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The Media Laboratory (and its associated academic program, Media Arts and Sciences) is housed in buildings E14 and E15 on the east side of campus. Research projects at the Media Lab focus on the interplay of media and computers with communication, human interface, personal expression, and cognition. For example, current research initiatives include: storytelling technologies, personal robotics, music technologies, tangible computing, new camera technologies, civic media, educational technologies, speech interfaces, and many more. The Media Laboratory has traditionally offered a large number and variety of UROP positions. Interested students should contact faculty members in particular research groups directly (see list below). For general questions and information, contact Aaron Solle (asolle@media.mit.edu) in the Media Arts and Sciences headquarters.
Further Information: See Awards
&
Funds for information on funding that may pertain to your research. Follow all UROP procedures for pay or credit.
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Prof. V. Michael Bove Jr. , Object-Based Media, E15-368B, x3-0334, vmb@media.mit.edu
- We conduct research into the future of electronic visual communication and expression, and ways to make a richer connection among the people at the ends of the system, whether a broadcast system or a peer-to- peer environment. We also develop hardware and software technologies to support the requirements of such a scenario, with particular focus on new input and output technologies (especially 3-D television), advanced interfaces for consumer electronics, and self-organization among smart devices. We are particularly looking for undergraduates with experience in image processing, graphics programming (especially GPU hackery), RF electronics, PC board design, cameras, optics, or user interfaces.
Prof. Ed Boyden, Neuroengineering & Neuromedia Group, E15-430, x4-3085, esb@media.mit.edu- Our brains and nervous systems mediate everything we perceive, feel, decide, and do- and act as our ultimate interface to the world. An outstanding challenge for humanity is to understand the brain at a level of abstraction that enables us to engineer its function- repairing pathology, augmenting cognition, and revealing insights into the human condition. We are inventing and applying tools for the analysis and engineering of brain circuits in both humans and model systems, with a current focus on devising technologies for interfacing to specific circuit targets, and controlling the processing within. We hope that our research will help us better understand- and engineer improvements upon- the nature of human existence. Prerequisites: ability to learn quickly and deal with complex information, basic knowledge of PCR/cloning/molecular biology, basic electrical engineering and/or optics knowledge, interest in serving humanity, entrepreneurial spirit and drive, team player and hacker-type.
- Prof. Leah Buechley, High-Low Tech, E15-368C, x3-2870, leah@media.mit.edu
- The High-Low Tech group integrates high and low technological
materials, processes, and cultures. Our primary aim is to engage
diverse audiences in designing and building their own technologies by
situating computation in new cultural and material contexts, and by
developing tools that democratize engineering. We believe that the
future of technology will be largely determined by end-users who will
design, build, and hack their own devices, and our goal is to inspire,
shape, support, and study these communities. To this end, we explore
the intersection of computation, physical materials, manufacturing
processes, traditional crafts, and design.
Prof. Hiroshi Ishii, Tangible Media, E15-344, ishii@media.mit.edu
- The Tangible Media Group is working to bridge the gap between the physical world and cyberspace by developing ways to make bits (digital information) accessible through physical surfaces, everyday objects, and ambient media such as light, sound, or air. The goal is to move away from the current model of human-computer interaction (now represented by graphical user interfaces bound to a display, keyboard, and a mouse) and create a new set of "Tangible Interfaces." Tangible Media Group is looking for UROPs with strong programming skills, analog/digital electronics design skills, or machine shop/mechanical engineering experience. Also, anyone with media design experience (web design, video editing, sound design, graphics design, product design, or multimedia database) would be valuable.
- Dr. Henry Lieberman, Software Agents, E15-384A, x3-0315, lieber@media.mit.edu
- The Software Agents Group uses techniques from Artificial Intelligence to improve the Human-Computer interface across a wide range of application areas. Current research concentrates on using Commonsense knowledge -- simple knowledge about people and everyday life -- to provide intelligent defaults in interfaces; to adapt interfaces to users' needs; and to support interaction based on peoples' goals rather than specific functions of hardware or software. We have a number of projects, including, but not limited to:
*Collecting and organizing Commonsense knowledge and creating tools for application development;
*Natural language and speech interaction;
*Easier ways for non-technical users to program and modify software;
*Interfaces to consumer electronic devices, phones, other mobile devices;
*Personal information management: Calendars, social networking, personal finance, etc.
See http://agents.media.mit.edu/
- Prof. Pattie Maes, Fluid Interfaces Group, E15-315, x3-7442, pattie@media.mit.edu
- The goal of the Fluid Interfaces research group is to radically
rethink the way we interact with digital information and services.
We design interfaces that are more intuitive and better integrated
in our daily physical and social lives. We investigate ways to
augment the everyday objects and spaces around us, making them
responsive to our attention and actions. We also design new
interfaces to facilitate communication and collaboration among small and large groups of people. Interested undergraduates should have an interest in Human-Computer Interaction, have a strong background in EECS, as well as an interest in design, arts and entertainment.
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Prof. Alex Pentland, Human Design, E15-387, x3-0648, sandy@media.mit.edu
- Real-time camera and microphone systems for interacting with people, 3-D computer
graphics and VR, programming in C, Open GL, Open Inventor.
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Prof. Ramesh Raskar,
Camera Culture Group, E15-324, x3-0329, raskar@mit.edu
- Research in Computational imaging, Signal processing, Applied
optics, Computer graphics and vision, Medical Imaging, Thermal and
ultrasound sensing, Hardware electronics, Art, Online photo
collections and Visual social computing.
- Prof. Mitchel Resnick, Lifelong Kindergarten, E15-020AA, x3-9783, mres@media.mit.edu
- We are developing new technologies that enable people (particularly kids) to engage in creative learning activities. Our goal is to empower everyone to design, create, experiment, and explore with new technologies. For example, our Scratch programming language and online community (http://scratch.mit.edu) makes it easy for kids to create and share interactive stories, games, and animations. We also collaborate with the LEGO Company on the development of new robotics construction kits (such as Mindstorms and WeDo). We are looking for UROPs to help in the design, development, and field-testing of these new technologies.
- Mr. Chris Schmandt, Speech Research, E15-368A, x3-5156, geek@media.mit.edu
- Applications, user interfaces, and software architectures to support speech i/o (recognition and synthesis) and digitized speech as a computer data type, integration of computers and telephones, voice mail, and remote information retrieval.
- Prof. David Small, Design Ecology, E15-305B, x4-6680, small@media.mit.edu
- We define Design Ecology as the study of malleable design that is aware of and can seamlessly react to changing environments. This new approach to design will enhance understanding, enable creativity, and ease our interactions with the technological environment. Our relationship with information should be appropriately situated in both spatial and social contexts; thus, while traditional design methods focus on single products and users, we believe that looking at the interplay between multiple people and multiple devices will yield significant results. To this end, we create visual communication that incorporates new display and computational technologies, novel software techniques, and perceptual and cognitive issues.
- Prof.
Barry Vercoe , Machine Listening Group, E15-494, x3-0618, bv@media.mit.edu
- Pitch Tracking, signal processing on parallel processors, digital reverberation and simulated ambience, real-time control utilizing computer tracking of musical instruments and conducting gestures,
music cognition, and the integration of live and synthetic performers.
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