Alex Pentland
Encyclopedia
Alex Pentland is the Toshiba
Professor at MIT
, a serial entrepreneur, and is one of the most cited 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.
Pentland's research 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.
He directs the MIT Human Dynamics Lab, helping companies to become more productive and creative through organizational engineering, and oversees the Next Billion Network, established to support aspiring entrepreneurs in emerging markets, and the EPROM entrepreneurship program in Africa. In 1997, Newsweek magazine named him one of the 100 Americans likely to shape the century.
Recent honors include his Honest Signals research being chosen as a Breakthrough Idea of the Year by Harvard Business Review, his Reality Mining research being chosen as one of the Top Ten Emerging Technologies by Technology Review, the Carlos Ghosn Award for automotive interface design, and the Future of Health Technology Award for `honest signals’ health assessment technology.
Recent spin-off companies from his research group include Sense Networks
, Cogito Health, and United Villages.
His most recent book is Honest Signals, published by MIT Press.
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
Professor at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, a serial entrepreneur, and is one of the most cited authors in computer science. Pentland obtained his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from MIT in 1981, was Lecturer at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in both computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, 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.
Pentland's research 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.
He directs the MIT Human Dynamics Lab, helping companies to become more productive and creative through organizational engineering, and oversees the Next Billion Network, established to support aspiring entrepreneurs in emerging markets, and the EPROM entrepreneurship program in Africa. In 1997, Newsweek magazine named him one of the 100 Americans likely to shape the century.
Recent honors include his Honest Signals research being chosen as a Breakthrough Idea of the Year by Harvard Business Review, his Reality Mining research being chosen as one of the Top Ten Emerging Technologies by Technology Review, the Carlos Ghosn Award for automotive interface design, and the Future of Health Technology Award for `honest signals’ health assessment technology.
Recent spin-off companies from his research group include Sense Networks
Sense Networks
Sense Networks is a New York City based company with a focus on applications that analyze big data from mobile phones, carrier networks, and taxicabs, particularly by using machine learning technology to make sense of large amounts of location data.In 2009, Sense was named one of "The 25 Most...
, Cogito Health, and United Villages.
His most recent book is Honest Signals, published by MIT Press.