About me
Human/machine devices & paradigms
Research lab: Almaden Research Center
Thomas G. Zimmerman is an inventor and educator, exploring the frontiers of human-computer interaction at the IBM Almaden Research Center. His 30+ patents cover position tracking, user input, wireless communication, music training, biometrics and encryption. His Data Glove invention established the field of Virtual Reality, selling over one million units. His electric field PAN invention, developed with Professor Neil Gershenfeld at the MIT Media Lab, sends data through the human body, exchanging electronic business cards with a handshake, and prevents air bags from injuring children in the Honda Accord. His New Zealand airport deployment of 802.11b WLAN equipped PDAs enabled passengers to self check-in and board. Mr. Zimmerman founded and directs the Extreme Science Program at the Latino College Preparatory Academy (LCPA) in East San Jose, a hands-on after-school science enrichment program to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. In 1998 Mr. Zimmerman received the Popular Science "Best of What's New" Award and Design News Grand Prize for "Excellence in Design" for his PAN invention, is a member of ACM and a contributing writer to Make Magazine. He received his B.S. in Humanities and Engineering and M.S. in Media Science from MIT.
Last updated 12 Jun 2008