Chairman of Scientific Advisory Board

PROF. TOM FURNESS is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle and the Founding Director of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (with labs in USA, New Zealand, and Australia). He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science from the University of Southampton, England.

Prior to joining the University of Washington, Dr. Furness served as the Chief of the Visual Display Systems Branch, Human Engineering Division of the Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (USAF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. While in this position, Dr. Furness developed and evaluated visually-coupled systems and virtual interface concepts to improve the communication of information and control functions between the pilot and In 1986 he organized the Super Cockpit Program for the Air Force and served as the program director until leaving for the University of Washington. Dr. Furness has received the Air Force Systems Command Scientific Achievement Award and the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

Dr. Furness has lectured widely and written numerous technical articles associated with human interaction with complex machines and the use of virtual interfaces. He has made a number of television appearances including NOVA and CBS, BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC science programs. He is a member of the Human Factors Society, Association of Computing Machinery, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the Society for Information Display.