State government of North Rhine-Westphalia funding a start-up from CITEC researchers at Bielefeld University

Seven researchers from the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University impressed the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Science with their start-up paraXent in the start-up contest “START-UP-Hochschul-Ausgründungen NRW” (University Start-Up Spin-Offs North Rhine-Westphalia). The team was able to win over the jury of experts with its ideas and was granted a funding award of approximately 250,000€. The funding period begins on 1 July 2016. [Weiterlesen]

New technologies and techniques used in a scientific study of the shells of oysters, mussels, clams and scallops reveal clues about how these commercially valuable species may fare in a changing world, and how discarded shells from the aquaculture industry could benefit the environment.[Weiterlesen]

CITEC researchers have developed a new mental training technique for athletes    

It’s not only controlling the ball, physical endurance, and dexterity that matter when it comes to playing soccer. Members of a soccer team also have to be at the top of their game when it comes to tactical strategy. Researchers at the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University have developed a mental training technique that helps soccer players improve their tactical action. The “kicker” here is that the players can practice with this method without actually being on the playing field. [Weiterlesen]

Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology presents its “Home with a Brain” at the Automatica trade fair in Munich

What must an intelligent apartment provide in order to make everyday life safe, healthy, and comfortable? The Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) will give a glimpse into the home of the future from 21–24 June 2016 at Automatica, the international trade fair for automation and mechantronics held in Munich. Under the banner “A Home with a Brain,” CITEC will exhibit its new research developments at Stand 315 in Hall B4. Here, the service robot Floka will be debuted to the public for the first time. Floka is fitted with a new “social” robotic head that was also developed at CITEC whose facial expressions can signal happiness, worry, interest, or anger.     [Weiterlesen]

Scientists from Cluster of Excellence CITEC unveil the mechanisms of multisensory processing in a new publication in “Nature Communications“ 

Utilizing information from all the senses is critical for building a robust and rich representation of our surroundings. Given the wealth of multisensory information constantly bombarding us, however, how does our brain know which signals go together and thus need to be combined? And how does it integrate such related signals? Scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have proposed a computational model that explains multisensory integration in humans utilizing a surprisingly simple processing unit. This research, funded by the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, appears in the current issue of “Nature Communications”.
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Dear students and employees of Bielefeld University,

Universities have to be more than just institutions for studying, teaching, and research. Students should also pursue their personal development during their studies. Alongside study courses and teaching, Bielefeld University offers a range of ways to get involved – be it in university politics, music, the arts, sports, or intercultural cooperation.
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Bielefeld University welcomed the Federal Ministry of Education and Research to CITEC  

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…” The mirror of the future can answer questions, help out with brushing one’s teeth, or remind one of upcoming appointments. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University is developing a “thinking” home entrance area equipped with a smart mirror and intelligent door as part of the Cluster of Innovation KogniHome. CITEC is working with 13 regional partners on this project. As the project is reaching its halfway point, representatives from the BMBF visited CITEC and the PIKSL Laboratory of the v. Bodelschwingh Bethel Foundation on 30 May 2016 to experience for themselves the technologies being developed for KogniHome.   [Weiterlesen]