The IT University’s research combines insight and applicability. Researchers seek deep insight and understanding, and are also focused on how the research can be applied in practice and create value. The researchers come from a wide range of academic backgrounds and combine a wide range of competencies in IT. To name only some:

The IT University has strong competencies in health care IT and welfare technology. The Western world faces big health challenges in the coming years: Ageing populations, increased demand for health services and a shortage of doctors and nurses. New technologies can relieve the pressure on the healthcare systems and provide the elderly with the opportunity to remain active and stay in their own homes longer. IT can also help create increased social interaction between elderly people and reduce loneliness. Another health care related competence is the implementation and use of IT in the healthcare systems.

One specific competence is the research on gaze tracking, which provides people with motor handicaps with the opportunity to interact and communicate with their eyes.

The IT University also has competencies in ‘green IT’. On a global scale, the computer industry is responsible for the same amount of CO2 emissions as the aviation industry, and a CO2 reduction corresponding to Denmark’s total emissions is possible by optimising the world’s software. Reserchers at the IT University are very knowledgable in the area of optimising IT, including energy optimisation.

Software quality is also a big research theme at the IT University. For example, researchers are working to make software error-free. The university also has expertise in e-voting – both the technical and the sociological aspects. The researchers are also very knowledgeable on public IT projects and how best to make them successful.

Researchers at the IT University are very experienced in using computer games in new and surprising contexts. For computer games can be used for more than just entertainment. As an example, the researchers have developed special rehabilitation games for the Nintendo Wii console – so-called Wii-hab – and computer games for teaching purposes. Among future projects are games aimed at conflict resolution among school children.

Digital and mobile media are also a big research theme, and the university has experts in mobile telephony, social media, digital literature, etc.

The IT University also has competencies in current IT concepts such as cloud computing, ubiquitous/pervasive computing and process oriented it. The concepts may be explained in brief as:

• Cloud computing: As few data as possible are stored locally with the user, and software and services are provided via the Internet. Data are stored on servers and not local hard discs.
  
• Ubiquitous/pervasive computing: The interaction between computer and user does not take place at a desk with a screen and a keyboard. Computers are integrated in everyday objects and activities, and the user does not necessarily notice the interaction taking place.
  
• Process oriented IT: The software does not just solve tasks one by one but puts them into context. The starting point is not the objects being administered but the processes.

The IT University thinks globally in both its research and its education programmes. Global interaction and international collaboration are therefore also competencies.

Read more under the faculty groups or contact provost Jørgen Staunstrup at jst@itu.dk