This wireless sensor network (WSN) was motivated by the need for a manageable and scalable network constructed from relatively inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware. The WSN consumes very little power. The resultant network is in operation in several applications with up to 100 nodes. Simulations have shown excellent performance with 500 nodes. The network features centralized (rather than distributed) control; this aspect is the theme in this short paper.

The next Internet, Internet of Things, allows for unprecedented levels of interaction between the digital and physical worlds. However, to fully harness the potential of this technology we need to provide software developers with the proper abstractions and tools. To this end we have developed a series of programming systems to raise the level of abstraction in wireless sensor network programming.

Although security and model-based testing are not new areas of research, they are still under development and highly relevant. In particular, their combination is a challenge for academic work and industrial applications. Some examples of systematic and automated security testing include: security functional testing, model-based fuzzing, risk-oriented testing and the usage of security test pattern.

dtk is a metaplatform for software development, providing the foundations needed to develop dedicated modular scientific platforms. It aggregates functionalities embedded using low-level and interchangeable software entities - plugins - and orchestrated through high-level software entities - scripts, compositions or user interface elements. It then overcomes recurring aspects of advanced software development cycles to enable research teams to focus on research code.

In the future, Internet Service Providers (ISP) may offer on-demand, flexible virtual networks connecting different locations and heterogeneous cloud resources with Quality of Service (QoS) connectivity guarantees (such as maximal latency or minimal bandwidth).

Innovative ICT services linking disaster reports, live e-Triage data and SMS/Twitter alerts to maps for situational awareness were part of EU POSEIDON 2011, a large-scale European civil protection exercise held in Crete on October 24-26, 2011.

A white paper on “Search Computing: Business Areas, Research and Socio-Economic Challenges” was recently published by CHORUS+, a European Coordination Action on Audio-Visual Media Search. It provides an overview of the business areas, the research challenges and the socio-economic aspects related to “Search Computing”. It consolidates the experts’ opinion about the future opportunities and trends in the search industry.