The GVU Center's initial mission that gave rise to
its name (Graphics, Visualization and Usability) and first research
directions has inevitably evolved. With seventeen years of experience
in interdisciplinary computing research, GVU is dedicated to unlocking
human potential through technical innovation in many aspects of human
life. This historical shift from monolithic mainframe systems to
personal computers and now to social and ubiquitous computing
emphasizes empowering people by augmenting abilities and enabling
creative visions that address society’s most pressing needs and
opportunities.

The GVU Center brings together a research community that is dedicated
to meet these challenges. GVU embarks on a research agenda that engages
the potential of people, through the lenses of creativity, emotion,
independence, learning, persuasion, wellness, and trust.  This research
envisions technology as a catalyst, an enabler and a sustaining force
for collectively inventing our shared future.

We are a leading example of an academic community that is not only
creative and daring, but also passionate in the belief that the great
research happens with the commingling of
academic disciplines and real-world problems. It is my job, as the
director, to foster this community by creating an environment wherein
this spirit and work is possible. We are increasingly embracing
partnerships with business and industry leaders, nonprofit foundations,
health and human service providers, our Atlanta neighbors, as well as
other leading units on the Georgia Tech campus to bring new energy,
resources, and perspective to the work we do.

GVU’s goal is straight-forward; to shape the future through our
scholarship, our inventions and the future pursuits of our graduates.

BIO:

Elizabeth Mynatt is professor in the School of Interactive
Computing and director of the GVU Center at the Georgia Institute of
Technology. The center brings together over sixty faculty drawn from
human-centered computing, computer science, psychology, liberal arts,
new media design, history of science and technology, engineering,
architecture, management, and music.

Mynatt played a pivotal role in
creating the College of Computing Ph.D. program in Human-Centered
Computing, integrating studies in human-computer interaction, learning
sciences and technology, cognitive science, artificial intelligence,
robotics, software engineering, and information security.  In the last
decade, Mynatt has directed a research program in ubiquitous computing
and technologies adapted to everyday life. With work that began at
Xerox PARC and has grown to fruition at Georgia Tech, she examines the
pervasive presence of computation in everyday life.

Mynatt is a member of ACM's SIGCHI Academy and a Sloan Research
Fellow.  Her research is supported by multiple grants from the National
Science Foundation including a five-year NSF CAREER award.  Other
honorary awards include being named the Top Woman Innovator in
Technology by Atlanta Woman magazine in 2005, the 2001 College of
Computing's Junior Faculty Research award and the 2003 College of
Computing's Dean's Award.

Mynatt earned her Bachelor of Science summa cum laude in computer
science from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science
and Ph.D. in computer science from Georgia Tech.