West Virginia University’s Gyungsu Byun, an assistant professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, will be conducting research to improve energy efficiency and bandwidth in mobile devices as part of a National Science Foundation initiative.

Byun received a grant from the NSF’s Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering, or BRIGE program.

The goal of the research, according to Byun, is to significantly improve the energy efficiency, bandwidth and multi-tasking abilities of mobile computing between microprocessors and memories in devices like smart phones or ultraportable computing systems. Reducing power consumption will make devices such as smart phones, tablets and electronic readers, lighter, slimmer and will enhance battery life.

“Microprocessors are the ‘brains’ of mobile devices and we ask them to multi-task: display images, transmit and receive audiovisual information, play video or audio and analyze and compute data, ” Byun said. “However, this multitasking requires high power consumption, which can rapidly drain batteries.”

This type of research could eventually lead to developing a powerful personal computer-like gadget that fits in the palm of a hand.

The BRIGE program offers research start-up funding opportunities with the goal of broadening participation to all engineers, including members of minority groups, in the engineering disciplines.

“As a key objective of NSF BRIGE program, the project will also help develop a globally competitive engineering workforce by training WVU students who will be capable of integrating the knowledge and insights the gain from working on this project,” Byun said.

-WVU-

dar/09/05/12

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CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon
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