Thomas N. Smyth
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http://tomsmyth.ca
Education
Ph.D Student (Computer Science) - Georgia Institute of Technology
August 2007 - Present
- Member of School of Interactive Computing
- Research focus on technologies and international development
- Field research experience in Liberia, Uganda, India, and Nigeria
M. Sc. (Computer Science) - Simon Fraser University
September 2004 - August 2006
- Research focus on human-computer interaction, especially haptic interfaces
- Thesis entitled Design and Evaluation of Pokespace: A Bimanual Haptic Interaction Technique
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- 4.00 cumulative GPA
B. Sc. (Hons., Computer Science) - Memorial University of Newfoundland
September 1999 - April 2003
- 3.97 cumulative GPA, ranked 1st in graduating class
- Honours research focus on software engineering; Pro Vice-Chancellor's Prize for outstanding thesis
- Interviewed candidate for Rhodes Scholarship
Publications
Sambasivan, Nithya, and Thomas N. Smyth. “The Human Infrastructure of ICTD.” In Proceedings of the international conference on information and communication technologies and development, 2010.
Best, Michael L, Thomas N. Smyth, John Etherton, and Edem Wornyo. “Uses of Mobile Phones in Post-Conflict Liberia.” Information Technologies and International Development 6, no. 2 (2010): 91-108.
Smyth, Thomas N., John Etherton, and Michael L. Best. “MOSES: Exploring New Ground in Media and Post-Conflict Reconciliation.” In Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in computing systems, 1059-1068, 2010.
Smyth, Thomas N., Satish K. Kumar, William Thies, Indrani Medhi, and Kentaro Toyama. “Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Mobile Media Sharing in Urban India.” In Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in computing systems, 753-762, 2010.
Wyche, Susan, Thomas Smyth, Marshini Chetty, Paul Aoki, and Rebecca Grinter. “Deliberate Interactions: Characterizing Technology Use in Nairobi, Kenya.” In Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in computing systems, 2010.
M. Ho, T. N. Smyth, M. Kam, A. Dearden. Human-Computer Interaction for Development: A Brief History. Information Technologies and International Development, vol. 5, no. 2, 2009.
Y. Anokwa, B. DeRenzi, M. Ho, R. Luk, N. Moraveji, D. Ramachandran, Y. Schwartzman, J. Sherwani, T. N. Smyth. Stories from the Field: Reflections on HCID Experiences. Information Technologies and International Development, vol. 5, no. 2, 2009.
M. L. Best, E. Wornyo, J. Etherton, T. N. Smyth. Uses of Mobile Phones in Post-Conflict Liberia. ICTD '09: Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information Technologies and Development. Doha, Qatar, 2009.
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M. L. Best, T. N. Smyth, D. Serrano-Baquero, J. Etherton. Designing for and with Diaspora: A Case Study of Work for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia.
CHI '09: Extended Abstracts of the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Boston, MA, 2009.
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M. Crider, S. Bergner, T. N. Smyth, T. Moller, M. K. Tory, A. E. Kirkpatrick, D. Weiskopf. A mixing board interface for graphics and visualization applications.
Proceedings of Graphics Interface 2007, pp. 87-94, 2007.
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T. N. Smyth and A. E. Kirkpatrick. A new approach to haptic augmentation of the GUI.
Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Multimodal Interfaces, pp. 372-279, 2006.
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T. Smyth, T. N. Smyth, and A. E. Kirkpatrick. Exploring the virtual reed parameter space using haptic feedback.
Proceedings of the International Workshop on Multimedia Signal Processing, pp. 45-49, 2006.
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T. N. Smyth and A. E. Kirkpatrick. Haptic constraints for a bimanual command and location selection task.
Proceedings of Eurohaptics 2006, pp. 195-200, 2006.
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Employment Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Dr. Michael Best, Georgia Institute of Technology, January 2008 - Present
- Designed and deployed 'Yarn for Yarn', a public dialogue support system for Nigeria
- Designed and constructed MOSES video sharing kiosk system for deployment to Liberia
- Conducted field research into mobile phone usage in Liberia
Intern
Microsoft Research India, May 2009 - August 2009
- Conducted research on multimedia-sharing practices among low-income mobile phone users
- Ethnographic research comprised over 50 interviews and observation sessions throughout the city of Bangalore
- Findings accepted to CHI 2010 and ICTD 2010
Interface Designer
Zeta Networks, February 2006 - August 2006
- Designed user interfaces for web applications
- Implemented designs using Ruby on Rails and AJAX technologies
- Implemented automated integration testing using Selenium
Research Assistant
Dr. Arthur E. Kirkpatrick, Simon Fraser University, August 2006 - December 2006
- Designed human-computer interfaces incorporating haptic feedback
- Conducted user studies to evaluate designs
- Collaborated on scholarly publications
Software Developer
Judicial Service of Ghana (CUSO NetCorps Intern) September 2003 - March 2004
- In Canada, received training in education techniques and cross cultural adaptation
- Developed data driven multi-user software to automate the Statistics Division of the Judicial Service
- Provided consultation to administration on staffing and software support issues
Technology Editor
The Muse - Student Newspaper, October 2000 - April 2003
- Developed web site, content management system, and office intranet (www.tomsmyth.ca/musewww.tomsmyth.ca/muse)
- Recruited, coordinated, and trained team of web assistants
- Wrote bi-weekly column for paper's science & technology section
- Attended 2001, 2002 national Canadian University Press conferences
Volunteer Experience
Family Mentor
International Rescue Committee, Atlanta, April 2010 - Present
- Met weekly with a refugee family new to Atlanta
- Assisted family with adjustment to life in the US (instruction on English, computer use, driving, cooking, bank accounts, etc.)
- Received training on ESL instruction
Founding Member
GVU Student League, Georgia Tech, November 2009 - Present
- Coordinated much-acclaimed GVU social events such as the Christmas Party, Recession Pot, and CHI TGIO Party
Tutor
Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Atlanta, September 2008 - January 2009
- Helped children with homework at a domestic violence shelter in Atlanta
- Supervised children while mothers were occupied
Founding Member
Action Research Exchange (ARX), SFPIRG, SFU, June 2004 - December 2005
- ARX's mission is to unite university researchers with non-profit community groups, leading to mutually interesting research
- Helped design and develop the program's policy and procedures
- Built extensive application to manage operations (www.sfpirg.ca/arxwww.sfpirg.ca/arx)
Communications Coordinator
Simon Fraser Ultimate Frisbee Club, April 2005 - February 2006
- Planned team tournaments, fundraisers, etc.
- Built extensive website for the team (www.sfuclam.orgwww.sfuclam.org)
- Participated in several UPA collegiate level tournaments
Co-founder
Newfoundland & Labrador Ultimate Association and Mile Zero Ultimate League, Summer 2004
- Assembled an executive of local ultimate enthusiasts
- Negotiated with St. John's municipal officials for field space
- Organized publicity campaign, including postering and media appearances
- Built extensive website for the league (www.milezeroultimate.comwww.milezeroultimate.com)
Selected Awards & Honours
Georgia Institute of Technology
- 2008 & 2009 GVU Foley Scholars, Finalist
- 2008 NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship-Doctoral ($105,000/3 years)
Simon Fraser University
- 2005 NSERC Julie Payette Postgraduate Scholarship ($25,000)
- 2004 C.D. Nelson Entrance Scholarship ($18,000)
Memorial University of Newfoundland
- 2003 Captain Robert A. Bartlett Science Award (1st in graduating class, $700)
- 2003 Pro Vice Chancellor's Prize for Undergraduate Scholarship (Honours thesis, $500)
- 2003 Lou Visentin Award (All four years on Dean's List)
- 2001 Government of Newfoundland Senior Jubilee Scholarship ($3,000)