Ronald M. Baecker

photo by Louis Fabian Bachrach

Ronald M. Baecker

Professor of Computer Science, Bell Chair in Human-Computer Interaction, University of Toronto

  • Biography
  • Current Duties & Activities
  • Current Research & Publications
  • Research Team
  • Research Sponsors
  • Contact Information
  • Publications

 

Biography

Ronald Baecker is Professor of Computer Science, Bell Universities Laboratories Chair in Human-Computer Interaction, and founder, founding director, chief scientist, and interim director of the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto. He is also Affiliate Scientist with the Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit of Baycrest (formerly, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care), Adjunct Scientist with Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and Principal Investigator of the $5.5M Canada-wide NSERC Network for Effective Collaboration Technologies through Advanced Research (NECTAR). He has been named one of the 60 Pioneers of Computer Graphics by ACM SIGGRAPH, has been elected to the CHI Academy by ACM SIGCHI, and has been given the Canadian Human Computer Communications Society Achievement Award in May 2005. His B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Baecker is an active researcher, lecturer, and consultant on human-computer interaction and user interface design, user support, software visualization, multimedia, computer-supported cooperative work and learning, the Internet, entrepreneurship and strategic planning in the software industry, and the role of information technology in business. He has published over 125 papers and articles on topics in these areas. He is also the author or co-author of two published videotapes and of four books:

  • "Reading in Human-Computer Interaction: A Multidisciplinary Approach",
  • "Human Factors in Typography for More Readable Programs",
  • "Readings in Groupware and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Facilitating Human-Human Collabortation", and
  • "Reading in Human-Computer Interaction: Towards the Year 2000".

He is the co-holder of 2 patents. Professor Baecker was the founder, CEO, and Chairman of HCR Corporation, a Toronto-based UNIX contract R&D and technology development and marketing firm, sold in 1990 to a U.S. competitor.  He was also the founder of Expresto Software Corp, a firm specializing in structured visual communication explaining software and other complex technology. Expresto Software was sold in 2002 to Caseware International.  His most recent entrepreneurial venture was a virtual non-profit foundation within the University of Toronto to distribute and support the open source ePresence Interactive Media system, which has now led to the formation of a start-up delivering ePresence products, services, and solutions.

Current Duties & Activities

NECTAR

Network for Effective Collaboration Technologies through Advanced Research (NECTAR), Principal Investigator, 2004 - present.

NECTAR is an NSERC Research Network focused on collaboration technologies. Its vision is to investigate technological and social issues to make computer-supported collaboration more efficient, more productive, and more natural.

KMDI

Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI), Chief Scientist, 1998 - present, Interim Director, July 2008 - present.

KMDI is a multi-disciplinary distributed research and teaching community involving over 60 faculty at U of T who share interests in using computer, communications, and media technologies to enhance the learning, creativity, and knowledge building of individuals and communities.
Current Research & Publications

Information in parenthesis indicates the relevant publications. A = books, B = articles in books, C = papers in refereed journals, D = full papers in refereed conference proceedings, E = refereed conference short papers, posters, and demonstrations, F = invited and non-refereed publications, G = films and videos, H = theses, technical reports and unpublished papers, J = published abstracts, K = other films and videos, L = articles and interviews, P = patents.

For a select list of Professor Baecker's publications please click here; for an unpublished 1997 speech defining the new field of Knowledge Media Design please click here.

Current research (with colleagues and students):

  • The design and evaluation of electronic memory aids and other cognitive prostheses (publications B16, B15, B14, B13, C15, D67, D65, D61, D60, D52, D49, E27, E26, E21, E20, E19, E18, E15, E12, E9); for an overview of this project, please click here.
  • Innovative designs of computer-based multimedia authoring and Internet publishing systems (publications B12, B11, B9, D66, D64, D63, D62, D59, D57, D56, D54, D53, D51, D50, D48, D47, D46, D45, D39, D37, D36, D33, E29, E28, E25, E24, E23, E22, E17, E14, E13, E11, E10, E7, E6, E4, E3, F5); for an overview of this project click here.
  • Computer-supported cooperative work (for an overview of our Canada-wide research in collaboration technologies click here).
  • Interactive system design and evaluation methodologies (publications D58, D55, D39).
  • Open source software strategies (publications E16, L6).

Past research (with colleagues and students):

  • Combatting technology complexity, and bridging the gap between what users know and what they need to know (publications C14, D45, D44, D43, H8, L4, L5).
  • Web technologies, Web user interfaces, and Web-based virtual communities (publications D40, D41, D42, E5).
  • A time-based interface for email management and visualization (publication D38).
  • Collaborative writing, including developing and testing a new understanding of how people write together and novel prototypes of collaborative writing technology (publications B4, D26, D31, D35, D39, G4).
  • A methodology for constructing powerful yet unobtrusive systems for the visualization of programs in particular programming languages, applied to the LOGO language (publications C13, D19, D28, E1).
  • Conceptual frameworks for software visualization (publications B5, B8, C13, C12, D14, D25, J7).
  • Novel computer systems for the motion analysis of video tape records (publications C11, D27, D32, J6).
  • The development and evaluation of video, audio, and computer technologies to facilitate the real-time collaboration of individuals working at a distance (publications D21, D29, D30, F4).
  • A broad concept of uses of animation at the interface, and the realization and testing of one specific manifestation, the animated icon (publications B3, D22, P1, P2).
  • A systematic and comprehensive new approach to enhancing the presentation of computer program source code through the application of graphic design principles (with Aaron Marcus) (publications A2, B6, D15, D16, D17, D18, H5).
  • The half hour film — Sorting Out Sorting, one of the first profound demonstrations of the potential of computer animation to portray and elucidate computer program behaviour (publications B7, C13, D3, D4, G2, J5, K2).
  • A novel technique for using computer animation to portray the behaviour of models of transportation systems (publications C2, C4, K3, K4).
  • The first highly congenial user interface for electronic newspaper page makeup (publications C6, G1).
  • The development and use of conversational extensible languages for computer animation, and a novel Smalltalk-based computer animation system for children (publication C3).
  • An extensive critical survey of computer use in adverse drug reaction data handling, and proposed a sweeping program of future R&D (publication C1).
  • The first comprehensive conceptual framework for computer animation and the first significant interactive computer animation system (PhD research) (publications B1, D2, H4, K1).
Research Team

Current Graduate Students:

  • Kent Fenwick, M.Sc.: A Context-Aware Cell Phone for Assisting the Recall of Names
  • Mike Massimi, Ph.D.: Constructions of Self-Identity in Ubiquitous Computing Environments
  • Cosmin Munteanu, Ph.D.: Automatic Speech Recognition of Webcast Lectures (co-supervisor)
  • Miller Peterson, M.Sc.: A Study of the Eff ect of Multiple Video Streams on the Engagement of Remote Participants in Webcast Lectures
  • Nick Shim, M. Sc.: topic to be defined
  • Kevin Tonon, M.Sc.: A Method for the Semi-automatic Generation for Collaborative Board Games
  • Michael Wu, Ph.D.: Memory Aids as Collaboration Technology.

Recent Theses:

  • Mike Massimi, M.Sc.: Participatory Design of Mobile Phone Software for Seniors, January 2007
  • Tira Cohene, M.Sc.: The Design of Interactive Life Story Multimedia for an Individual and Family Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, April 2005
  • David Fono, M.Sc.: Structuring and Supporting Persistent Chat Conversation, October 2006
  • Jonathan Hoss, B.A.Sc.: Open Source Technology Transfer Strategies: An Analysis of Open Source Business Models Used to Incubate and Commercialize University Software Projects,  April 2005
  • Joanna McGrenere, Ph.D.: The Design and Evaluation of Multiple Interfaces: A Solution for Complex Software, February 2002 (co-supervisor)
  • Meredith Noble, B.A.Sc.: Needs Analysis and Preliminary Prototyping for a Context-aware Name Recollection Tool, April 2005
  • Russ Shick, M.Sc.: A Study of Student Conversation in Text and Audio During Webcast Lectures, July 2005
  • Krista Strickland, M.Sc.: A Study of Multimedia Lecture Archives for Mobile and Desktop Computers, January 2005
  • Maryam Tohidi, M.Sc.: The Role of Multiple Prototypes in Usability Testing and Inspection (co-supervisor), January 2006
  • Michael Wu, M.Sc.: The Participatory Design of an Orientation Aid for People with Amnesia, July 2004.

Faculty Collaborators:

  • Sandra Black, Ph.D.; Director, Neurosciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
  • Adam M. Brickman, Ph.D.; Postdoctoral Fellow, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University
  • Eyal de Lara, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
  • Elsa Marziali, Ph.D.; Professor, Faculty of Social Work and Medicine (Psychiatry); Director, Katz Centre; Norman and Honey Schipper Chair in Gerontological Social Work; University of Toronto
  • Gerald Penn, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
  • Kostas N. Plataniotis, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
  • Brian Richards, Ph.D.; Psychologist, Behavioural Neurology Program; Coordinator, Memory Link Program; Baycrest Centre
  • Elizabeth Rochon, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, Graduate Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto
  • David Ryan, Ph.D.; Director, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto
  • Nikolaos Scarmeas, M.D.; Assistant Professor of Neurology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University
  • Joshua Steinerman, M.D.; Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre
  • Yaakov Stern, Ph.D.; Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University
  • Elaine G. Toms, Ph.D.; Associate Professor, School of Business Administration; Canada Research Chair in Management Informatics; Dalhousie University.

Research Staff:

  • Rhys Causey; ePresence Interactive Media
  • Delia Couto; ePresence Interactive Media
  • Kelly Rankin
  • Deborah Ptak, Multimedia Biographies/SenseCam Project, University of Toronto
  • Eric Smith; ePresence Interactive Media
  • Peter Wolf; ePresence Interactive Media
  • Dritan Xhabija; ePresence Interactive Media.

Research Students:

  • Fady Akladios, Multimedia Biographies/SenseCam Project, University of Toronto
  • Masashi Crete-Nishihata, Multimedia Biographies/SenseCam Project, University of Toronto
  • Christian Damiandis, ePresence Interactive Media, University of Toronto.
Research Sponsors
  • NSERC
  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Bell University Laboratories (BUL)
  • Microsoft Research Cambridge (MSR).
Contact

Knowledge Media Design Institute, University of Toronto
Bahen Centre for Information Technology
40 St. George St., Room 7228
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2E4

Email: rmb@kmdi.utoronto.ca
Tel: 416-978-6983
Fax: 416-978-5634

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created by Agatha Barc, October 2008.