David Merrill

I am a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Ambient Intelligence 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
tools supporting digital collaboration
gestural interaction
responsive environments
incorporating real materials into interaction with digital content
human-computer interaction (HCI)
ubiquitous / pervasive computing
new electronic music interfaces, live performance and improvisation

current project

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

my travel 2008:
Mar 17-18UC Santa Cruz
Mar 20Nokia Research
Mar 26PARC
Apr 5-13CHI 2008
Apr 21UC Merced
Apr CCA
Apr 25Oregon State
May 1-2CMU West

February 2008: Manufacturing a run of Siftables for my own work and collaborations with researchers in academia and industry.

December 2007: The Sound of Touch was installed in the Collision 12 art+technology show in the MIT Stata Center, Cambridge MA.

more...