{{Short description|British entrepreneur, technologist and film maker (born 1966)}} {{Use British English|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Simon Birrell | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Simon Birrell | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1966|07|26}} | birth_place = Bristol, England | alma_mater = Cambridge University | other_names = | occupation = Entrepreneur, technologist, film maker | years_active = | known_for = Ambient intelligence | notable_works = }}

'''Simon Birrell''' (born 26 July 1966) is a British entrepreneur, technologist and film maker. He was part of the team that invented ambient intelligence and who, with Eli Zelkha, coined the term.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=Nasrine |last2=Nolin |first2=Jan Michael |last3=Nelhans |first3=Gustaf |title=Semantic Web, Ubiquitous Computing, or Internet of Things? |url=http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:845301/FULLTEXT02 |doi=10.1108/JD-03-2013-0033}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|language=es |url=http://www.it.uc3m.es/jvillena/irc/practicas/12-13/11mem.pdf |title=Inteligencia artificial aplicada a perso |website=It.uc3m.es |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref>

==Biography== ===Early life, education and career=== Born in 1966 in Bristol, UK. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1988 with a degree in Natural Sciences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flashbak.com/1983-simon-birrell-of-norwich-shows-his-bbc-micro-computer-game-bug-bomb-to-virgin-interactives-richard-branson-3744/ |title=1983: Simon Birrell of Norwich Shows His BBC Micro Computer Game Bug Bomb To Virgin Interactive's Richard Branson |website=Flashbak.com |date=23 March 2014 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnax4nN4Ws4C&q=simon+birrell+realidad+virtual&pg=PA350 |title=Information Design |page=350 |via=Google Books |isbn=9780262600354 |accessdate=3 May 2017|last1=Jacobson |first1=Robert E. |last2=Jacobson |first2=Robert |year=2000 |publisher=MIT Press }}</ref>

He has been a founder or co-founder of three companies. Euro-Profile/i-Profile – a business intelligence company based out of Silicon Valley which was acquired by Virgo Capital (2008),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/3125606 |title=Virgo Capital purchases stake in research firm |publisher=News OK |date=14 September 2007 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> Vemm Brazil, a publisher of consumer advice websites in Brazil which was acquired by QuinStreet (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.quinstreet.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=906936 |title=QuinStreet Announces Acquisition of VEMM LLC in Brazil (NASDAQ:QNST) |publisher=Investor.quinstreet.com |date=16 April 2015 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://seekingalpha.com/news/2430606-quinstreet-acquires-brazilian-lead-gen-firm-vemm |title=QuinStreet acquires Brazilian lead-gen firm Vemm – QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ:QNST) |date=16 April 2015 |publisher=Seeking Alpha |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> and Silicon Artists, a Madrid-based entertainment technology company funded by Silicon Valley–based Tandem Computers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siliconartists.com/home/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Silicon Artists |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnax4nN4Ws4C&q=simon%20birrell%20realidad%20virtual&pg=PA350|title=Information Design|editor-first1=Robert E.|editor-last1=Jacobson|date=1 January 2000|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=9780262600354}}</ref>

===Ambient intelligence=== In 1998, Birrell was part of the team at Palo Alto Ventures that invented and developed the ambient intelligence concept and who, with Eli Zelkha, coined the term.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7uYNzT_d90C&q=zelkha%20ambient%20intelligence&pg=PR1|title=Safeguards in a World of Ambient Intelligence|first1=David|last1=Wright|first2=Serge|last2=Gutwirth|first3=Michael|last3=Friedewald|first4=Elena|last4=Vildjiounaite|first5=Yves|last5=Punie|date=8 January 2008|publisher=Springer |isbn=9781402066627|via=Google Books}} Safeguards in a World of Ambient Intelligence, Page 24, by David Wright, Serge Gutwirth, Michael Friedewald, Elena Vildjiounaite, Yves Punie, Published by Springer Publishing, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RvrDX2Kv3c |title=What is Ambient Intelligence? |via=YouTube |date=25 March 1994 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> It was presented by Roel Pieper of Philips at The Digital Living Room Conference on 22 June 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/digital-living-room-webcast-schedule/ |title='Digital Living Room' Webcast schedule |work=ZDNet |access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JfeAlyQX4gYC&q=roel%20pieper%20ambient%20intelligence&pg=PA6|title=True Visions: The Emergence of Ambient Intelligence|first1=Emile H. L.|last1=Aarts|first2=José Luis|last2=Encarnação|date=13 December 2006|publisher=Springer |isbn=9783540289746|via=Google Books}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JfeAlyQX4gYC&q=pieper%20digital%20living%20room&pg=PA6|title=True Visions: The Emergence of Ambient Intelligence|first1=Emile H. L.|last1=Aarts|first2=José Luis|last2=Encarnação|date=13 December 2006|publisher=Springer |isbn=9783540289746|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Since its invention in 1998, Ambient Intelligence labs have been formed at leading universities<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ami-lab.org/ |title=Ambient Intelligence Laboratory – Test bed for Innovations |publisher=Ami-lab.org |accessdate=1 February 2017 |archive-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511141640/https://ami-lab.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlab.stanford.edu |title=A I R Lab – Ambient Intelligence Research Lab Stanford University |website=Airlab.stanford.edu |date=3 June 2011 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> and ambient intelligence has become part of the core strategies of many of the world's leading technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon and IBM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2014/04/15/microsoft-delivers-data-platform-for-the-era-of-ambient-intelligence/ |title=Microsoft delivers data platform for the era of ambient intelligence &#124; News Center |publisher=Microsoft |date=15 April 2014 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Gary |last=Grossman |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/07/the-next-stop-on-the-road-to-revolution-is-ambient-intelligence/ |title=The next stop on the road to revolution is ambient intelligence |work=TechCrunch |date=7 May 2016 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/miguelhelft/2016/05/18/inside-sundar-pichais-plan-to-put-ai-everywhere/ |title=Inside Sundar Pichai's Plan To Put AI Everywhere |language=fr |website=Forbes |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref>

===Robotics and deep learning=== Birrell is researching deep learning and robotics at Cambridge University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mi.eng.cam.ac.uk/Main/SAB233 |title=Machine Intelligence Laboratory |publisher=University of Cambridge |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> He is the author of the blog Artificial Human Companions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Birrell |first=Simon |url=http://www.artificialhumancompanions.com |title=Robots, ROS, AI and robotic software |publisher=Artificial Human Companions |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref>

===Video games, virtual reality and other activities=== He developed some of the first video games for Richard Branson's Virgin Interactive in 1983.<ref name="flashbak.com">{{cite web|url=http://flashbak.com/1983-simon-birrell-of-norwich-shows-his-bbc-micro-computer-game-bug-bomb-to-virgin-interactives-richard-branson-3744/ |title=1983: Simon Birrell of Norwich Shows His BBC Micro Computer Game Bug Bomb To Virgin Interactive's Richard Branson |website=Flashbak.com |date=23 March 2014 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> These included Bug Bomb – BBC Micro (1983),<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|first=Simon |last=Birrell |url=http://everygamegoing.com/landing/authors/391/Simon_Birrell.html |title=Games by Simon Birrell |website=Everygamegoing.com |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> Microbe – BBC Micro (1983),<ref name="launchbox-app.com">{{cite web|url=http://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/developers/games/3695 |title=Simon Birrell Games – LaunchBox Games Database |website=Gamesdb.launchbox-app.com |date=1 July 1985 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="flashbak.com"/> High-Rise Horror – Commodore 64 (1984),<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="launchbox-app.com"/> Strangeloop – Commodore 64 (1985),<ref name="launchbox-app.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2491 |title=Lemon – Commodore 64, C64 Games, Reviews & Music! |website=Lemon64.com |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> Shogun – Commodore 64 / Amstrad (co-design).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=1930 |title=james clavell's shogun &copy virgin games (1986) |website=Cpc-power.com |date=6 February 2016 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://computerarchive.org/files/comp/games/commodore/Shogun_Manual_(Virgin).pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2017-03-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414082252/https://computerarchive.org/files/comp/games/commodore/Shogun_Manual_(Virgin).pdf |archivedate=14 April 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stairwaytohell.com/authors/sbirrell/INT-SBirrell.html |title=Simon Birrell : Interview |date=September 2000 |website=Stairwaytohell.com |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

From 1993 to 1995, Birrell was the CTO of an early virtual reality company in Spain called Realidad Virtual S.L.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/Pcmania16/pcmania_djvu.txt |title=Full text of 'PCMania 16' |website=Archive.org |date=23 October 2016 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> At Realidad Virtual, he developed Pandora – the first Spanish online virtual reality platform for the Internet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/21/madrid/814278271_850215.html |title="Seis pintores madrileños multiplicarán su audiencia" &#124; Edición impresa &#124; EL PAÍS |website=El País |date=21 October 1995 |accessdate=3 May 2017|last1=Elola |first1=Joseba }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arquepoetica.azc.uam.mx/blog/?p=13285 |title=Museos virtuales y Digitales &#124; Estudio de Arqué Poética y Visualística Prospectiva |website=Arquepoetica.azc.uam.mx |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SeXhfWORMsgC&q=simon+birrell+pandora&pg=PA79 |title=Videojuegos y aprendizaje – Carles Feixa Pampols et al. |page=79 |date=14 March 2008 |isbn=9788478278275 |accessdate=3 May 2017|last1=Salvat |first1=Begoña Gros |last2=Bolós |first2=Alejandro Català |last3=Pampols |first3=Carles Feixa |last4=Martínez |first4=Javier Jaén |last5=Díaz |first5=Pilar Lacasa |last6=Luisa Lamazán Álvarez |first6=M. |last7=Borda |first7=Rut Martínez |last8=Zaballos |first8=Laura Méndez |last9=Agües |first9=Jose Antonio Mocholí |last10=Sánchez |first10=Isidro Moreno |last11=Miró |first11=Xavier Vilella I. |last12=Cuello |first12=Antònia Bernat |last13=Magri |first13=Manel Camas |last14=Ballestero |first14=Juan José Cárdenas }}</ref>

Mundo de Estrellas (1998) was a distributed virtual reality environment for hospitalised children in Andalucia created by his company Silicon Artists.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SeXhfWORMsgC&q=simon%20birrell%20pandora&pg=PA79|title=Videojuegos y aprendizaje|first1=Carles Feixa|last1=Pampols|first2=Pilar Lacasa|last2=Díaz|first3=Alejandro Català|last3=Bolós|first4=Laura Méndez|last4=Zaballos|first5=Javier Jaén|last5=Martínez|first6=Xavier Vilella i|last6=Miró|first7=M. Luisa Lamazán|last7=Álvarez|first8=Isidro Moreno|last8=Sánchez|first9=Rut Martínez|last9=Borda|first10=Juan José Cárdenas|last10=Ballestero|first11=Jose Antonio Mocholí|last11=Agües|first12=Manel Camas|last12=Magri|first13=Antònia Bernat|last13=Cuello|date=14 March 2008|isbn=9788478278275|via=Google Books}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=830YsrMeOtEC&q=mundo%20de%20estrellas%20silicon%20artists&pg=PA53|title=Mundos virtuales 3D: Una guía para padres y formadores|first=Ruth Martínez|last=López|date=10 August 2011|publisher=Editorial UOC |isbn=9788497883481|via=Google Books}}</ref>

He is also a film maker and writer. As a film maker, he has directed two shorts<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491843/?ref_=nm_knf_|title=El último deseo|date=12 November 2005|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/His-Last-Request-Iris-D%C3%ADaz/dp/B0018SH9WU |title=His Last Request (PAL): Iris Daaz, Carmen Vadillo, Ramon Rados, Jack Taylor, Simon Birrell, Milena Ivanova: Movies & TV|website=Amazon |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475215/?ref_=nm_knf_t4|title=Aceite quemado|date=14 February 2004|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref name="cinetecadelfriuli.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinetecadelfriuli.org/gcm/ed_precedenti/screenings_recorden.php?ID=6033 |title=Le Giornate del Cinema Muto – Screenings Database – EL ÚLTIMO DESEO |website=Cinetecadelfriuli.org |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> and collaborated with cult filmmakers Jess Franco<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mondo-digital.com/sickpicks8.html |title=Mondo Digital's SICK PICKS |website=Mondo-digital.com |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238406/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_3|title=Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula|date=1 January 2000|website=IMDb}}</ref><ref name="fright.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.fright.com/edge/his_last_request.htm |title=HIs Last Request |website=Fright.com |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> and Jose Ramon Larraz.<ref name="cinetecadelfriuli.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mymovies.it/dizionario/recensione.asp?id=69714 |title=El Último Deseo (2005) |website=MYmovies.it |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="fright.com"/>

Birrell authored a chapter in an MIT book on Information Design<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/information-design |title=Information Design |publisher=The MIT Press |date=24 August 2000 |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> and co-authored a book on videogames.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/info_books/electron/virgin/Games_For_Your_Acorn_Electron.html |title=Games For Your Acorn Electron (Virgin Games) – Acorn Electron World |website=Acornelectron.co.uk |accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.artificialhumancompanions.com Birrell's blog]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birrell, Simon}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Ambient intelligence Category:British artificial intelligence researchers Category:British businesspeople Category:English filmmakers Category:British video game designers Category:Virtual reality pioneers