ONLINE SYSTEMS TEAM

Activities

The Online Services Team, a component of IRCAM's Research and Development Department, focusses on the design and development of online systems, particularly with respect to access to sound and musical databases. Initiated with the OnLine Studio Project (1996-1998), present research is devoted primarily to the ECRINS and CUIDADO projects.

This team provides operational technological solutions which facilitate the management of sound content in databases, as well as its distribution via Internet or intranet. Besides the material aspects involved, this role also speaks to all the traditional elements of software engineering : database design, distributed architechtures, Internet technologies, object modelling, man/machine interface design, development, tests, configuration management, project management…

Beyond its role as a general infrastructure provider, this team also plays a key role in integrating various projects. Various partners - and, more particularly, various research teams - are developing building blocks which incorporate substantial elements of the prospective dimensions of projects ; these modules are then inserted into the end systems. This integration relies on strong technical coherency between the various modules. In relying on collaborations with scientific teams, the Online Services Team also plays an important role in coordinating partnerships. From an ergonomic point of view, functional innovations developed by research work must find their place in graphical interfaces adapted to work methods and user expectations. The design of target applications is thus the goal of exchanges with potential system users.

This double role, oriented towards both development and integration, plays out in a constantly evolving environment. The prospective nature of the projects, which reflects this dynamic, renders obsolete all modes of functioning which rely on development cycles only : such an approach inevitably leads to systems which are outmoded the moment they are completed. The adoption of iterative methods (based essentially on current technology and on the integration of recent technologies) allows the coordination of developments with the day's state-of-the-art science and technology.

Areas of expertise

Databases, Web and Internet, XML, streaming, client/server, distibuted architechtures. Software engineering, development, technical design, project managament, functional design, ergonomy.

Team members

 Projects Manager : Pascal Mullon
 Engineers and researchers : Guillaume Boutard, Max Jacob