Walter Bender
Encyclopedia
Walter Bender is technologist and researcher who has made important contributions in the field of electronic publishing, media, and technology for learning. Bender is on leave as a Senior Research Scientist at the MIT Media Lab
which he led as executive director between 2000 and 2006. More recently, Bender served as president of One Laptop per Child for Software and Content where he coordinated the development of software and content including the Sugar
interface for the XO-1 Children's Machine computer.
degree from Harvard University
in 1977 and a Master of Science
degree from MIT in 1980. For more than 20 years, Bender was head of the MIT Media Lab's Electronic Publishing Group. The Electronic Publishing research group was initiated when Bender joined the Architecture Machine Group (the precursor to the Media Lab) in 1978. The research group is one of the Media Lab's oldest and one of a few that predates the creation of the lab.
Bender's research
has attempted to build upon the interactive styles associated with existing media and extend them into domains where a computer is incorporated into the interaction. He has participated in much of the pioneering research in the field of electronic publishing
, and personalized, interactive multimedia
, particularly including news
.
Between 2000 and 2006, Bender served as the executive director of the MIT Media Lab
. He is a former holder of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Chair at MIT Media Lab.
Bender took a leave of absence from the Media Lab to work at One Laptop per Child as president of that organization for Software and Content. In this role, Bender oversaw and helped many of the most innovative aspects of OLPC's XO-1 including the Sugar
graphical interface. After leaving OLPC in 2008, Bender founded Sugar Labs to continue development of Sugar.
MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
which he led as executive director between 2000 and 2006. More recently, Bender served as president of One Laptop per Child for Software and Content where he coordinated the development of software and content including the Sugar
Sugar (GUI)
Sugar is an open source desktop environment designed with the goal of being used by children for learning.Developed as part of the One Laptop per Child project, it is the default interface on OLPC XO-1 family of laptop computers....
interface for the XO-1 Children's Machine computer.
Biography
Walter Bender earned a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1977 and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree from MIT in 1980. For more than 20 years, Bender was head of the MIT Media Lab's Electronic Publishing Group. The Electronic Publishing research group was initiated when Bender joined the Architecture Machine Group (the precursor to the Media Lab) in 1978. The research group is one of the Media Lab's oldest and one of a few that predates the creation of the lab.
Bender's research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
has attempted to build upon the interactive styles associated with existing media and extend them into domains where a computer is incorporated into the interaction. He has participated in much of the pioneering research in the field of electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing or ePublishing includes the digital publication of e-books and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries and catalogues. Electronic publishing has become common in scientific publishing where it has been argued that peer-reviewed scientific journals are in...
, and personalized, interactive multimedia
Interactivity
In the fields of information science, communication, and industrial design, there is debate over the meaning of interactivity. In the "contingency view" of interactivity, there are three levels:...
, particularly including news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
.
Between 2000 and 2006, Bender served as the executive director of the MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
. He is a former holder of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Chair at MIT Media Lab.
Bender took a leave of absence from the Media Lab to work at One Laptop per Child as president of that organization for Software and Content. In this role, Bender oversaw and helped many of the most innovative aspects of OLPC's XO-1 including the Sugar
Sugar (GUI)
Sugar is an open source desktop environment designed with the goal of being used by children for learning.Developed as part of the One Laptop per Child project, it is the default interface on OLPC XO-1 family of laptop computers....
graphical interface. After leaving OLPC in 2008, Bender founded Sugar Labs to continue development of Sugar.