July 14, 2014 - July 15, 2014

Design Expo 2014

Location: Microsoft

Design Expo Links:

About Design Expo
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Each year, Microsoft Research sponsors a semester-long class at leading design schools. Students are asked to form interdisciplinary teams of two to four students to design a user experience prototype that solves a real-world problem. From these groups, a representative team from each school presents its work to Microsoft.

2014 Design Challenge

In a world with a billion sensors, how will we make sense of it all?

In our daily lives we encounter sensors all the time, like when a motion sensor turns a light on in a dark place, or when a carbon monoxide detector tell us that the air is becoming hazardous. Sensors extend our abilities to see, hear, and feel far beyond what we ourselves can take in—from arrays of telescopes sensing the edges of the universe to nano-scale biological sensors amplifying our own sense of smell.

In a world with a billion sensors, how will we make sense of it all?

How will sensors change the way we perceive not only our environment but ourselves and others?

How will sensors change the way we live and work?

What interfaces, services, devices and experiences will be necessary to make sense of it all and avoid sensory overload?

What are key problems this data can be used to help solve, what new troubles can we anticipate it creates?

Participating schools and projects

  1. Escola Superior De Desenho Industrial (opens in new tab), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    [video (opens in new tab), slides]
    Professors: Marcos Martins, Elianne Jobim, Noni, Geiger, Rodolfo Capeto
    Microsoft Liaison: Melissa Quintanilha
    Project: Platform, a collaborative information system for subway stations
  2. New York University, Interactive Telecommunications Program (opens in new tab), New York, NY, United States
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professor: Liesje Hodgson
    Microsoft Liaisons: Cindy Wong, Kati London
    Project: Eade, a research toy for early autism detection & diagnosis
  3. Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) (opens in new tab), Media Innovation Lab, Herzliya, Israel
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professors: Oren Zuckerman, Noa Morag, Guy Hoffman
    Microsoft Liaisons: Ruth Kikin-Gil, Adi Diamant
    Project: Tilt-iT: A game device that helps kids to improve physical imbalance issues
  4. Carnegie Mellon University (opens in new tab), Department of Design, Pittsburg, PA, United States
    [video (opens in new tab), slides]
    Professors: Peter Scupelli, Bruce Hanington
    Microsoft Liaisons: Jane Park, Annika Ushio
    Project: Grassroots, a platform for neighbors to connect by creating and sharing data from the neighborhood’s sensor network
  5. University of Washington, Interactive Design Program (opens in new tab), Seattle, WA, United States
    [video (opens in new tab), slides]
    Professor: Axel Roesler
    Microsoft Liaisons: Nathan Auer, March Rogers
    Project: Vive Band: Keep young people safe during high risk situations
  6. Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Product Design (opens in new tab), Copenhagen, Denmark
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professor: Troels Degn Johansson
    Microsoft Liaison: Jakob Nielsen
    Project: Navi-Band: A tool toy for safety, navigation and play.
  7. Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (opens in new tab), Copenhagen, Denmark
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professors: Alie Rose, Simona Maschi
    Microsoft Liaison: Haiyan Zhang
    Project: Selective Reality: An approach with augmented reality with tone
  8. Goldsmiths (opens in new tab), University of London, United Kingdom
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professor: Tobie Kerridge
    Microsoft Liaisons: Richard Banks, Tim Regan
    Project: Wired Eye: A kaleidoscope for viewing aerial shots of data centers
  9. Art Center College of Design (opens in new tab), Pasadena, CA, United States
    [video (opens in new tab), slides (opens in new tab)]
    Professors: Phil Van Ellen, Ben Hooker
    Microsoft Liasons: Colleen Estrada, Joyce Chou, Malek Chalabi
    Project: The Future of Wearable Services: A Proposal for a Pop-Up Sensor Nail Salon

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