Nat's Place
Fall 2003 Research  
Spring 2003 Research  
Fall 2002 Research  
Spring 2002 The Human Intelligence Enterprise Patrick Winston 
Fall 2001 PhD Qualifying Exams  
  Natural Language Processing Deb Roy 
Spring 2001 Sensor Technologies for Interactive Env. Joe Paradiso 
Fall 2000 Pattern Recognition and Analysis Deb Roy 
  Modern Navigation Tom Herring 
Spring 2000 Probabilistic Systems Analysis John Tsitsiklis 
  The Society of Mind Marvin Minsky 
  Multilingual Computing Deb Roy 
Fall 1999 Laboratory Electronics P. Horowitz & T. Hayes 
  Experiences in Interactive Expression G. Davenport & S. Benton 
  Proseminar for PhD students  
 
Spring 1999 M.S. Graduate Thesis  
Fall 1998 Cognitive Artifacts and Architectures Whitman Richards 
Spring 1998 Software Agents Seminar Pattie Maes
  Mt. Everest Expedition Michael Hawley 
Fall 1997 Signals, Systems and Information for Media Tech. Roz Picard & Mike Bove 
  Digital Typography John Maeda 
  Conversational Computer Systems Chris Schmandt 



  Spring 2002
  Fall 2000
  Spring 2001
 
MAS.967 - Sensor Technologies for Interactive Environments
This class will explore sensor technologies for smart environments and interactive applications; giving students a broad introduction to state-of-the-art techniques, exposure to current research, and practical experience that will assist in developing and fielding such systems in their own work. We will introduce the principles and operation of many sensor families and discuss applications in computer-human interfaces, new musical instruments, medicine, environmental sensing, ubiquitous computing, and other current areas of interest.
Topics will include: Basic signal conditioning electronics for standard sensor systems; Pressure and force sensing; Piezoelectrics and related materials; Electric field sensing and inductive techniques; Optical sensing; Thermal and acoustic sensing; RF and microwave systems; Inertial and orientation sensing; Macroparticle, chemical, and environmental systems; Medical and radiation sensing; Digital sensor modules and emerging interface standards.
Joe Paradiso

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt


  Fall 2000
 
MAS 622J - Pattern Recognition and Analysis
Fundamentals of characterizing and recognizing patterns and features of interest in numerical data. Basic tools and theory for signal understanding problems with applications to user modeling, affect recognition, speech recognition and understanding, computer vision, physiological analysis, and more. Decision theory, statistical classification, maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation, non-parametric methods, unsupervised learning and clustering. Additional topics on machine and human learning from active research.
Deb Roy

12.215 - Modern Navigation
Introduces the concepts and applications of navigation techniques using celestial bodies and satellite positioning systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). Topics include astronomical observations, radio navigation systems, the relationship between conventional navigation results and those obtained from GPS, and the effects of the security systems, Selective Availability, and anti-spoofing on GPS results. Laboratory sessions cover the use of sextants, astronomical telescopes, and field use of GPS. Application areas covered include ship, automobile, and aircraft navigation and positioning, including very precise positioning applications.
Tom Herring

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt


  Spring 2000
 
6.431 - Probabilistic Systems Analysis
Modeling, quantification, and analysis of uncertainty. Formulation and solution in sample space. Random variables, transform techniques, simple random processes and their probability distributions, Markov processes, limit theorems, and elements of statistical inference. Interpretations, applications, and lecture demonstrations.
J. N. Tsitsiklis

6.868 - The Society of Mind
Introduction to a theory that tries to explain how minds are made from collections of simpler processes. Treats such aspects of thinking as vision, language, learning, reasoning, memory, consciousness, ideals, emotions, and personality. Incorporates ideas from psychology, artificial intelligence, and computer science to resolve theoretical issues such as wholes vs parts, structural vs functional descriptions, declarative vs procedural representations, symbolic vs connectionist models, and logical vs common-sense theories of learning.
Marvin Minsky

MAS 967 - Multilingual Computing
How might we build computers which can be used by everyone around the planet? The problems are complex. Thousands of languages are in active use worldwide. Almost a billion people are unable to read or write. Many languages don't even have a written form. Yet most interface technologies are tied to specific written languages. This course explores aspects of natural language and language technologies related to the theme of multilingual computing. Topics to be covered include: text, speech, and visual input and output; semantic representations; language translation and trans-lingual communication; language learning by humans and machines; open system development of language technologies; and applications of multilingual computing in developing nations. Readings will draw from a broad number of areas including artificial intelligence, speech processing, linguistics, and media studies.
Deb Roy

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt


  Fall 1999
 
Physics123 - Laboratory Electronics
A lab-intensive introduction to electronic circuit design. Develops circuit intuition and debugging skills through daily hands-on lab exercises, each preceded by class discussion with minimal use of mathematics and physics. The treatment moves quickly from passive circuits, through design with discrete transistors, then concentrates on the application of integrated operational amplifiers to make a variety of circuits including integrators, oscillators, regulators, and filters. The digital half of the course emphasizes the use of programmable logic devices, microprocessors, and microcontrollers, while treating issues that arise in interfacing both analog and digital devices to a computer. Provides an overview of radio and television, digital audio, signal averaging, and construction techniques.
Final project: build a micro-computer (
schematic )
Paul Horowitz and Thomas Hayes

MAS 879 - Experiences in Interactive Expression
Through discussions and presentations by visiting artists, this weekly seminar highlights the history of interactive digital art and contemporary issues in the field.
Glorianna Davenport, Stephen Benton

MAS 921 - Proseminar in Media Arts and Sciences
A seminar on Media Arts and Sciences, an emerging discipline. The seminar is conceived of as participation in the development of a new discipline as much as the study of it. Extensive reading list touches on antecedent disciplines (e.g., technologies of computational media, cognitive sciences, AI, theory of communication, design) and on the sociological, historical, and epistemological study of intellectual disciplines. Required of Ph.D. students in the Media Arts and Sciences Program.

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt


  Spring 1999
 
MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt
 
MAS ThG - Graduate Thesis
comMotion: a context-aware communication system


  Fall 1998
  Spring 1998
 
MAS 737 - Software Agents Seminar
This course presents an overview of the topic of software agents that assist users with daily computer-based tasks. We will define what an agent is and how agent software differs from regular software. We will review some of the approaches to building software agents, including the end-user programming approach, the knowledge-based approach and the machine learning approach. The majority of the time will be spent discussing specific examples of agents that have been built in the research community for a wide range of applications. We will discuss open questions such as privacy, legal issues, social implications, personification, etc.
Pattie Maes

MAS 890 - Mt. Everest Expedition
See
Research page for details.
Michael Hawley

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt


  IAP 1998 (Independent Activity Period)
 
9.95 - Cognitive NeuroScience
This course will include a series of lectures on the neural basis of cognition and behavior. The lectures will illustrate the interdisciplinary approach to these subjects that is the cutting edge of modern neuroscience. For most sessions, there will be a pair of lectures on a given topic. One lecture will summarize research on human cognition while the other will summarize research on the neural basis of those mechanisms using animal models. Topics will include memory, attention, visual recognition, perception, cognitive development, and learning.
Barton Anderson, Earl Miller


  Fall 1997
 
MAS 510 - Signals, Systems and Information for Media Technology
Fundamentals of signals, systems, and information theory with emphasis on modeling both the audio/visual message and the human recipient. Linear systems, difference equations, Z-transforms, sampling and sampling rate conversion, convolution, filtering, modulation, Fourier analysis, entropy, noise, Shannon's fundamental theorems. Additional topics may include data compression, filter design, and feature detection.
Rosalind Picard, Mike Bove

MAS 962 - Digital Typography
we use type on a daily basis without ever knowing much about its origins and craft. in this course we study the history and traditions of typography and their continuation into the digital domain. weekly studio problems will be given where students shall develop an intimate knowledge of typography and explore new directions in applications of digital technology in the context of typographic design.
John Maeda

MAS 632 - Conversational Computer Systems
Interaction with computer systems by voice, including speech synthesis, recognition, and digital recording techniques. Emphasis on human interface design issues and interaction techniques to successfully exploit the speech medium for computer applications, including extensive reading from current research literature. Topics include human speech production and perception, isolated and connected speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis algorithms, telephone technologies, parsers, and dialogue generation.
Chris Schmandt

MAS 910 - Research in Media Technology
Chris Schmandt