- Alex Pentland
Alex (“Sandy”) Pentland is the Toshiba Professor at MIT, a serial [http://web.media.mit.edu/~sandy/CV.html entrepreneur] , and is one of the most-cited [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/stats/authors authors in computer science] . Pentland obtained his Ph.D. from MIT in 1981, was Lecturer at Stanford University in both Computer Science and Psychology, and joined the MIT faculty in 1986, where he became Academic Head of the Media Laboratory and received the Toshiba Chair in Media Arts and Sciences.
Sandy's research group is the MIT [http://hd.media.mit.edu Human Dynamics Lab] , which focuses on the development of human-centered technology, and the creation of ventures that take this technology into the real world. This research attempts to provide people with a clearer picture of their social environment, and helps companies and communities to reinvent themselves to be both more human and productive.
Pentland also co-directs the [http://dl.media.mit.edu Digital Life Consortium] within the
MIT Media Laboratory , a group of more than twenty multinational corporations exploring new ways to innovate, and is founder and Director of the [http://web.mit.edu/de MIT Program in Development and Entrepreneurship] , established to support aspiring entrepreneurs inemerging markets . In 1997, Newsweek magazine named him one of the [http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1997/here2-there-0430.html 100 Americans likely to shape the century] .Recent honors include his work being chosen as one of the Top Ten Emerging Technologies by Technology Review for [http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialsections&sc=emerging08&id=20247 Reality Mining] , the [http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2008/_STORY/080902-01-e.html Carlos Ghosn Award] for automotive design, and the [http://www.fhti.org/awards_frame.htm Future of Health Technology Award] for `honest signals’ health assessment technology.
Recent spin-off companies from his research group include [http://www.sensenetworks.com Sense Networks] , [http://www.cogitohealth.com Cogito Health] , [http://www.cellbazaar.com Cellbazaar] , and [http://www.unitedvillages.com United Villages] .
His most recent book is [http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Signals-They-Shape-World/dp/0262162563 Honest Signals] , published by MIT Press.
External links
Compilations of Pentland's publications, video interviews, and current research:
:
* [http://web.media.mit.edu/~sandy MIT Home Page and link to MIT Human Dynamics research group]
* [http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Alex%20Pentland&page=1 Books Published]
* [http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/indices/a-tree/p/Pentland:Alex.html Computer Science Papers]
* [http://web.media.mit.edu/~sandy/videos.html Reporting on Pentland's research (video)]
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