Software systems soar into the stratosphere

A new 'roadmap' for software systems and services has been released that looks set to steer software development into the space age; more than 75 specialists, including research centres, universities, large industries and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were involved. 

ITEA2 ('Information Technology for European Advancement'), the pan-European programme that promotes collaborative research in the field of software-intensive systems and services, has released the third edition of its Roadmap for Software-Intensive Systems & Services. 

The Roadmap 3 provides a vision of future software systems services; it also uses and presents high-tech solutions to make demanding modern lives as easy as possible. What's more, it paves the way towards 'societal computing' by creating applications in health, energy, transport and education. 

The new package will help Europe to maintain its position of leadership in the field of software systems and to move towards a service-oriented industry. This will assist Europe in ensuring competitiveness in jobs and businesses.. 

A very important facet of Roadmap 3 is that its applications can be used to ensure sustainability and will help Europe maintain precious resources such as water and energy. 

Roadmap 3 also contains real-life scenarios to demonstrate how its technology can be incorporated into people's lives. One scenario involves an 'intelligent' home, which would save energy, increase security and create optimum living conditions for all members of the family. For example, heating levels can be controlled by connections to weather forecast services, while domestic emergencies can be monitored intelligently and appropriate action taken. 

Similarly, in transport, a whole rage of safety, security and comfort features could be incorporated into new cars using the technology. 

'The current information technology is coming to an end and being replaced,' says Jean-Luc Dormoy of CEA DRT. 'We are reaching the limit of Moore's law [the ability to predict a long-term trend in the field of computer hardware and software] and we need to move from large systems to systems of systems; software requires brains and methods that we do not necessarily have, and we are facing challenges without precedent, so we now need breakthroughs. Solutions will be needed to bypass or avoid this difficulty.' 

ITEA2 is a cluster programme of the EUREKA network, which promotes market-oriented, industrial research and development activities in Europe. 

Contact person:For more information, please visit: 

ITEA2: 
http://www.itea2.org 

EUREKA: 
http://www.eureka.be/