Michael
Harris
Click here for a printable chronological resume
PROJECTS
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Demos, videos, credits, and references are available on request.
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At the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge MA, I developed and enhanced the WSD web-based front end for the FAA's ETMS air traffic management system. ETMS is in daily use at the White House, the Pentagon, Air Force One, and military and civilian air traffic control centers worldwide. |
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The NCR Financial Knowledge Lab in London is a "corporate theme park" created to generate foresight and promote learning about financial consumers. The Lab hosts research programs, seminars, workshops, web based colloquia, and media events. Visitors come from all over the world. I was co-leader of the multinational team that conceived, planned and constructed the Lab. I led the design and development of all the interactive installations and exhibits; one is shown here. I engineered and directed the realization of the infrastructure, and was the first WebMaster for the Lab web sites and extranet. |
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SIMNET is the pioneering large-scale networked simulation-based training environment ("The world’s first operational virtual reality," said Bruce Sterling in Wired). Hundreds of SIMNET simulators are in daily use at dozens of sites worldwide. Derivatives and spinoffs include distributed training and multi-player gaming systems. I contributed to the original SIMNET proposals and prototypes, and to many demos and exercises. I worked on the overall media architecture, developed media creation and delivery tools, and created training scenarios. I produced aircraft simulation systems (a prototype is shown) and reconfigurable control suites.
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Wired Retail Network built bridges between internet and brick-and-mortar retailing in high-traffic pedestrian environments, enabling merchants, advertisers and real estate investors to delight and expand their customer bases. Interactive and broadcast services were delivered through kiosks in malls (shown), and through the internet from anywhere. I was Chief Technology Officer and User Experience Strategist. |
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TRIO, a Trainer for F-14 Radar Intercept Operators, tutors problem-solving methods and trains RIOs to react quickly when confronted with radar warnings. The student's solutions to air-intercept problems are compared to the solutions generated by articulate adaptive expert ("critic") software and multiple real-time simulations. Interaction is entirely by speech synthesis and speech recognition. I was the lead media architect and developer, and aviation subject matter liaison. |
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Javalon is an integrated enterprise management system for rental property groups. The "consumer visible" portion provides services for prospective and current tenants via kiosks, external web sites and on-site web sites. I was hands-on Project Leader and Information Architect, directly involved in boardroom-level client relationship management as well as design, engineering, development, and deployment. |
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The Smart Trainer is a simulation-based intelligent tutor and performance support system for the gas pipeline industry. It features adaptive curriculum generation and dynamically assembled digital media. I negotiated and won the engagement contract, led the development of proof-of-concept systems, evolved a platform architecture, and built production prototypes. The Smart Trainer is now the key product of a new training company. |
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CathLab-11 Cardiac Catheterization Monitoring System: I led the development effort for this interactive real-time surgical support software package, on-site in The Netherlands. In addition to exercising my technical and leadership skills, this assignment required me to perform multilingual (Dutch and English) interface design and component level debugging of prototype hardware. |
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Retail User Assistant. I founded the NCR Adaptive Dynamic Interface Group to create interactive systems that fit their users: "The machine, not the person, changes behavior to accomplish a task." The Retail User Assistant was NCR's first adaptive performance support system, and I led the project from conception and evangelism through development and field test. Many elements of this powerful technology are now being delivered in NCR products. |
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Atomic Castle is a coin-op game released by Stern. It features laserdisc based video and audio, integrated with digital graphics and sound, and is now a "classic." I was Technical Director of the team of game designers, media developers and technologists that produced this and other laserdisc based coin-op games. |
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Flanders: Sponsored by a major New York art museum, I developed this portable infrared reflectography imaging system for analyzing early Nederlandish panel paintings. Infrared imaging can reveal the underdrawings that lie below the paint surfaces. Here Portrait of a Man, painted about 1540, is being examined. |
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Advanced Department Store is an interactive training course, reference aid, and "leave-behind" for NCR Corporation's international sales and marketing personnel. It describes a suite of interrelated NCR products and services, and features "ask-the-expert" scenarios. I led this development effort, which was completed in ten days. |
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Archaeology Data Acquisition and Management System (ADAM). I designed and prototyped this portable tool set and performance support system for archaeological site excavations. ADAM captures and integrates positional data, calibrated images, voice and text annotations, and other information to help field workers successfully preserve precious cultural evidence. |
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The Multimedia Showcase kiosk demonstrates the power of multimedia as it presents information on NCR Corporation’s history, culture and products. It delivers digital and analog media, and interacts via a touch-sensitive 3-D model illuminated by dynamically-generated projections. I conceived and developed the Showcase. |
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The AS&E/Pfizer Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner performs high resolution X-ray scanning of the human body for diagnosis and research. I developed user interfaces, device drivers and image processing software for this instrument. Over 100 units are in daily use, and derivative technologies are found in most medical scanning systems. |
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Group Performance Systems was formed to create interactive systems that help people communicate and work together with skill, ease and success. We developed YouWin! and SuperlaTeam to deliver effective and lasting training in "soft skills": conflict management, coping with difficult people, dealing with diversity, interpersonal communication, team building, facilitation, etc. |
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FOG-M Embedded Trainer: Ideally, "embedded" training is so tightly integrated into a system that users cannot distinguish between training and operating modes. To achieve this, simulated sensory cues and system responses must exactly mimic the "real thing." I contributed to the concepts underlying Embedded Training and developed software, scenarios and media for its operational embodiment in the FOG-M missile guidance system. |
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Virtual Retail is an interactive simulation that demonstrates innovative methods for intuitively navigating huge databases for web-hosted electronic commerce. The concept has spawned several new products at NCR Corporation and elsewhere. I designed scenarios and produced media for Virtual Retail and its companion piece, Virtual Bank. Virtual Retail is featured at Living Tomorrow, a permanent exhibition in Brussels. |
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HEAO-2 (Einstein) High-Energy Astrophysics Satellite: I developed operational control software, interactive data capture interfaces and image processing algorithms for instruments aboard this NASA research platform. A HEAO-2 X-ray image of the Perseus cluster of galaxies is shown here. |
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I was the first WebMaster for the NCR Human Interface Technology Center website. The Center has since been absorbed into other NCR Corporation divisions. Click here to see fragments of the original site design and content. |
I wrote Entertainment Driven Collaboration, originally presented at the SIGGRAPH conference and published in the journal Computer Graphics. It appears as a chapter in Dodsworth's book Digital Illusion, now in its fourth edition.
I co-authored Issues in Practical Application of an Adaptive Interface, presented at the International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces.
My colleagues and I organized and conducted workshops on Human Interaction Issues in Technology Supported Environments at CSCW '94 and COOCS '95.
I organized and moderated panels on Advanced Interface Modalities and Natural and Invisible Interfaces at SIGGRAPH conferences.
I wrote The Marriage of Computer Graphics and Video, a paper that grew out of courses given at BBN Inc. and elsewhere, and have presented it at several conferences and workshops.
I have delivered papers and posters, taught courses, and served on panels and organizing committees at many conferences: SIGCHI, SIGGRAPH, CSCW, COOCS , IUI, VRAIS, Groupware, and NCGA.
I have been a Human Interface Consultant on product development initiatives for Intel, Schott Glass GmbH, AT&T, NCR, HP, and many other organizations.
I have produced hundreds of videos, presentations and interactives for use as marketing tools, concept proofs, demos, prototypes, and progress reports.
As a producer, lighting designer, scenic designer, technical director, and theater engineer, I have been involved in over 400 performance events – live theater, dance, music, TV, trade shows, interactive installations, spectacles.
I am an aircraft Certified Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor.
More information, demos, videos, credits, and references are available on request.
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