The entire HCI space is very research driven – by necessity. But even more than, say, consumer-facing internet startups, research in the HCI space has been primarily located in the academic community. Things like Microsoft Kinect (and Android, to some extent) are changing that, as developers increasingly become a driving force — but bottom-line, HCI is all about researchers and developers.
One of the “missions” of Blur is to help move different HCI technologies from research and development into commercialization; to see an explosion of startups growing around HCI.
As such, I’m overjoyed to announce that the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will be sponsoring a scholarship fund for Blur.
The scholarship fund is pretty simple: If you’re a student or a developer or a researcher in the changing models of human-computer interaction (i.e., pre-Series A funding if you’re in a startup), and you’d benefit by being at Blur, interacting with others in the HCI space, and learning about the commercialization of your research/hacks/development project, then you should apply.
Drop me an email (enorlin AT mac.com) with:
1. Your name
2. Your startup’s name (if applicable), or the name of your school (or R&D department).
3. A brief description of the project(s) you’re working on in the HCI space (videos are great).
…and stand-by. We’re going to identity around 15 folks/teams to get to Blur, and we’ll be back in touch shortly!
