Title: Datafication of the World: People, Community, and Physical Space

Speaker: Dr. Eric CHANG
               Senior Director of Technology Strategy 
               Microsoft Research Asia

Date:     29 January 2015 (Thursday)
Time:     10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Venue:   Room 513, William M. W. Mong Engineering Building

Abstract:
While Big Data has become a popular phrase in recent years, in this talk, I will discuss how using data to better model, interpret, and represent the world has been a continual process throughout the ages. Data allow us to build models to understand how the world functions, so that we can make better predictions and decisions and view the world from new perspectives. I will use research projects from Microsoft Research Asia in the areas of graphics, HCI, healthcare, and urban informatics to illustrate how data provide novel and richer ways to engage with people, community, and the physical space.

About the speaker:
Dr. Eric Chang joined Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) in July, 1999 to work in the area of speech technologies. Eric is currently the Senior Director of Technology Strategy at MSR Asia, where his responsibilities include communications, IP portfolio management, and driving new research themes such as eHealth and urban informatics. Prior to joining Microsoft, Eric had worked in Nuance Communications, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Toshiba, and General Electric Corporate Research and Development. Eric graduated from MIT with Ph.D., Master and Bachelor degrees, all in the field of electrical engineering and computer science. Eric’s work has been reported by Wall Street Journal, Technology Review, and other publications.