Microsoft provides research fillip

Microsoft has unveiled more than £3 million of funding for research in universities. More than £1.8 million will go to six areas where it seeks research proposals including tools using mobile phones to improve healthcare and work that could lead to commercial, practical applications of human-robot interaction within a decade. It has also set up a £500,000 fund for breakthrough research, announced £500,000 for five new and rising academics and a £375,000 donation to launch a centre at Washington University to develop technology for research collaboration and interactive distance learning.