Michael Hawley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Hawley
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Michael Hawley in Siem Reap 2002
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| Born | November 18, 1961 Camp Pendleton, California, U.S.
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| Died | June 24, 2020 (aged 58) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Spouse(s) | Nina You |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Tetelman Fellow, Van Cliburn competition, Kilby International Awards |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer Science |
| Doctoral advisor | Marvin Minsky |
Michael Jerome Hawley (born November 18, 1961 – died June 24, 2020) was an American expert in computers and art. He taught at MIT's Media Laboratory. There, he started many important research programs. These included MIT's GO Expeditions and "Things That Think." He also founded a group called Friendly Planet.
Michael Hawley was the science leader for an expedition to Mount Everest in 1998. This was one of the first big science trips to Everest. His work has been shown in famous magazines like National Geographic and Time. He also appeared in The New York Times and on TV. He wanted to make digital tools smarter and connect them to everyday things.
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Michael Hawley's Life Story
Michael Hawley was born in November 1961 in California. He grew up in New Providence, New Jersey. He finished high school in 1979. As a teenager, he worked at Bell Labs. He studied music and computer science at Yale University. Later, he earned his advanced degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In the early 1990s, he worked at NeXT. He helped create early digital versions of famous books like Shakespeare. From 1993 to 2002, he was a professor at MIT. He then became the Director of Special Projects at MIT's Media Laboratory. Michael's work covered many areas. These included how computers and people interact, and making digital videos.
Michael Hawley as a Musician
Michael Hawley was also a talented pianist and organist. In 2002, he won first place at an international piano competition. This competition was for skilled amateur players. He had famous teachers like Earl Wild. He performed solo concerts and played with big orchestras.
He even played his own piano version of music from West Side Story. He also played the piano for cellist Yo-Yo Ma at a wedding. This was for TV host Bill Nye in 2006. Michael Hawley was also featured in a 2010 movie called Bach & Friends.
Michael Hawley's Family Life
Michael Hawley married Nina You, who was from Cambodia. They had a special blessing ceremony in Bhutan. This took place at a very old temple. Before that, they had a private wedding in Venice.
Michael and Nina lived in a historic church in Cambridge with their son. He owned three pianos there. They had two dogs named Tashi and Karma. These dogs were a special type of mastiff from Bhutan. This breed is very old and loyal.
Michael Hawley passed away on June 24, 2020. He died from colon cancer at his home in Cambridge.
Important Projects by Michael Hawley
- Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom (2003) – This was the world's largest published book. It was a photo book about the country of Bhutan.
- "Michael Hawley's Bhutan" (2003) – An article and photos for National Geographic's Traveler magazine.
- Counter Intelligence project (ended 2001) – This project aimed to put smart technology into kitchens. The goal was to bring families back together around the "hearth."
- Toys of Tomorrow project (ended 2002) – This explored new technologies for toys. It worked with toy companies to make learning and playing better for kids.
- Things That Think project (2000) – This project developed smart objects and environments.
Michael Hawley's Leadership Roles
Michael Hawley served on the boards of several companies and organizations. He was also a founder of some groups.
- Board of Directors, SiOnyx
- Board of Directors, Eastman Kodak
- Board of Directors, Color Kinetics
- Founder, Friendly Planet
- Board of Directors, Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies
- Advisory Board, TTI/Vanguard
- Fellow/Trustee, Jonathan Edwards College, Yale University
- Founding US Editor, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing
Images for kids
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Michael Hawley at the piano in Fort Worth, TX (2002)
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Michael Hawley in Paro, Bhutan (November 2009)
