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November 7, 2005 Vol.
77, no. 11F
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| EECS professor John Canny graduated
from MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab in 1987. His M.S.
thesis described an edge detector that is still widely used, and
his Ph.D. dissertation won the Association for Computing Machinery
award in 1987. Current research interests are rich media for computer-supported
cooperative work, collaborative learning, and context-aware computing.
(Photo Credit: Peg Skorpinski)
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Professor
Minute with EECS professor John Canny
What first inspired
you to go into engineering?
It’s not so much an inspiration as addiction. I’ve been
playing with gadgets, especially electrical ones, since I can remember.
That was either going to lead to electrocution or to a career in EECS.
I didn’t get electrocuted, and here I am.
To date, what has
been the most memorable moment in your career?
One highlight was visiting two of my former grad students who ended
up getting married to each other and having a baby. It’s not the
kind of outcome you anticipate when you mentor grad students, but it’s
a great one!
If you had a few
extra hours, what would you do?
I recently remodeled so I have a “smart home.” That means
there’s always something to tweak, or something that’s broken.
When I remodeled, I had to move out, and it was cheaper to buy a boat
and live on it. Having a boat also means there’s always something
broken, too. Mostly I like fixing these things, but every once in a
while I ignore them and just sail.
What should engineering students make sure they do at Berkeley
before they graduate?
College friends can be the strongest ones you’ll ever have. You
have a chance to make friends in business, the arts, psychology, etc.
Those can be incredibly useful later on, either in business or personally.
Even casual acquaintances matter because of the life-changing experience
you shared here.
What is one thing
you would like to learn how to do?
Speak more languages. I’m currently getting started on Hindi.
If you would like us
to feature your favorite professor, please e-mail his or her name to
engnews@coe.berkeley.edu.
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