Eric Drewski graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. He is currently working towards a master's degree in journalism/mass communication at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University. He is researching the uses and gratifications derived from mobile communication devices, specifically mp3 players. Eric'ss research interests include informatics, information science and scientific and technical communication.

Kevin Godby has degrees in computer systems/networking, technology management, and psychology. He is currently a doctoral student in the Human Computer Interaction Program at Iowa State University. His research interests include user interface design, developmental robotics, human-robot interaction, computational linguistics, and cognitive psychology. Kevin can be contacted at godbyk@gmail.com or http://kevin.godby.org/.

Trent Grover graduated from Iowa State with his bachelor's degree in computer science in 2001, where he was already exploring the artistic uses of technology. Before graduation he cofounded Micoy, a company specializing in immersive video technologies. As acting CTO, he has developed five patents in the area of panoramic stereoscopic video capture and display technologies. Trent has since returned to ISU to pursue his master's degree in integrated visual arts, focusing on novel uses of technology in the creation of interactive fine art.

Elena Maximova is on a quest to bridge the divide between art and science through human–computer interaction. Originally trained as an actress at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts in Moscow, she has also worked as a fashion photographer, costume and set designer in her native Odessa, Ukraine, before moving to the United States and earning bachelor’s degrees in management information science and accounting. She is now working towards a doctorate in the Human Computer Interaction Program at Iowa State University, where her thesis project involves the production of Eugène Ionesco’s “The Chairs” in a virtual reality environment.

Michael Oren is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the Human Computer Interaction Program at Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa). He did his undergraduate study at DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana) in computer science and English. Mike’s thesis work is on an audio game for the visually impaired, which attempts to represent the core objects in a platform game (think Mario or Sonic) through audio cues. The goal of the project is to create an audio game where people with visual impairments will be able to complete levels in roughly the same time as sighted users playing the game wth graphics.

Derrick Parkhurst was the instructor of record for the course that resulted in the creation of this text, but is much more of a student than any of the actual students realize. Derrick is also the associate chair of the Human Computer Interaction Program at Iowa State University and assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. His research interests include understanding how humans process visual information and the development of new human computer interfaces. Derrick can be contacted at derrick.parkhurst@gmail.com.

Janea Triplett is a doctoral student in Human Computer Interaction at Iowa State University. Her background is eclectic. In the early 90s she stumbled into Web development. A decade later, she returned to school to pursue studies in anthropology, business, language, and sociology. As a volunteer consultant, she has worked in Africa and southeast Asia on systems design and small business development. Her research interests include health information systems, assistive technology, geographic information systems, and technology and social change.

Choreographer, dancer, and director, Valerie Williams has been working professionally in modern dance, musical theater, opera, and Renaissance dance since 1973. She believes that dancers are smarter than dogs and in 2001 became interested in developing interactive technologies that allow her dancers control over their stage environment. Currently she is working toward a master’s degree in HCI at Iowa State University. She continues to make dances that you can check out at http://www.vjw.biz/.