James

Doug James, associate professor of computer science, has received a Guggenheim fellowship to help support his research on computer sound synthesis.

In its 87th annual competition for the United States and Canada, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation awarded 180 fellowships to artists, scientists and scholars, chosen from some 3,000 applicants.

James conducts research on computer graphics with particular focus on creating animation that conforms to the laws of physics and synthesizing realistic sounds based on the physical properties of animated objects, so that sounds accompanying animation can be based on the animation itself rather than being dubbed in from recordings. He has developed algorithms to synthesize the sounds of splashing water, breaking glass and china, and the noisy vibrations of such objects as cymbals and garbage cans. The work has applications ranging from video games to virtual reality training simulations.

He will use the fellowship to support research during his coming sabbatical, which, he said, will include developing more realistic sound models and efficient algorithms, as well as work on a book on physics-based sound rendering.

The Guggenheim Foundation supports science and the arts with "a commitment to funding individuals at the highest level to do the work they were meant to do."