KMDI Speaker Series Tom Furness

Cobwebs in a Virtual Brain

Over a career spanning 48 years, Prof. Furness has been exploring and developing technology for getting bandwidth to the brain and between brains.  His work has encompassed fighter cockpits, virtual reality, retinal displays, educational tools, medical simulators, pain, phobias, molecular modeling, scanning fiber endoscopes and entertainment systems.  This quest has been punctuated with side trips and ‘aha’ experiences that have led to unanticipated destinations.  Dr. Furness plans to talk about lessons learned on his journey including unexpected delights…with an aim to inspire, entertain and challenge.

Bio: Dr. Furness served a combined 23 years as an U.S. Air Force officer and civilian at the Armstrong Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he developed advanced cockpits and virtual interfaces for the Department of Defense.  He is the author of the Super Cockpit program and served as the Chief of Visual Display Systems and Super Cockpit Director until he joined the University of Washington in 1989. Dr. Furness is currently a professor of Industrial Engineering with adjunct professorships in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Human-Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. He is the founder of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) at UW and founder and international director of the HIT Lab NZ at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ and the HIT Lab Australia at the University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania. Among many other awards and recognitions Dr. Furness received the Satava Award (with the HIT Lab) for advances in medical technology and in 1998 he received the Discover Award for Technological Innovation for his ground-breaking technology: the Virtual Retinal Display.