COMPUTER SCIENCE

Digitalization is growing rapidly, and we are more connected than ever. This development is driving up energy consumption, while at the same time the EU is imposing new requirements for lower energy use. Within the DRIVE project, research is being carried out to find solutions to this challenge.

By 2030, the 6G network is expected to be rolled out. 6G, the sixth generation of mobile communication networks, is based on advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. A central focus of 6G is sustainability, with the goal that the technology will serve as a tool to promote the UN’s global goals. In a way to meet these goals researchers in DRIVE have tested new ways of managing IoT devices* that measure air quality and monitor machinery. These devices are often placed in hard-to-reach locations where battery replacement is costly and environmentally problematic.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Muhammad Ovais Ahmad who has been recognized on the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list for 2025!

Dr. Ahmad inclusion on the list is a testament to his significant research contributions in the fields of Information & Communication Technologies, with a specific focus on Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering. His work is primarily centred on software process measurement and improvement, sociotechnical debt, social sustainability, human factor and digital transformation, with applications in various industries like software, services, embedded systems, healthcare, and automotive.

On May 27, computer science students presented their theses to an open audience that included companies, faculty, and fellow students.

The new format, where students give presentations of their theses, was introduced under the name EPiCS. It featured over 30 presentations held in three parallel sessions. The day concluded with a dinner in Building 21 in the evening.

One of the presentations was given by students Rasmus Melin and Simon Andersson. Their work on network measurements to improve the traffic analysis protection service DAITA attracted a full room of attendees.

The 6G-PATH (6G-Pilots and Trials Through Europe) project at Karlstad University has entered a new phase where the technology is being tested in practice. The goal of the project is to enhance healthcare education by utilizing advanced communication technologies such as 5G and 6G, combined with Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

A central component of the project is the use of an advanced patient simulator, a manikin that can mimic various medical conditions and reactions. With the help of 6G technology, the manikin is planned to be used in more realistic environments, such as simulated accident scenes, providing students with a more authentic training experience.

"Advanced mobile technology enables interactive training in environments that were previously difficult to recreate in the classroom," says Anna Brunström, professor of computer science and project leader at Karlstad University.

An open letter and an opinion article were recently published by three researchers from Karlstad University and Chalmers, warning about the government's legislative proposal for increased transparency in encrypted apps. One of the authors is Simone Fischer-Hübner, a professor of computer science at Karlstad University.

The letter, supported by 85 cybersecurity researchers from Swedish universities, highlights the issues with the proposed law that would allow law enforcement agencies access to apps like WhatsApp and Signal. According to the researchers, the proposal presents serious risks to both individual privacy and society at large.

Why an open letter?

Icomera, a company that develops digital communication equipment for trains, has had a successful collaboration with Karlstad University for over 10 years. One of the latest outcomes of this collaboration is the testing of Icomera’s new router in a 5G Stand-alone (SA) network through the DRIVE project.

Testing Icomera’s router in a 5G SA network means the company can ensure that their equipment functions optimally with the new 5G SA technology, which will be rolled out in Sweden next year.

“This is especially important for ensuring fast and stable data transfer onboard trains, which affects the passenger experience. Icomera now has the opportunity to test its equipment before 5G SA becomes commercially operational, giving us a head start when the 5G network is fully up and running,” says Claes Beckman from Icomera.

A unique testbed for development