60 Wadsworth Street Apt 3G Cambridge MA, 02142 Micah Eckhardt [email protected]
Research Statement
My research focuses on (1) the design and implementation of participatory learning technologies (2) immersive-interactive stories (3) language and social-emotional communication (4) assistive and learning technology for children diagnosed with autism.
Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, September 2008 - Present Doctor of Philosophy, Media Art and Science (MIT Media Lab), June 2015 Master’s of Science, Media Art and Science (MIT Media Lab), June 2010 Master’s Thesis: Eyes Up: Influencing Social Gaze Through Play Advisor: Rosalind Picard, Affective Computing
University of California, San Diego, September 2003 - March 2006 Bachelor of Science, Cognitive Science Minors: Computer Science, Mathematics
Employment
Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA 08/08 - Present Research Assistant, Affective Computing Group Primary responsibility is the creation and research of innovative technologies. I am also responsible for the mentoring, and managing of undergraduate researchers and a staff engineer. Furthermore, I have responsibility for helping maintain relations with high-level corporate sponsors of the MIT Media Lab. The following highlights my work.
StoryScape Development of an interactive and immersive story platform capable of connecting the physical environment to the digital story world. Platform integrates mobile, web, and hardware technologies. Research on its use with a wide range of children, age and ability, with a particular focus on story co-creation with children diagnosed with autism.
FrameIt: A blended digital-tangible puzzle game designed to help children diagnosed with autism look at faces and understand emotional expressions. Fabricated custom parts, electronics, and developed software.
BobblyBot Robots: Design, fabrication and testing of a modular-plush robots for use with children. Required skills in user-centered design, plastic molding, electronics, and textiles.
United States Department of State Assistive Technology Outreach: Requested by the DoS to take part in a inaugural outreach program to promote assistive technologies in Turkey. I worked with the DoS, and Turkish leaders in the autism and assistive learning communities as a means of knowledge sharing. Conducted two assistive technology innovation workshops for local leaders.
Co-organizer of inaugural Sierra Leone Youth Innovation Competition: Traveled to Sierra Leone to work with local government officials, news organizations, and youth throughout the country to organize the largest youth innovation competition in Sierra Leone.
MIT Media Lab Inaugural India Initiative: Chosen as an instructor for the inaugural MIT Media Lab India Initiative held in Pune, India. Worked with 40 engineering and design students to develop working prototypes of innovative technologies addressing local problems.
Machine Perception Laboratory, University of California San Diego, CA 08/05 - 6/08 Staff Research Assistant Primary responsibility software engineering and research. The following highlights my work.
Facial Feature Detector: Developed a state of the art facial feature detection system implementing a hierarchical Viola-Jones approach. Facial feature detector was later part of machine vision packaged integrated onto sony cameras.
Robotics: Developed an autonomous robot for teaching toddlers language. First work to show the use of an autonomous robot for teaching language to toddlers.
Awards/Leadership
IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing (TAFFC) reviewer 2010 Personal and Ubiquitous Computing (PUC) reviewer 2010 Winner of the MIT-Bank of America ATM redesign contest 2009 Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) reviewer 2009 International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Pattern Recognition (IJPRAI) reviewer 2008 Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship (CSEMS) 2005-2006 Invited Talks
UMass Medical School, Shriver Center 2014 ABAI Panel Speaker, Chicago 2014 Northeastern University, Graduate Clinician support 2013 Aspen Ideas Festival 2012 Istanbul Technical University 2012
Publications
Eckhardt M., Ferguson C. and Picard R. W., "A Platform for Creating Stories Across Digital and Physical Boundaries," Work in Progress of the 8th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction. ACM, Munich, Germany, February 2014
M. Eckhardt, C. Ferguson, R. Picard, “StoryScape: A Platform for Supporting Communication and Language,” CHI Workshop on Supporting Children with Complex Communication Needs. Vancouver, Canada 2014
M. Eckhardt, E. McVay, R. Picard, “The Missing Data of the App Phenomena,” In the Extended Abstract of IMFAR, Atlanta, USA, 2014. Abstract, Poster
M. Eckhardt, M. Goodwin, and R.W. Picard, "Eyes Up: Interactive Tangible-Digital Puzzles for Learning about Eyes; in the Extended Abstract of IMFAR 2010, Philadelphia, PA, USA, May 20-22, 2010
J. Movellan, M . Eckhardt, Marjo Virnes and A. Rodriguez. “Sociable Robot Improves Toddler Vocabulary Skills” Late Breaking Abstract, ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, 2009.
M. Eckhardt, and R.W. Picard, “A More Effective Way to Label Affective Expressions,” International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (Demo Session), 2009.
K. Kim, M . Eckhardt, N. Bugg, R. W. Picard, “The Benefits of Synchronized Genuine Smiles in Face-to-Face Service Encounters,” IEEE International Conference on Computational Science and Engineering, vol. 4, pp. 801-808, 2009.
M.R. Eckhardt, I.R. Fasel and J.R. Movellan. “Towards Practical Facial Feature Detection” International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence Volume 23, 2009.
M. Madsen, R. el Kaliouby, M . Eckhardt, M. Hoque, M. Goodwin, and R.W. Picard, “Lessons from Participatory Design with Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum” Proc. Computer Human Interaction, CHI 2009.
M. Eckhard, M. Madsen, Y. Kashef, A. Nasser, M. Hoque., R. el Kaliouby, M. Goodwin, and R.W. Picard, "User-Centered Design of Technology for Just-In-Time, In-Situ Exploration of Facial Affect for Persons on the Autism Spectrum" in the Extended Abstract of IMFAR 2009.
E. Hedman, M . Eckhardt, M.Z. Poh, M. Goodwin, L.J. Miller, B. Brett-Green, S.A. Schoen, M.D. Nielsen, and R.W. Picard "Heart Rate Variability and Electrodermal Activity in Children with Atypical Sensory Processing: Exploratory Pattern Analysis" in the Extended Abstract of IMFAR 2009.
J.R. Movellan, F. Tanaka, I. Fasel, C. Taylor, P. Ruvolo and M . Eckhardt. The RUBI project: a progress report, Proc. ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, 2007.