Applied Research and Innovation
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Applied Research and Innovation works with academic, government and industry to address economic and social challenges and identify where technological and business innovation can rapidly translate into new jobs and increased capacity.
Sheridan is renowned for applied research creativity, innovation and leadership in animation and live action production, interactive digital media, mobile applications, visualization, as well as advanced manufacturing and elder research.
Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT)
The Screen Industries Research and Training Centre is an applied research, technology development, training, and commercialization centre that helps link Sheridan College faculty, staff, and students and other Ontario academic and research institutions with Ontario’s screen-based industries.
Research, innovation, commercialization, and knowledge dissemination/training at SIRT will focus on providing Ontario's production companies and creators with technological innovations and best practices that will help them produce content for multiple types of delivery including film, television, gaming, interactive, and mobile. SIRT will facilitate collaboration among faculty and student researchers from Sheridan, other Ontario colleges and universities, and industry partners, including Ontario’s major unions and guilds. http://www.sirtcentre.com/
Mobile Computing Industrial Research College Chair (IRCC)
Sheridan is the recipient of $1 million in funding to support a new NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Mobile Computing under the College and Community Innovation Program. Sheridan’s Research Chair will be held jointly by Dr. Ed Sykes and Dr. Khaled Mahmud, who will focus on delivering innovative mobile computing solutions for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout Ontario. The Chair will also be supported by industry partners Research in Motion Limited, Cisco Systems Canada, TELUS Corporation, and Xtreme Labs Inc.
Sheridan is an international leader in mobile applications development. The “IC3D” Vancouver Olympics project is a testament to Sheridan’s innovation and ability to partner with companies like RIM and SMEs to lead in world-class applied research in this domain. Sheridan created the first ever real-time auto-stereoscopic 3D game that does not require 3D glasses. Developed with Toronto-based Spatial View, the Sheridan ‘IC3D’ Game is an interactive application where players use BlackBerry® smartphones as controllers to assemble puzzles featuring Ontario tourist attractions, as showcased at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
Sheridan is also embarking on a new degree entitled Bachelor of Applied Computer Science in Mobile Computing, with emphasis on Mobile Applications Development and Wireless Technologies.
Applied Research Collaboration Centre (ARCC)
The 1,800-square-foot centre at Sheridan’s Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville is dedicated for use by faculty, students, and external partners specifically involved in research projects administered through the Office of Applied Research and Innovation. The centre is equipped with projection screens, flat-screen TVs, and moveable tables and seating, which could fit 60 to 75 individuals at maximum capacity. ARCC will support ideation, problem solving and AR projects generated from IDI, FedDev Ontario, the Visualization Design Institute (VDI), Mobile Applications development and Sustainability initiatives. The intent of the space is to provide the tools and facilities to allow: collaboration and creativity to take place amongst all AR projects; flexible work spaces for team interaction; equipment to allow project work to be done by students and faculty; private networked stations; and a room for demonstrations and industrial presentations.
Visualization Design Institute (VDI)
Sheridan's Visualization Design Institute (VDI) is dedicated to innovation in the field of computer visualization specializing in deploying game technologies in 3D environments. Since its inception in 1999, the Institute's professional team has undertaken more than 30 projects covering an impressive range of sectors including: e-learning, health, bio-tech, municipal infrastructure and all genres of gaming from Web 2.0 through 4D environments that integrate 3D scanned objects and cultural artifacts. http://www.visualization.ca/
High Performance Computing (HPC)
HPC (High Performance Computing) is the use of high-end computing resources (computers, storage, networking and visualization) to help solve highly complex problems, perform business critical analyses, or to run computationally intensive workloads that are in scale far beyond the tasks that could be achieved on today's leading desktop systems.
Sheridan Elder Research Centre (SERC)
The Sheridan Elder Research Centre, opened in September 2003, is a unique environment for the conduct of applied research into areas of practical concern and immediate relevance to older Canadians, including healthy aging in place and the business of aging. SERC researchers develop innovative approaches and creative interdisciplinary partnerships to focus on enhancing the lives of Canadian seniors. Located at Sheridan College’s Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, SERC benefits from Sheridan’s institutional strengths, the diversity of its programs and a friendly, accessible research environment where older adults from the community not only participate in research but contribute to its direction.
A major program of research entitled “Aging in Place”, funded by NSERC, will see SERC collaborate with small and medium-sized companies in the research and design of technology applications that promote cognitive health and social inclusion. http://serc.sheridaninstitute.ca/