Digital Life

Andrea Thomaz Named "Brilliant 10"

Atlanta, GA (September 14, 2012) — The top-tier science magazine, Popular Science, has named Andrea Thomaz, assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing, one of 2012’s “Brilliant 10,” an award given by the publication to ten scientists under 40 whose innovations will change the world.  Thomaz, along with nine other researchers, is featured in the October issue of the magazine.

As Director of the College of Computing’s Socially Intelligent Machines research lab, Thomaz ‘s research focuses on all aspects of human-robot interaction and, specifically, on machines that learn new tasks and goals from ordinary people in everyday environments. This research works from the assumption that machines meant to learn from people can better take advantage of the ways in which people naturally approach teaching.

Through the development of new computational models, Thomaz is working to build machines that participate in social learning environments.  As a result, she has improved the performance of a machine's learning behavior through attention to human interaction and improving the experience of the human teacher by designing interactive learning algorithms based on how people teach, in order to develop a smooth human-robot relationship. Thomaz’s work with robotics opens up a wider world of personal robotics, in which machines are doing anything their owners can program them to do—without actually being programmers.

In 2009, Thomaz was awarded the prestigious “MIT Tech Review 2009 Young Innovators Under 35” for her work in robot-human interaction and the development of Simon.  Additionally, she has been named a College of Computing Professor of Excellence for her outstanding contributions to the Institute and to her field of study. Thomaz holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For more information contact:

Michaelanne Dye

mdye@cc.gatech.edu

404-385-4015

Photos

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  • Andrea Thomaz
  • Simon

Faculty

  • Amy Bruckman

    Amy Bruckman

    Associate Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Educational Technology, Social Networking/Online Communities, Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook, Internet Research Ethics, Human Computer Interaction, Human Computer Interaction for Kids

  • Carl DiSalvo

    Carl DiSalvo

    Assistant Professor
    School of Literature, Communication and Culture, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

    Areas of Expertise:
    Participatory Design, Critical Design, Design Studies, Robotics and Sensing in Art and Community Settings

  • Keith Edwards

    Keith Edwards

    Associate Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Social Impacts of Technology, Home Network Security, Home Networking, Human-Computer Interaction

  • Irfan Essa

    Irfan Essa

    Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
    School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

    Areas of Expertise:
    Computational Video, Computational Photography, Computational Journalism, Computational Media, Computational Perception

  • Beki Grinter

    Beki Grinter

    Associate Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Societal Impacts of Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Supported Cooperative Work

  • Renu Kulkarni

    Renu Kulkarni

    Executive Director, FutureMedia

    Areas of Expertise:
    Convergence of digital, social, mobile and multimedia industries, Strategic Alliances, Industry Partnerships, Open Innovation Practices

  • Blair MacIntyre

    Blair MacIntyre

    Associate Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
    School of Literature Communication and Culture, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

    Areas of Expertise:
    Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mobile Games, Social Games, Augmented Reality Games, Video Game Design, Video Game Architecture

  • Ali Mazalek

    Ali Mazalek

    Assistant Professor
    School of Literature, Communication and Culture, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

    Areas of Expertise:
    Tangible Interfaces, Experimental Media, Media Arts, Interaction Design, Emerging Technologies

  • Janet Murray

    Janet H. Murray

    Ivan Allen College Dean's Professor
    School of Literature, Communication and Culture, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

    Areas of Expertise:
    Game Design, Interactive Narrative, Interactive Television, Media Convergence, Information Design, Digital Media and Education

  • Elizabeth Mynatt

    Elizabeth Mynatt

    Director, GVU Center
    Professor, School of Interactive Computing
    Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and Initiatives
    College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Centered Computing, Health Informatics, Ubiquitous Computing, Assistive Technologies

  • Ashwin Ram

    Ashwin Ram

    Associate Professor
    School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Case-Based Reasoning, Natural Language, & Game/Entertainment AI), Human-Centered Computing - Cognitive Science, Healthcare Informatics

  • Bruce Walker

    Bruce Walker

    Associate Professor
    School of Psychology, College of Sciences School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing

    Areas of Expertise:
    Interactive Music, Mobile Music, Human-Computer Interaction, Auditory Perception, Psychology