Ermal Dreshaj

• E-Mail: ermal at media dot mit dot edu
• Website: www.ermaldreshaj.com
• Department: MIT Media Lab – Object-based Media Group

Experience:

I worked previously in the Perceptual Computing Group at Intel Corp, where I was involved in the research and development of HCI techniques, mobile gaming interaction and depth-sensing camera technologies.  I received my BS in Computer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio where I focused primarily on digital design and computer architecture.  My experience in computer technology spans from the low-level architecture and embedded programming to high-level programming, such as C++ and C#.

Why

I’ve always been critical of augmented reality as an interaction technology, so I want to learn more about it from experts in the field and see if I might change my mind and learn to appreciate it more.

Xavier Benavides

• Email: xavib@media.mit.edu
• Website: http://web.media.mit.edu/~xavib/
  
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Fluid Interfaces Group

Experience

I am an Electrical Engineer & Computer Scientist from laSalle - Ramon Llull University. During my studies, 
I have been working as a Research Assistant at the Electronics and Robotics Lab at laSalle. I did a summer 
internship at the University of Memphis as a Visiting Researcher. Also I have been a Visiting Researcher at 
Windesheim University (Netherlands) Lectorat of Robotics.
Currently, I'm working on my thesis in Fluid Interfaces Group at Media Lab MIT.

Why

My research focuses on HCI, wearables, ubiquitous computing, and virtual world experiences with real world interactions. I would like to research on different kinds of remote collaborations.

Ricardo Alvarez Felix

Ricardo Alvarez Felix

• Email: jraf@mit.edu
• Department: MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and Senseable City Lab

Background

I’m a native of Mexico, who did a Bachelor’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Monterrey institute of Technology in Mexico and a Master’s in International Management at Thunderbird in Arizona.

In the late 90’s founded one of the largest video games/animation/comics/sci-fi sites and social communities in spanish on the web (now extinct). Afterwards, I worked for one of Mexico’s conglomerates as director product division where I led projects that specialized in large scale data mining and systems integration for their financial and retail units.

Due to a weird twist of fate, I somehow ended working for the Mexican Government, where I became one of the founders of ProMexico, the Mexican Federal Agency for International Business Promotion. During my time there I was appointed first as Senior Advisor to the CEO, and then as General Coordinator for International Operations where I directly oversaw offices in North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Later, I was responsible for Innovation and Strategic Projects, where I headed large scale projects dealing with hi-tech industries at the National and Inter-Ministerial level in industries such as digital media, ICT, advanced manufacturing and aerospace among others. One of those was the project of Guadalajara “Ciudad Creativa Digital,” which is currently developing a large scale prototype/smart city for digital media industries within Latin America, which is how I got into urbanism.

I am currently doing a PhD in Urban Studies and Planning within the CDD Group at MIT and am also doing research in transportation systems and urban services at the Senseable City Lab.

Why

I am sci-fi nut and a lifelong video game player, and am currently advocating for the use of video game development technologies in the urban planning field; as such I am very interested in the merging of VR technologies with information systems and their possible applications for urban environments.

Allegra Fonda-Bonardi

Allegra Fonda-Bonardi

• Email: afb@mit.edu
• Website: 
  
• Department: MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and D-Lab

Experience

I am interested in risk, uncertainty, and crisis associated with climate change adaptation. How can we create ‘rules’ and grammars of movement, devices, and codes that open space for new collaborations? I have been working with climate scientists, policy makers, and members of the public in central China using technologies and improvisational games to plan for cities, climate change, transportation, and social collaboration in an age of climate change.

+ I have strong personal interest in dance, movement, and public space planning and architecture.

Why

I believe human creativity and innovation thrive at the nexus of risk, uncertainty, the physical, and the technological.

Random Link: http://synchronousobjects.osu.edu/

Judith Amores

• Email: amores@media.mit.edu
• Website: www.judithamores.com
  
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Fluid Interfaces Group

Experience

I am a Visiting Student at Fluid Interfaces group for one year. I have a Computer Science background and Design focused on HCI and UX Design. I worked as a Multimedia Engineer for 2 years (using Unity, augmented reality, video production, computer graphics and 3d modeling). I ended up at Medialab thanks to this magical box  (when a small toy is put inside this  box, the user will see it come to life through an AR interface.). I love to mix technology and design-arts rather than choose one or the other. Some of the projects I developed and designed are interactive prototypes related with augmented reality, remote collaboration and technology of entertainment.

Why

I want to convert science fiction to real science. I love brainstorming with different type of people to create new and radical ideas and build them, mixing the “real” and virtual world. I want to discover and go beyond the boundaries of technology.

Random Link: DALÍ, S. La persistencia de la memoria

Evan Moore

• email: 2emoore4@gmail.com
• website: evanmoore
• department: nyu cs

experience

I’m in my final semester of the nyu undergrad computer science program. My work experience is pretty much just web development, but other than that I’ve worked on games and some oculus rift experiences with everyone else from the lab. One of my main projects right now is experimenting with different structured light depth sensing techniques.

why

I want to work on some cool projects.

random link

http://patakk.tumblr.com/

(not mine)

Sang Leigh

• Email: sangwon@media.mit.edu
• Website: www.sangww.net
  
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Fluid Interfaces Group

Experience

I have EE and Computer Vision background and has worked as a software engineer for 3 years. I worked on NUI and Vision-based interaction softwares including DIY eye-tracking system I developed in 2012 (link). At Media Lab, I am interested in and working on interaction systems that bridge the physical and digital worlds.

+ I have strong personal interest in music and played guitar for 10+ yrs.

Why

I am amazed by stories about magical artifacts and science fictions. I want to bring pieces of such things into reality, not just giving illusionary effects, but with a more physical elements that users can feel with their own touch.

Random Link: Super MarioBros. – 500 Points Run

Hye Soo Yang

• Email: hs_yang@mit.edu
• Website: http://www.hyesooy.com
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Speech+Mobility Group

Experience

I have a balanced background between media arts and programming. For the arts, I concentrated on digital imaging, video production, 3d modeling, and animation. I have experience in product design and fabrication as well. As for my technical work, my focus is in Augmented Reality, computer graphics and computer vision. I have some background in electrical and mechanical engineering; I have built simple robots in the past.

Why

I am currently working on a project that involves AR and wanted to get different perspectives on it and definitely new inspirations. My initial interest is in finding ways to promote natural interaction between human and the virtual space using AR.

Random Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao

• Email: cindykao@media.mit.edu
• Website: http://www.media.mit.edu/~cindykao
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Speech+Mobility Group

Experience

I have Computer Science background, focused on Ubiquitous Computing. I’ve designed novel sensing systems that feedback greater understanding of personal energy usage, health, and consumerism behavior. These works have been published in ACM UbiComp, Pervasive, ACM CHI, etc. Currently I’m shifting focus to create communication technologies with a deeper human component, namely to express the ambiguous and poetic.

Why

I’m interested in applications for future communication technologies, namely how new layers of social expression can be realized by hacking the human senses. As communication is an inseparable part of everyday lives, I also care about the cultural implications of the tools we create.

Random Link:   http://emojiirllol.tumblr.com/   (yay emojis!)

Xiao Xiao

• Email: x_x@mit.edu
  
• Website: xiaosquared.com
  
• Department: MIT Media Lab, Tangible Media Group