Maribeth Back is a technology researcher and designer. She builds
real-world, socially informed exploratory applications for new
technologies. As a senior research scientist at FXPAL and Xerox PARC, her methodology
has been creating robust working prototypes that employ innovative ideas
and technology, and then testing them with proven user-centered
evaluation techniques. Research areas include applied ubiquitous
computing, multi-modal interfaces, and audio systems design and
engineering.
Her work has included:
- Everyday interfaces and social design for wireless and mobile systems
- Usable ubiquitous computing systems for next-generation conference
rooms
- Novel reading devices for assisted and general reading
- Multi-modal information display (sonification, visualization,
tactile, haptic)
- User-centered design analysis and contextual evaluation
- Sound design and audio engineering for interactive and
augmented environments
- Informatics design for advanced medical research systems
Back completed her doctorate at Harvard's Graduate School of Design in
May 1996, and spent more than five years in ubiquitous computing
research at Xerox PARC. Currently she heads the Usable Smart
Environments group at FX Palo Alto Laboratory, working on usability in
ubiquitous systems for conference room environments.
history
- Senior Research Scientist, FX Palo Alto Laboratory.
Lead, Usable Smart Environments group, focused on applied ubiquitous
computing in the workplace. Current project is the USE conference room
system, designed to allow walk-in-and-use capabilities for highly
functional next-generation conference rooms. Designed and deployed robust prototype in September 2006.
The USE system features an
easy-to-use "smart room" with mobile device integration; rich
multi-screen, multi-user teleconferencing; document sharing; digital
whiteboard and annotation; secure authentication systems including
biometrics and RFID; and a unique extensible architecture. 2005 - 2006.
- CEO/founder, The Reading Lab.
The Reading Lab focuses on innovative reading and writing technologies.
Projects include design consulting; prototyping assistive reading
devices for people with motor control difficulties; designing exhibits
for science and technology museums; and creating custom readers for the
general public. 2002 - 2005.
- Senior Member of the Research Staff, Xerox PARC.
Project lead on a number of ubiquitous computing projects. Multi-sensory
research, application design and system prototyping in RED (Research in
Experimental Documents), a multi-disciplinary group specializing in
prototyping applications for new technologies. RED produced the touring
museum exhibition "XFR: Experiments in the Future of Reading," which has
resulted in eleven patents and many publications and has been seen
by hundreds of thousands of people. Several other projects at PARC have
also resulted in patents and subsequent publication. Active participation in
several research communities through publishing, presenting, organizing,
and reviewing (notably CHI, IEEE, SIGGRAPH, UIST, ICAD, Web3D, AES).
1996-2002.
- MIT Media Lab. Researcher, instrument/physical interface
designer, audio engineer and sound designer for the Brain Opera, an
interactive electronic opera performed at Lincoln Center and Ars
Electronica. Fifty-four instances of nine novel computer instruments were designed and
deployed for use. 1995-1996.
- Harvard Graduate School of Design. Researcher, the Advanced
Health Care
Initiative. Medical informatics and embedded systems. Principal
Investigator, Dr. Daniel Schodek, 1994-96.
- Interval Research Corporation Research intern, Palo Alto, CA,
summer
1995.
- Harvard Graduate School of Design. Researcher, Surgical Room
of the Future project. Principal Investigator Kenneth Kaplan, 1993-94.
- Harvard University, Adjunct faculty. American Repertory
Theatre, resident sound designer/engineer, Cambridge, MA, 1989-1993.
Created the sound environment (design and engineering) for the Mainstage and New Stages
productions, and supervised the audio facilities.
Taught sound design and audio engineering
seminars as well as directing design work for student productions at
Harvard University and at the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at
Harvard, a professional training program.
- Professional work prior to 1989 ranged from radio announcing
and production to music engineering to sound design for professional
theater, museum installations, and interaction design. Spent years in
commercial radio as a producer/announcer (in Texas and Alaska); as a
promoter, producer and announcer for KUAC-FM, a public radio station in
Fairbanks, Alaska; and as a staff studio engineer for Big Apple Studios,
a major recording studio in Manhattan. Other engineering work includes
production engineering and satellite board operation for NBC Radio in
New York and the pioneering of one of the first computerized sound
systems at The Empty Space Theatre in Seattle. Other theatrical work
includes acting, design, musical direction, and/or musical performance
for more than a hundred and fifty shows on both Coasts.