# Ben Bederson > American computer scientist **Wikidata**: [Q4885285](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4885285) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Bederson) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ben-bederson ## Summary Ben Bederson is an American computer scientist known for his work in human-computer interaction (HCI). He is a professor at the University of Maryland and has made significant contributions to mobile computing and information visualization. ## Biography - Born: June 21, 1964 - Nationality: United States - Education: - Ph.D. in Computer Science, New York University (1992) - M.S. in Computer Science, New York University (1989) - B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1986) - Known for: Human-computer interaction, mobile computing, information visualization - Employer(s): - University of Maryland (1998-present) - University of New Mexico (1995-1997) - Field(s): Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction ## Contributions Ben Bederson has made significant contributions to human-computer interaction, particularly in mobile computing and information visualization. He served as Director of the University of Maryland Human-Computer Interaction Lab from 2000 to 2006, where he led research on novel interaction techniques and user interface design. His work on Pad++ and Jazz, early zooming user interface systems, helped pioneer new approaches to information visualization. Bederson has published extensively in top-tier conferences and journals, with over 100 publications and numerous patents in areas including mobile interaction, information visualization, and user interface toolkits. He has also served as an expert witness in technology-related legal cases since 2009. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Ben Bederson known for? A: Ben Bederson is known for his pioneering work in human-computer interaction, particularly in mobile computing and information visualization. He developed innovative zooming user interface systems and has made significant contributions to understanding how people interact with digital information. ### Q: Where does Ben Bederson work? A: Ben Bederson is a professor at the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science, where he has worked since 1998. He previously taught at the University of New Mexico from 1995 to 1997. ### Q: What awards has Ben Bederson received? A: Ben Bederson was elected to the CHI Academy in 2012 and named an ACM Distinguished Member in 2011, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of human-computer interaction. ## Why They Matter Ben Bederson's work has fundamentally shaped how we interact with digital information, particularly on mobile devices. His research on zooming user interfaces and information visualization has influenced the design of countless applications and systems. As Director of the University of Maryland's HCI Lab, he mentored numerous students who have gone on to become leaders in the field. His contributions to understanding mobile interaction patterns have been particularly influential as smartphones became ubiquitous. Through his research, teaching, and service as an expert witness, Bederson has helped bridge the gap between academic research and practical application in human-computer interaction. ## Notable For - Developed pioneering zooming user interface systems (Pad++ and Jazz) - Served as Director of the University of Maryland Human-Computer Interaction Lab (2000-2006) - Elected to the CHI Academy in 2012 for significant contributions to HCI - Named ACM Distinguished Member in 2011 - Extensive work as an expert witness in technology-related legal cases ## Body ### Research Leadership As Director of the University of Maryland Human-Computer Interaction Lab from 2000 to 2006, Bederson led a team that produced groundbreaking research in information visualization and mobile interaction. Under his leadership, the lab developed several influential systems including Pad++ and Jazz, which introduced novel zooming interfaces that influenced later developments in information visualization. ### Academic Contributions Bederson has published over 100 papers in top-tier conferences and journals, focusing on human-computer interaction, mobile computing, and information visualization. His work has been widely cited and has helped shape the direction of HCI research. He has supervised numerous Ph.D. students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. ### Industry Impact Beyond academia, Bederson has served as an expert witness in technology-related legal cases since 2009, applying his expertise to real-world disputes. He has also been involved in entrepreneurial activities, contributing to the practical application of HCI research in commercial products. ### Educational Background Bederson's educational foundation includes a Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York University (1992), where he studied under Eric L. Schwartz. His interdisciplinary background, with a B.S. in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1986), has informed his approach to human-computer interaction research. ### Recognition His election to the CHI Academy in 2012 and designation as an ACM Distinguished Member in 2011 recognize his significant and lasting contributions to the field of human-computer interaction. These honors place him among the most influential researchers in HCI. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.cs.umd.edu/people/bederson) 2. Crunchbase 3. [Source](http://www.bederson.org/bensr/) 4. [Source](https://history.aip.org/phn/11410017.html) 5. [Ancestry](https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61253&h=1174896713) 6. [Source](http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/bederson/) 7. Library of Congress Name Authority File 8. [Source](http://hcil.umd.edu/hcil-overview/) 9. LinkedIn 10. [2022](http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/bederson/bederson-cv.pdf) 11. Google Scholar 12. ORCID iD 13. [Source](http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/bederson/expert-witness.html) 14. AngelList 15. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award-winners/BEDERSON_4140794) 16. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/distinguished-members/award-winners) 17. [Source](https://drum.lib.umd.edu/handle/1903/3519) 18. Mathematics Genealogy Project 19. [Source](https://drum.lib.umd.edu/handle/1903/2455?show=full) 20. International Standard Name Identifier 21. Virtual International Authority File 22. Integrated Authority File 23. Library of Congress Authorities 24. Bibliothèque nationale de France 25. IdRef 26. Ancestry 27. OpenAlex 28. Share Virtual Discovery Environment 1.0 29. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 30. BIBSYS 31. Name and Title Authority File of Catalonia 32. BabelNet 33. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph 34. [Source](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37279760100) 35. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Ben_Bederson-BNPWKY) 36. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Ben_Bederson_(entrepreneur)) 37. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Benjamin_B._Bederson-VK55BKD)