Artificial Intelligence Pioneer Joins WPI Game Faculty

  • By Paul McCloskey
  • 06/19/07
Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced that computer intelligence pioneer Charles Rich, associate director of the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) in Cambridge, MA, will join the university's "Interactive Media and Game Development" faculty July 1.

Rich will be appointed to the WPI computer science department. He was a founding member of MERL, which does "application-motivated" basic research in computer and communication technologies. Previously, he co-founded the Programmer's Apprentice project at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, where he worked on intelligent assistants for software engineering.

In his work, Rich has focused on having computers "behave" more like people. His most recent work at MERL explored how to simplify the way people operate household appliances and other devices. To that end, Rich led development of the "DiamondHelp" architecture, in which a large intelligent display is connected through a home network to help people manage multiple devices, such as heating and cooling systems, appliances, and home entertainment systems.
 
Michael Gennert, head of WPI's computer science department, said Rich would bring creative energy to the department. "His presence on the faculty immediately increases the visibility of the IMGD program, the department, and the university," said Gennert. "He is brimming with ideas and has an extensive record of turning those ideas into tangible results. We are indeed fortunate to have him."

Read More:

About the Author

Paul McCloskey is contributing editor of Syllabus.

Featured

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • cybersecurity analyst in a modern operations center monitors multiple digital screens showing padlock icons, graphs, and a global map with security markers

    Louisiana State University Doubles Down on Larger Student-Run SOC

    In an effort to provide students with increased access to real-world cybersecurity experience, Louisiana State University has expanded its relationship with cybersecurity solutions provider TekStream to launch TigerSOC, a new student-run security operations center.

  • flowing lines and geometric shapes representing data flow and analysis

    Complete College America Launches Center to Boost Data-Driven Student Success Strategies

    National nonprofit Complete College America (CCA) recently launched the Center for Leadership, Institutional Metrics, and Best Practices (CLIMB), with the goal of helping higher education institutions use data-driven strategies to improve student outcomes.

  • geometric pattern features abstract icons of a dollar sign, graduation cap, and document

    Maricopa Community Colleges Adopts Platform to Combat Student Application Fraud

    In an effort to secure its admissions and financial processes, Maricopa Community Colleges has partnered with A.M. Simpkins and Associates (AMSA) to implement the company's S.A.F.E (Student Application Fraudulent Examination) across the district's 10 institutions.