Public lecture Tuesday 9th February 7pm
Professor Lachlan MacKinnon, in association with the British Science Society, will present an open lecture on the role of computer games and interactive entertainment technologies in ‘serious business’ tonight (Tuesday 9th February) at 7pm at the University of Abertay Dundee.
The computer games industry and its importance on the local, UK and global economies has featured heavily in the media in recent months. Worldwide, the industry is worth over US$40 billion, with the UK industry share being over £4 billion.
As home to 12 of Scotland’s biggest games developers and the University of Abertay Dundee, a recognised world-leader in the field of computer games and interactive media, Dundee is well positioned to play a leading global role in this booming industry. There is potential for further serious growth and development in the UK as a whole and Dundee in particular, if the right conditions can be provided.
However, what tends to be forgotten is the potential for the games industry far exceeds the profits achievable through the worldwide games and interactive entertainment industry.
The demands placed on computer hardware manufacturers, by the need to support ever-growing demands from game developers and players, have resulted in a level of technical specification of desktop and laptop computers that far exceeds the needs of everyday computing and business applications.
This, in turn, has supported the development of multimedia and social networking applications that utilise those technical specifications to provide rich interactive experiences and events. As a result, we have the computing capability to support rich, graphic-intensive, interactive multimedia experiences, an ever-growing audience of sophisticated users, and a pool of talented developers who can produce high-quality experiences using games-based technologies.
Game technologies to support serious business
Almost any industry, from the health service to the defence industry, from car producers industry to sustainable energy providers, are already using or developing the use of high quality simulation, visualisation and animation, to support product development, training, testing, and creative design.
It is not just about fun and games, we now have serious games, where games technology and expertise is used for industrial simulation and visualisation, and this is predicted to at least double this multi-billion pound market - like Mickey Mouse, this is a serious business!
This lecture will take place in the main lecture theatre in Abertay's Kydd Building. It is free and open to all members of the public.
Ends
For media information please contact Vicki White 01382 308935 or e-mail v.white@abertay.ac.uk