David Merrill

I recently defended my Ph.D. in the Fluid Interfaces group at the MIT Media Lab. My background is in Cognitive Science and Computer Science, and my work explores how our interactions with computation can leave the limitations of the desktop interface behind. I develop physical-digital tools that operate comfortably in our real-world environment to enable new forms of expressivity, problem-solving and collaboration. more...

research interests

physically embodied, sensor-rich interfaces to computers
mobile interaction with information
tools supporting digital collaboration
gestural interfaces
human-computer interaction (HCI)
ubiquitous / pervasive computing
new electronic music interfaces, live performance and improvisation

current project: siftables

Siftables is a platform for physical interaction with information and media. Each Siftable has sensing, feedback, and wireless communication capabilities, making them a mashup of tangible interface and sensor network. The platform is a collaboration with Jeevan Kalanithi, and my thesis is exploring new interactions with digital content that Siftables enable. Click here for more information...

other work (more...)

The Sound of Touch is a new instrument for real-time capture and sensitive physical stimulation of sound samples using digital convolution. The ability to flexibly capture and sculpt audio is characteristic of digital tools; our system enables physical and continuous sound manipulation typical of acoustic instruments and found objects. The Sound of Touch is a collaboration with Hayes Raffle and Roberto Aimi.

news

March 2009: Jeevan Kalanithi and I will be speaking at O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference (ETech) in San Jose, CA.

11/19/2008: I'll be speaking at Future Forward, in Weston MA.

10/2/2008: I spoke at the California College of the Arts (10/2) and Stanford (10/3) this week.
[details on Stanford talk]

9/15/2008: I defended my thesis! The title: Gestural Interaction with Embodied Media.

7/27/2008: Siftables featured in a Boston Globe innovation economy article
Rethinking display technology

June 2008: Siftables recognized with honorable mention by ID Magazine's Student Design Review! (Sept / Oct '08 issue) [click here]

more...