Welcome to Full Spectra

The Full Spectra Centre of Algonquin College’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation

Welcome to the Full Spectra Centre of Algonquin College’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation! This Centre supports applied research in the areas of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and photonics. We are fortunate to have a strong and vibrant ICT and photonics community in the Ottawa region, something that ensures we continue to be busy! In addition to engaging Algonquin College students on exciting yet challenging research problems, we facilitate student and industry partner connections that help to develop their professional networks. Read more >


Director’s Note

Photo of the Applied Research Team

Not an imaginative title, but certainly accurate. This will be the first of a series of blogs that will be published by the Office of Applied Research and Innovation. The intent of the blogs is to inform, entertain, anger, encourage, advocate and stimulate the grey matter of the bloggers and readers. Read more >


Experiential Design – Welcome to the Design Centre

The Algonquin College Design Centre is focused on engaging research projects focused on User Experience (UX) design. What is User Experience design? The term “user experience” was coined by Dr. Donald Norman, a cognitive science researcher who was the first to describe the importance of user-centered design – that is, the notion that design decisions should be based on the needs and wants of actual users. At first glance, it seems self-evident that this should be so. Sadly, in practice it is often not the case. Read more >


Applied Research at the Periphery

The Office of Applied Research and Innovation (ARI) thinks Regionally.

Applied Research Expanding Its Borders
June 2013 marks the genesis of the Rural Economic Research and Development Centre (RERDC), a new “sister centre” to the Office of Applied Research and Innovation.

The RERDC is a joint initiative between the Perth and Pembroke campuses located in Renfrew County and Lanark County respectively, and supported by the resources of its main campus in Ottawa. Read more >


Executing Victory


You’ll have to pardon my arrogance, seeing as we hardly know each other, but I’m going to make some assumptions about you dear reader. I’m going to assume you’re either interested or involved in the Algonquin College community in some way, seeing as you’re currently on the website. I’m going to assume that you have a particular skill set that has drawn you to post secondary education (and the Office of Applied Research and Innovation specifically), which is great. Whether that skill set is technical, design, or humanities based is inconsequential, you still have it, and that is fantastic. Finally, I’m going to assume you have an idea. Again, it doesn’t matter what kind of idea it is, the fact that you have one is awesome. But would you like to know a secret? I know how much your idea is worth: absolutely nothing. Read more >