MIT Media Lab

SpiritualPhilosophy

Themedia"lab"isdedicatedtotheresearchanddevelopmentofthelatestcomputertechnology,manyofwhicharecutting-edgetechnologicalinventions,whichcanbesaidtobemainlyconceptualproducts.The"laboratory"isdifferentfromthecommercialresearchinstitutesofothercomputercompanies.NicholasNegroponteandotherprofessorshavelongagreedthatthe"laboratory"willfocusoninventioninsteadofcommercializingtechnology.Therefore,manyinventionsinthe"laboratory"are"impractical",suchasheliumairshipsthatstudyfish-likebehavior,three-dimensionalimagessuspendedintheair,computersthatcantalk,andprogrammedLegoblocks...everywhere.Withaburstofinnovativevitalityandbeatingthepulseofthedigitalage,thisisthespiritoftheMediaLab.

ResearchScope

Theresearchscopeofthelaboratoryismediatechnology,computer,biologicalengineering,nanometerandhumanities.Researchgroupsthathavebeenestablishedinclude:molecularcomputers,quantumcomputers,nanosensors,robots,digitalbehavior,holographictechnology,modularmedia,interactivemovies,socialmedia,digitalart,emotionalcomputers,electronicpublishing,cognitivescienceandLearning,gesturesandstories,hearingcomputers,physicsandmedia,futureoperas,softwareagents,syntheticcharacters,touchablemedia,visualsandmodels,etc.Alltheseresearchcontentsbelongtothecategoryofemergingcross-disciplinesandareforward-lookinginnovativeresearch.

LabFeatures

25yearsago,whentheMediaLabwasfirstestablished,asthefounders,thenMIT'sprincipalJeromeWeisner(JeromeWeisner)andNepalProfessorGropontebelievesthatthemostexcitingpartofscienceliesinthecross-cuttingfield.Therefore,inadditiontoscientists,theyalsoinvitedmanyartiststojointhelaboratory.Sincethen,"multidisciplinary"hasbeenretainedasatraditioninthemedialaboratory.Today'sMediaLabhas25professorsandleads25groups,eachwith6researchers,allgraduatestudentsanddoctoralstudentsofMIT.Manyoftheseprofessorsandstudentsarepolymaths.Ifyoumeetsomeonehere,heislikelytobeproficientin5fieldsofresearch.Intheend,youwillfindthatthereisnoconceptofsubjectatall.

"Averyimportantfeatureofthemedialaboratoryisthatresearchisundirected.Mostoftheworld’sresearchlaboratories,academiclaboratories,industriallaboratoriesorgovernmentresearchTherefore,theprojectfundingyougetmustrequireyourresearchdirectiontobeconsistent,suchastreatingacertaincancerandensuringtheprivacyofacertaincomputernetwork.Thesearealldirectionalissues,buttheMediaLabdoesnot."

Thereasonforthisdegreeoffreedominscientificresearchisduetothelaboratory’suniquefundraisingmodel.Thelaboratory'sannualfundingofmorethan30millionUSdollarscomesfrommorethan60well-knownlargecompanies,includingGoogle,Microsoft,Hasbrow,TimeWarner,LG,Samsung,etc.Thesecompaniespay,butdonotinterferewiththeresearchinthelaboratory.Inreturn,companiescansendpeopletoobservehowthelaboratorycreatesandhowtoinnovate.Iftheyseeabusinessopportunityfromacertaininvention,theymustapplyforauthorizationfromthemedialaboratory.

Here,passionandinterestdetermineyourresearchdirection.ProfessorHughHull’spassionistoeliminatedisability.Helosthislegswhenhewas17yearsold;ProfessorWilliamMitchell’spassionistomakecitiesandbuildingsmoreintelligent;ProfessorResnick’spassionistomakeeveryIndividualskeeptheirchildren’scuriosityinkindergartenalltheirlives,andlearnbycreatingandbuildingthings,therebycreatingacreativesociety;ProfessorToddMankoff’spassionistoleteveryonemakemusic.Getmeaningfrommusic.FrankMoss’passionistheabilitytoalloweveryonetoliveindependentlyfortherestoftheirlives.

Innovativeresearch

Innovativeresearchisactuallyacombinationofexploratoryresearchandoriginalresearch.Thistypeofresearchisverydifficultandcarriesconsiderablerisks.Howdoyoudecidetocarryoutacertainresearchwithoutsuccess?TheexperienceoftheMediaLabformorethantwodecadesshowsthatinnovativeresearchcanfocusonthefollowingfouraspects:

Humanism

Theresearchcontentisdirectlyaimedatpeople'sneeds,andthepurposeistohelppeopleimprovethequalityoflife.Forexample,theresearchonmusicalinstrumentswithsensors,toylearningtools,interactivemovies,etc.,isnolongertechnicallybasedontechnology,butisdirectlyrelatedtopeople'sdailylifesuchaslearningandentertainment.Whilemanylaboratoriesandlargecompaniesaredevelopingsupercomputersandstudyinghowtoimproveperformanceandspeed,theMITMediaLabisstudyinghowtodevelopcheapchipsandhowtousecomputersmoregenerallyindailylife.Forexample,anewtypeofcomputerresearchedanddevelopedbythePhysicsandMediaGroupcanbeimplantedintothesole.Whentwopeoplewearingcomputershoesshakehands,theirelectronicbusinesscardsareexchangedthroughthehandshake.Personalinformationistransmittedtothecomputerintheshoethroughthehumanbodyandisstore.TheCognitionandLearningGroupfocusesontheresearchoflow-costsmartbuildingtoystohelpdevelopchildren'screativityandcultivatechildren'sspiritofcooperation.

Interdisciplinary

Theresearchcontentinvolvesmanydisciplines,whichhasfarexceededthetraditionalinterdisciplinaryscope.Forexample,thecombinationofbioengineeringandnanotechnologyhasproducedprogrammablecatalysts;thecombinationoffilmandnetworktechnologyhasdevelopedthestudyofinteractivefilms;thecombinationofnetworkandsociologyhasproducedresearchtopicsonsocialmedia.Comparedwithtraditionaldisciplines,thesenewdisciplineshaveawiderrangeofintersectionsandaremoreexploratory.

Originality

AccordingtothecurrentindustrialmodernizationandautomationleveloftheUnitedStates,aswellasitsdesignandprocessinglevel,aslongasthereisamarket,itisfundamentaltoturnaresearchresultintoaproduct.Notaproblem.Forinnovativeresearch,thedifficultyliesinwhethertherearenewideasandresearchideas,andwhethertheycancontinuetoexplorenewresearchdirections.Inthemedialaboratory,themostimportantthingistohaveoriginalresearchdirectionsandtopics.Forexample,inordertoopenuporiginalresearchdirections,theMediaLabheldtheWorldChildren’sSummitin1998undertheauspicesofthecorporateworld.Itselectedagroupofyoungpeoplewithoriginalthinkingfromallovertheworldandaskedthemto"whatshouldthefutureworldbe?"Discussthetopicof“like”,comeupwithideas,andmakesuggestionstohelpinspirescientiststoopenuptheirminds.Thisisbecausescientistsbelievethatchildren’sthinkingismoreopenandunconstrainedthanadults.

Openness

Themedialaboratoryisalaboratorythatiscompletelyopentotheoutsideworld.Accordingtostatistics,thereare5-8visitinggroupsfrombusiness,academia,andgovernmentagenciestovisitthelaboratoryeveryday;andprofessorsandresearchersinthelaboratorytravelanaverageof8timesamonth.Thelaboratoryhasmorethan180sponsorsorcooperationunitsfromthebusinesscommunity,academiaandgovernmentagencies.Itisthiskindofopennessthatallowsresearcherstocontinuouslygainmotivationforinnovation.Inaddition,theMediaLabhassetupabranchinEuropeandIndia,whichmakestheinnovativeresearchoftheMediaLabmoreglobal.

IntellectualProperty

FormalR&Dpartnershavetherighttosharetheintellectualpropertyrightsofthemedialaboratory,researchresults,andobtaintechnicalconsultationwithouthavingtopayintellectualpropertytransferfeesandpatentfees.Othernon-laboratorycollaboratorswillnotbeabletoobtainintellectualpropertytransfersandpatentswithintwoyearsafterthepatenttakeseffect.Thisintellectualpropertysharingmodelhasgreatlyacceleratedtheprocessofcreativeresearch,high-techachievements,andtheindustrializationofknowledge.

R&Dcooperation

Thereasonwhymanyglobalcompanies,multinationalgovernmentdepartments,andrelatedresearchinstitutesactivelyparticipateinandsponsortheR&DcooperationprojectsoftheMediaLabbenefitfromtheiruniqueproducts.Studymode.Theresearchworkofthemedialaboratoryismostlyinnovativeandexploratoryresearch.Thesponsorsparticipateincollaborationtobroadentheirhorizons,understandnewresearchdirections,andobtainreliabletechnicalproductinformation;inthemedialaboratory,duetotheinteractionbetweenprofessorsandstudentsThebackgroundsareverydifferent,andthecontentoftheresearchoverlapswitheachother,makingthecollaborationbetweenprofessorsandprofessors,studentsandprofessors,andvariousgroupsverycloseandfrequent.Inordertofacilitatecollaboration,the33researchgroupsinthelaboratoryintersectwitheachother,andprofessorsandstudentsholdfixedtopicgroupmeetingseveryweektoexchangeresearchideasandexperienceswitheachother.Thiskindofdivergentinnovationmethodisdifficulttocarryoutwithinasingleenterprise.Inparticular,itshouldbeemphasizedthatsponsorsonlypayanannualsalaryequivalenttotheannualsalaryofaseniorengineerintheUnitedStates,andcangettheopportunityofjointresearchanddevelopmentwithaworld-classlaboratorycomposedof400researchers.R&Dcooperationhasaprinciple,thatis,R&Dpartnersgenerallydonotrequirelaboratoriestoengageinspecificresearchworkforthem.Mostresearchtopicsandcontentaredeterminedbylaboratoriesandprofessorstoensureindependence,forward-lookingandoriginalityinacademicresearch.Ontheotherhand,theMediaLablearnsaboutmarketdynamicsfromsponsorsandgetsnecessaryfinancialandmaterialsupport.Eachsponsorwillparticipateinoneorseveralresearchtopicgroupsforthreeconsecutiveyearsandsponsoracertainamountofresearchfundingeachyear.Thisisatypicalwin-winmodel.

WaysofCooperation

MediaLabhasthreebasicR&Dcooperationwaysfordifferententerprisesandgovernmentdepartmentstochoose.

Inquiry-basedcooperation

Thisinformalcooperationmethodismainlyforsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises,providingthemwithinformation,butdoesnotsharetheresearchresultsandintellectualpropertyrightsofthelaboratory.

Subjectgroupcooperation

Thiskindofformalcooperationmethodbasedonsubjectgroupisthemostcommon.Eachsubjectgroupcontactsabout10medialabresearchgroupsand20-50R&Dpartners.Allpartnershavetherighttosharetheintellectualpropertyrights,researchresults,andtechnicalconsultationofthissubjectgroupwithoutpayingintellectualpropertytransferfeesandpatentfees.TheMediaLabcurrentlyhasfivesubjectgroups:digitallife,thinkingobjects,futurenews,digitalcountries,andchangingplaces.

Company-levelcooperation

Thisisthemostadvancedwayofcooperation.Notonlyarecompany-levelR&Dpartnersnotrestrictedbyasinglesubjectgroup,theycanalsosendR&Dpersonneltopermanentmedialabs.

R&Dcases

TheMediaLabhasabout300R&Dprojectseveryyear.Hereareafewexamples

Electronicink:Micron-sizedelectronicsphereswrapnano-sizedelectricfieldsensingmaterials.Electronicpelletscanbeprintedonordinarypaperorplastictodisplaytext,photos,anddynamicimages.Electronicinktechnologywilldevelopintoveryinexpensivedisplays.

Programmablecatalyst:Nano-scalecatalystmaterialcanbecontrolledbyelectromagneticwavestochangeitsdirectionandtemperature.Theinventionofthisprogrammablecatalystmaytriggeranewrevolutioninbioengineering,chemicalindustry,andpharmaceuticalindustry.

SuperCommunication:Thenewpoint-to-pointcommunicationmethodwillmakeitpossibletomakedirectcallstowirelesstelephonesinthecitywithoutgoingthroughthebasestationofthewirelessoperator.

Wearingacomputer:Smartcomputerscanbewornonthebody,justliketheglassesandclotheswewear.Andhuman-computerinteractionisaimedatspecificenvironments.Thewearablecomputerplaystheroleofanintelligentcomputerassistant.

Portablegenerator:Ultra-smallportablemanualgeneratorcantemporarilychargemobilephones.

SmartHome:Ultra-smallcheapwirelesssensorsintelligentlycontrolindoortemperature,light,security,electricalappliances,andcommunications.

Portablelaserprojector:Apen-sizedlaserprojectorcanbeusedinmobilephonesandlaptopcomputers.

Toy-stylelearningtools:high-techtoysthatareentertainingandentertaining.Legohassuccessfullycommercializedthisinvention.Thenameoftheproductis"Mindstorms"

Technologyformeasuringthepositionandpostureofthebodyintheenvironment:ProfessorToddMankoffdiscoveredakindofenergyThetechnologyofmeasuringthepositionandpostureofthebodyintheenvironmentwaslaterappliedtothechildseatofthecar.Thistechnologyisnowusedinalmosteverycarintheworld.

SohuOrigins

TheriseofSohu,oneofChina'sfourmajorportals,isoriginallyrelatedtoMIT'sMediaLab.Sohu(Sohu)CEOZhangChaoyang,whoreturnedfromstudyingatMIT,startedfromscratchandreliedonNicholasNegroponte,thefounderofMITMediaLab.

In1996,ZhangChaoyang,whostudiedintheUnitedStates,decidedtoreturntoChinatostartabusiness.Duetolackoffunds,hewasforcedtofindawayoutintheUnitedStates.Forfivefullmonths,ZhangChaoyangtraveledtotheUnitedStatesseveraltimeswithaplanandmetwithvariousventurecapitalists,mostlywithoutsuccess.UntilhemetEdwardRobers,aprofessoratMITSloanSchoolofManagement.RobersisdeeplyinterestedinZhangChaoyang'sexperience,buttheinvestmentconditionistofindanotherinvestorhebelievesin.

Afewmonthslater,theopportunityfinallycame.ZhangChaoyangmetNicholasNegroponte,thefounderofMITMediaLab,intheUnitedStates.NicholasNegropontealsohadtheforesightandinvested$225,000toZhangChaoyang.Thismoneyisofgreatsignificance.ItisnotonlythefirstventurecapitalthatZhangChaoyangreceived,butalsoshowsthesupportofthegiantsinthecomputerscienceandtechnologyindustryforyoungentrepreneurswhoare"fledgling",andNicholasNegroponte’sjoining.ArousedtheinterestofotherindustrygiantsinSohu.Later,investorssuchasIntelandDowJonesfollowedinthefootstepsofNicholasNegropondiandinjectedcapitalintoSohu,makingSohuthe"firstsearchengineinChina."