits to yourself and the broadcaster. Respond in the wrong way and that will be the first and last time you are ever asked for comment, and in the worst case your work will be misunderstood or portrayed negatively in the media. Respond in the right way and you may be asked to appear regularly, gaining extraordinary publicity which leads to improved public/market awareness, better impact, and greater future funding. 

What you will learn:

The course provides practical tips and practise for participants in a simulated radio and television environment. You'll learn the difference between an interview for a fast-moving news channel and one for breakfast time radio or a magazine show on television. You'll learn how to handle those unexpected situations where another expert challenges your opinion live on the air, or you need to respond live to calls in a radio phone-in show. You'll learn how to respond concisely so that you can explain your message in easy to understand words - without the interviewer or adverts cutting you off! You'll learn how to speak clearly and professionally on air, whether it is for an online video, or the BBC 6 o' clock news.

Who should enrol:

Anyone with a desire or need to engage a broader audience, or who may find themselves in the media spotlight because of the nature of their work.

Faculty:

Peter Bentley, Honorary Reader and Senior Teaching Fellow. Peter is author of eight books, of which four are popular science. He is a contributing editor of Wired and a regular contributor to New Scientist and other printed media. He has extensive experience in radio and television, appearing on a wide variety of channels and shows worldwide for over a decade. He is also an author of a number one best selling iphone app. For more details visit his websites www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/p.bentley www.peterjbentley.com 

There is a big difference between writing for a technical audience and writing for the general public. There's also a big difference between writing for a blog or newspaper editorial and writing for a magazine or even writing a popular science book. If you have a complex technical message to convey to a broad audience, it is essential that you use the right language, in order to preserve your meaning without confusing your audience with technical terminology. Learning to use your words to communicate effectively is one of the most important skills you can have in today's fast moving word of media. 

What you will learn:

This course provides practical interactive writing skills for popular writing. You'll learn the tricks of the trade - the formulas behind magazine and newspaper articles that make them easy to read and eye-catching. You'll learn to understand your audience and tailor your words and style to meet their needs. You'll develop writing skills that will benefit you and your career. You may even decide to write your own popular science book!

Who should enrol:

Anyone with a desire or need to engage a broader audience through the printed or electronic media.

Faculty:

Peter Bentley, Honorary Reader and Senior Teaching Fellow. Peter is author of eight books, of which four are popular science. He is a contributing editor of Wired and a regular contributor to New Scientist and other printed media. He has extensive experience in radio and television, appearing on a wide variety of channels and shows worldwide for over a decade. He is also an author of a number one best selling iphone app. For more details visit his websites www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/p.bentley www.peterjbentley.com

With more than half a million apps out there, how do you make yours stand out? Programming an app is the easy part - getting it downloaded is another matter altogether. What is the secret ingredient behind those rare beasts - the number one best-selling apps? Is it the design of the features? Is it the name, the icon, the user interface? Is it the marketing?

What you will learn:

This course explains how to navigate through the world of app creation, from conception to design to sales and marketing. Rather than a focus on programming, the course concentrates on the difficult part: making an app that can actually produce a profit.

Who should enrol:

Anyone wishing to invest in or create a successful app for Apple's AppStore. Anyone with a desire or need to engage a broader audience through the printed or electronic media. 

Faculty:

Peter Bentley, Honorary Reader and Senior Teaching Fellow. Peter is author of eight books, of which four are popular science. He is a contributing editor of Wired and a regular contributor to New Scientist and other printed media. He has extensive experience in radio and television, appearing on a wide variety of channels and shows worldwide for over a decade. He is also an author of a number one best selling iphone app. For more details visit his websites www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/p.bentley www.peterjbentley.com

Nowadays money is getting de-materialized. Most of it is just an electronic record. The key question is how do you facilitate payments to reduce their cost and achieve a wider adoption while keeping it secure and fighting fraud? The necessary ingredients will be advanced cryptographic techniques, internet connection, smart cards, RFIDs, and a trusted infrastructure. A lot of time is devoted to the study of Chip & PIN payment technology and credit card fraud. 

What you will learn:

* How to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of payments with cryptography hardware networks and trusted infrastructure.

* What are the 50 securities which exist in payment systems and how these securities can be breached in 50 different non-trivial ways. Risk management and how business objectives mix with security requirements to make payment systems evolve and even become able to adjust in real time according to the current appetite for risk and current threats and alerts. 

Topics Covered:

* Development of payment technology in a broad historical perspective.

* Legal and regulatory protection of existing payment technologies.

* Large coverage of Chip and PIN technology.

* Study of a great variety of protection couter-measures, feasibility of various attacks and actual fraud and crime landscape.

Who should enrol:

Both people from finance / legal and technology background. People who want to secure, improve or just understand and manage risks and threats in existing payment technologies. People who want to develop new sorts of payment technologies.

Faculty:

Dr Nicolas Courtois is a Senior Lecturer, his research and teaching are about security engineering, applied and industrial cryptography, code-breaking, hardware, RIFD smart cards and computer science.

This course covers basic concepts of computer security with focus on how integrity of computer systems can be protected against exploits, break-ins and malware, and with a lot of attention to modern hardware support for computer security.

What you will learn:

* How the basic principles such as least privilege and defence in depth lead to more secure computer systems. 

* How computer security has evolved and what are the root causes of security problems.

* Which defence mechanisms are effective and which aren't.

* How hardware security is taking revenge on software security and what this means for business.

Topics Covered:

* Hardware and software technology which underlies the security of modern day computer systems against intrusion.

* Threats to modern computer systems such as malware and how to mitigate against them.

* Business perspective on computer security - open versus closed systems, adoption batteries, industry standard battles.

* Modern computer security architecture and controls, trust privilege propagation, defence in depth.

NOT COVERED

* Network security.

*Database security.

Who should enrol:

Not limited to IT people. Other professions can attend if they have an interest in technology. Anybody who wants to satisfy their curiosity about the reasons why some computer systems would be secure and how others could be compromised by hackers. Anybody who wants to understand where the computer security is coming from and where it is going.

Faculty:

Dr Nicolas Courtois is a Senior Lecturer, his research and teaching are about security engineering, applied and industrial cryptography, code-breaking, hardware, RIFD smart cards and computer science.

What you will learn:

* All about smartcards and contactless smart cards.

* Existing industrial standards.

* How smart cards and RIFDs are used in areas of building security, access control and payments.

* Protections which make all these syetems withstand sophisticated hacker attacks.

Topics Covered:

* GSM cards, 3G SIM cards, bank cards, passports with RIFD chips., rail/Oyster cards.

* Demonstrations of various attacks and vulnerabilities of actual smart card and RIFD products used by millions of people everyday.

Who should enrol:

IT professionals and security professionals and system designers / architects who want to learn about the peculiar smart card tecnology.

Faculty:

Dr Nicolas Courtois is a Senior Lecturer, his research and teaching are about security engineering, applied and industrial cryptography, code-breaking, hardware, RIFD smart cards and computer science.