The University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab has teamed up with the Watershed and We The Curious, the Bristol-based science centre, on one of the world’s first public demonstrations of 5G technology.
The Watershed will host the Layered Realities Weekend 5G Showcase on the 17 and 18 March to launch the public 5G testbed and explore the next generation of wireless and wired connectivity through a series of free experimental public events.
“We have asked artists, researchers and creatives to produce bold new works which explore the capability and potential of 5G”
Across the two days, Bristol audiences are invited to experience the potential of 5G through new works by artists and researchers. This includes an augmented reality theatre, virtual reality dance and an audio-visual journey across the cosmos.
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“We are thrilled to be able to offer the public the chance to examine next-generation wireless connectivity through these experimental events. We have asked artists, researchers and creatives to produce bold new works which explore the capability and potential of 5G and the result is the Layered Realities Weekend 5G Showcase,” says Clare Reddington (pictured right), Creative Director at the Watershed. “Technology and culture are inseparable – the Layered Realities weekend explores not only how artists might push the possibilities of 5G, but also explore how this technology might fit into the lives of people in new and transformative ways.”
Award-winning tech
Layered Realities is part of the £16m UK5G testbed that helped Bristol to win the ‘Smart City’ award at Mobile World Congress earlier this month, which commended the work of Bristol is Open.
“We are taking the challenge to deliver an end-to-end 5G network in Bristol’s Millennium Square”
The Smart Internet Lab, led by Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, has also created a series of experimental demonstrations, showcasing an array of trailblazing 5G technologies. These presentations will range from new radio and wireless-fibre convergence to network automation, public safety and autonomous cars.
“The Smart Internet Lab is a world leader in the field of 5G network technologies,” says Professor Dimitra Simeonidou (pictured left). “We are taking the challenge to deliver an end-to-end 5G network in Bristol’s Millennium Square and to demonstrate for the first time 5G services to the general public. We have worked closely with our strategic technology partners BT, CCS, Nokia and Zeetta Networks in order to deliver a truly unique 5G Test Network and we are very excited to create the world’s first public 5G experience.”
The showcase will also bring together the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab and Watershed, We The Curious, BT, Nokia, Zeetta, Cambridge Communications Systems, PureLiFi and Bristol is Open. Audiences are invited to explore the Massive MIMO technology of multiple antennas that will greatly boost network capacity and performance whilst reducing network congestion.
There will also be real-time transmissions from a driverless vehicle parked in Millennium Square for the duration of the weekend.
The Layered Realities Weekend will take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March with a weekend of free events in Millennium Square and We The Curious.
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