Besides the 48 papers that will be presented, do not forget that you’ll have the opportunity to attend the 3 plenary sessions starting at 9:00 AM.   The topics of these talks will cover three very hot research areas:

• Mauro Barni’s talk will be on the design of signal processing systems considering a potential adversary. What are the requirements for secure processing? How to deal with them?
• George Danezis’s talk will be on anonymous communications. Are they possible? To what extent? What is the role of information hiding in this framework?
• James L. Wayman’s talk will be on the use of audio forensics and speaker recognition in courts of law. Are they usable? What is their impact on the court decision?

After attending to these 3 keynotes, you should be able to speak anonymously to an adversary through a microphone using a secure covert channel…

More information on the keynotes here.

The WIFS organising committee will welcome you with a care only reserved to VIP: beside the plenary talks, the conference talks, the visits/hikes in Tenerife and the surrounding Islands, your already presidential schedule will be completed during the social event by a real presidential schedule!

Last week indeed, the China’s president Hu Jintao visited the Island right after the G20 summit. Not only he choose the very same hotel than the conference, but he decided to do exactly the same social event: the Teide Volcano tour, by visiting the national park declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria on the Tenerife Island of Spain, June 20, 2012. Source http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-06/20/c_131666653.htm

El Teide is the highest peak in Spain (3,718 metres), declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is an absolute must. Beautiful and grandiose, it will make you feel very small. The Mt. Teide National Park, in the centre of the island of Tenerife, shelters the best examples of the supra-Mediterranean vegetation level. With an average altitude of over 2,000 metres, the Mt. Teide National Park offers one of the most spectacular examples of vulcanism in the world and represents the best example of alpine volcanic ecosystem in the Canary Islands.

Driving up to the national park is an interesting experience; from the sunny south coast you drive up towards a town called Vilaflor with its alpine-like scenery. As you travel higher still above the clouds, the terrain changes dramatically and suddenly becomes an amazing lunar landscape. In winter it can be covered in snow. Temperatures during this time often drop to below freezing, while in the summer months they frequently go above 40 celsius. It is worth bearing in mind to bring along warmer clothes. If you are interested into hiking to the very top, it’s a 5h long hike (one way) with a total ascent of 1418m, you’ll need a permit for the last 150m in altitude, but since 2011 you can apply online using . If you’re not in good shape there is still the option to use the cable car.

Enjoy breathtaking views of Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro from the top of the island’s most visited tourist attraction.

WIFS 2012 banquet will be held at Punta del Lomo, a beautiful countryhouse located in the southern area of the island, 15 minutes from the Conference venue.

Punta del Lomo is a rural complex built on a banana plantation more than 100 years ago, where the attendants will enjoy the magnificent stone houses and visit the banana plantation.

Bananas were introduced by the British in the early 20th century, and have been one of the most important produces since then, together with grapes and cochineal for making dyes. Bananas are a particularly important crop with a current annual production of about 150,000 tons, down from the peak production of 200,000 tons in 1986. More of 90% of the total is destined for the international market, and banana growing occupies about 4200 hectares.

Canarian bananas are known to be one of the best fruits on the market and contribute significantly to the archipelago economy, together with tourism and fishing.
On a pleasant visit to Punta del Lomo, the attendants will learn in detail about the agricultural processes of the Canarian banana plantation: reproduction and care of the banana plant, harvesting, transport, how they are picked, washed and packed on the plantation itself.

For further information about WIFS 2012 banquet location, .

Researchers have often their heads in the clouds, but those who go to WIFS’12 will have the chance to have their heads in the stars! We indeed plan to visit a nice observatory located 2.390 metres above sea level.

In this site you’ll learn that “ the Observatorio del Teide is ideally suited for studying the sun. For this reason it is home to Europe’s finest solar telescopes”.

At the moment I’m writing this blog, the webcam located in the observatory shows a nice blue sky; is it just a coincidence? or is it because there are  in the island?