Natasha Devroye

Natasha Devroye will develop new methods in the area of communication technology inspired by how we have conversations. Currently, information in wireless networks is streamed in one direction at a time; she wants the information to flow in two directions concurrently.

Today’s information technology is built on one-way communication. Data is streamed in one direction at a time. But leading networking corporations predict that in future, we will want to make things happen synchronously over the Internet. We will have more videoconferences, and services like telemedicine will become more common. In order to permit this development, Natasha Devroye, currently at the University of Illinois at Chicago (USA), will develop new basic theories for two-way communication in wireless networks.

When we speak on cell phones today, for instance, information going in each direction is sent independently. It can be compared to two people talking to each other without listening to the other one. Devroye thinks that information needs to be streamed in a more dynamic manner, like in a dialogue where one person adapts their tone, speed and content to the signals coming from their conversation partner.

The project is at the international forefront of the information theory area, and the results will likely be significant to the communication industry. As a Wallenberg Academy Fellow, Devroye is offered to transfer to KTH Royal Institute of Technology.