December 12, 2005

Experts from fields as diverse as linguistics, engineering, robotics, music and dance, and psychology will converge on Macquarie University over the next four days (December 13-16) to collaborate on cutting-edge research into human communication science.
Human communication science explores the interface between human communication and information technology, which has led to new developments like mobile phones, voice mail, SMS, and speech recognition systems.

The HCSNet Summerfest is the inaugural major event of the Human Communication Science Network (HCSNet), led by Macquarie University and the University of Western Sydney. The Network was awarded federal funding in 2004 with the aim of promoting and facilitating interdisciplinary research in human communication science by connecting leading researchers in speech, language and sonics.

By bringing together leading and emerging researchers from across a wide range of disciplines, the Network aims to increase knowledge and generate multiple new approaches and advances in areas such as automated speech recognition, distress call monitoring, hearing prosthesis, web interfaces and data retrieval and data mining systems.

The event is comprised of a two-day summer school for graduate students and researchers and the first HCSNet Conference which includes the presentation of papers and discussions, as well as interdisciplinary workshops. Around 250 participants are registered for the event.

HCSNet Convenor, Professor Robert Dale says the aim is to bring together as many members of the human communication sciences community as possible.

"Students will have the opportunity to hear about the latest research and hot topics in the range of disciplines that make up the Network while researchers will get to meet fellow members, hear their research interests and begin to develop collaborations that cross discipline boundaries," he says.