CUNY Imaging and Visualization Conference, May 11, 2005

 

Imaging & Visualization Mini-Conference
Bridging the Gap between University Research and Business Applications


Wednesday, May 11th, 2005

Room C198, CUNY Graduate Center

5th Ave and 34th St, New York City

Keynote Speech

Bridging the Gap between Fundamental Research and Business Applications

Dr. Kent Wittenburg
VP & Director, Technology Laboratory

          Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories


Abstract
The primary function of MERL Technology Laboratory is to bridge the gap between fundamental research and business applications at a diverse electronics company. Mitsubishi Electric has businesses ranging from large-scale government systems (train & highway traffic control, satellites & radar, electric power equipment & systems) to medium-scale enterprise products (escalators & elevators, security systems, wall and stadium displays)  to consumer electronics (cell phones, projectors, automotive navigation units, high-definition televisions).  In this talk I will discuss the relationship of MERL to its parent company, which in many ways is analogous to the relationship of a university to its industry sponsors, but I will also discuss the relationship of universities to a corporate research lab like MERL.  I will draw from examples of ongoing MERL projects in imaging, visualization, and displays and discuss case studies of successful transitions from a gleam in a researcher's eye to product launch.  The journey from inception to conclusion is often winding and serendipitous, but after one has traveled a certain number of these roads, patterns begin to emerge.

More information on MERL and the MERL Technology Laboratory can be found at http://www.merl.com.  A list of ongoing projects in computer vision, digital television, and off-the-desktop interaction and display may be found at http://www.merl.com/projects.

Bio:
After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, Kent Wittenburg worked at the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC), Bellcore, and Verizon/GTE laboratories before joining MERL. In the early part of his research career, he developed methods and prototypes for natural language understanding systems that had absolutely no impact on any business applications, an experience that he has vowed never again to repeat. Since then his research turned to a variety of  human-computer interaction technologies including rapid serial visual presentation, multidimensional information visualization, visual languages for diagrams, and spoken queries. He managed groups in natural language interfaces and internet technologies prior to joining MERL as group manager of speech and HCI. Kent become director of MERL's Cambridge Systems Lab in 2002 and then director of MERL's Technology Lab at its inception in 2003.