Research Projects Overview

Our group has many active research projects continuing our successful
investigation of recommender systems algorithms, interfaces,
applications, and e-commerce. Over the short term we plan
to focus on studying new features in recommender systems that offer
significantly new experiences to users.

Over the medium term we plan to explore more deeply the
social effects of recommenders, including such issues as whether
recommenders increase social balkanization, what happens if
recommenders are used to provide common ground when users are
introduced to each other, and how the existence of influential people
in a recommender affects the development of the social network.

Over the long term, experience tells me that I don't know
what to expect, since new and as yet unimagined opportunities will
arise. Right now it seems most likely I will return to research in
scientific applications, such as molecular and neurobiology. My
experience as a researcher in these fields was very rewarding, and I
am very interested in the ways computer tools can enhance the research
of biologists.