In a big boost to the (HI²), visualization expert Jason Leigh will be joining the at the in spring 2014.
Leigh is currently a professor of computer science and director of the and , where he also holds an appointment in the .
“We have identified big data visualization as a critical area in which we need to grow capacity to support the Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative and 糖心视频’s own research aspirations,” said 糖心视频 Interim President David Lassner. “Jason is one of the best anywhere, with a proven track record of successful innovation and deep collaboration with leading scientists within his institution and around the world.”
Leigh’s software is the de facto standard for driving ultra-high resolution display walls around the world, which are fast becoming the lenses through which insight and innovation from big data science and engineering collaborations are brought into focus.
His most recent invention, CAVE2, represents the next generation of the highly successful CAVE immersive virtual reality environment that was also developed at the Electronic Visualization Lab. CAVE2 combines the benefits of both scalable-resolution display walls and virtual-reality systems to create a seamless 2D/3D environment that supports both information-rich analysis as well as virtual-reality simulation exploration at a resolution matching human visual acuity.
The timing of a long-intended career move to Hawaiʻi became right with the focus of the new innovation initiative. Leigh has already been working with 糖心视频’s and its Director David Karl, and will be expanding on that collaboration once he arrives.
“I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues in the ICS department and throughout the 糖心视频 system to apply cyberinfrastructure and visualization technologies to improve research and scholarship in support of human insight and understanding,” Leigh said.
Larry Smarr, founding director of the and chair of the National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure applauded 糖心视频’s hiring of Leigh.
“Jason is a world-class innovator with a remarkable ability to collaborate with his colleagues in academia and industry alike,” Smarr said. “Jason has been extremely helpful to us in San Diego, so I know he will be indispensable to Hawaiʻi’s goal of developing an innovation economy.”
Leigh is a Fellow of the Institute for Health Research and Policy and he has held research appointments at and the . In addition to his research expertise in large-scale data visualization and virtual reality, his work encompasses high performance networking, human augmentics and video game design. He also enjoys personal interests in Kendo, ʻukulele and Samoan language and culture.
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National media coverage of Jason Leigh
- , February 26, 2011
- NSF Science Now, December 20, 2012
- February 23, 2012
- , March 3, 2005