Student Job

Serious Games: extending the FireSim engine

Background
Fraunhofer FIT is developing a system for prototyping ubiquitous computing (UbiComp) applications. This
system allows users to try UbiComp prototypes both in a virtual environment and the real world, with the
prototypes being either completely virtual, completely real, or a mix of both. The prototypes’ functionality
as well as environmental conditions may be partly simulated, making it possible to try and evaluate proto-
types that are yet impossible or impractical to build or use. The core of the system is a distributed multi-
player environment through which both real and virtual clients can interact with a mixed-reality simulation.
One application focus for the system is ICT support for emergency situations, including fires, earthquakes
and large-scale incidents. The dedicated system for this purpose is called FireSim. For example, FireSim is
currently being used to investigate navigational support systems for firefighters. See www.firesim.eu.

Job Description
This job is focused on the further development and implementation of the core of the UbiComp prototyp-
ing system. It basically consists of extending and improving the existing c++ application through high qual-
ity software engineering in terms of extendibility, flexibility, consistency and performance. From an engi-
neering perspective, the job includes understanding and applying approaches from all areas of modern
multi-player games or simulations, including networking, 3d real-time graphics, physics simulation, user in-
teraction, game-design, content pipelines etc. From a conceptual perspective, the job includes understand-
ing the challenges involved in designing ubiquitous computing applications and how these could be ad-
dressed through mixed-reality prototyping. Part of the job is therefore also to participate in using the Ubi-
Comp prototyping system with end-users. The job is located at Fraunhofer FIT, Sankt Augustin.

Skills
Required: z software engineering z object-oriented analysis and design z c++ z real-time 3d graphics z
xml z structured and independent working style z active communication
Advantageous: z ogre3d z physX z raknet z shaders

Benefits
z Learning from experienced researchers and developers z Participation in on-going research projects z
Option to participate in user studies across Europe z Option to carry out a master or diploma thesis in col-
laboration with RWTH FB5 z Well equipped working environment

Questions and Applications

Markus Klann
Fraunhofer FIT
Schloss Birlinghoven
53754 Sankt Augustin
www.firesim.eu
markus.klann@fit.fraunhofer.de