In 2005, mankind created 150 exabytes of data. In 2010, we created 1,200 exabytes.
The task of organizing this information is a technical challenge. The task of making meaning of this information is a social and cultural one.
Our lab works on models for information retrieval and processing that work from both angles. We build sociotechnical tools that aim to create substantive human connections as part of the process of data analysis.
Our current focus is on developing programming languages for social computation. Our aim is to develop languages that enable efficient and decentralized coordination of people and machines for complex information tasks.
We're looking for hackers, designers, and theoreticians. Almost everybody should have a strong background in CS, as all students will be involved in implementing their ideas.
Qualities that we prize:
- demonstrated ability to build things;
- expertise in two disciplines (for example, cs theory and psychology, or visual design and client-side hacking);
- programming chops (even better if they're demonstrated by substantive open-source contributions);
- thoughtfulness and joie-de-vivre;
- and, it should go without saying: exceptional commitment and work ethic.
