A scientist and professor in MIT's program in Media Arts and Sciences, Pattie Maes is the founder and director of the MIT Media Lab's Fluid Interfaces Group. She researches the tools we use to work with information and connect with one another.

Maes was a pioneering force behind what was once known as "collaborative filtering," which has become integral to Web 2.0: the immense engine of recommendations -- or "things like this" -- fueled by other users. This innovation was developed during her time leading the Software Agents program at MIT, which produced Firefly, a technology that allowed users to discover new music based on their preferences and the recommendations of others with similar tastes. This significant contribution brought about a fundamental shift in the way we interact with software, culture, and one another.

Maes' current endeavor, the Fluid Interfaces Group, aims to completely redefine the ways in which humans and computers interact, effectively blurring the line between human and computer. In Maes' world, the computer is not a separate entity but a source of intelligence that's embedded in our environment. Through the use of digital accessories, we can continuously learn from (and teach) our surroundings. The potential applications of this technology range from healthcare to home furnishings, warfare to supermarkets, and are increasingly becoming a reality.

Throughout her career, Maes has received numerous accolades for her work. Notably, she was named one of the "100 people for the new century" by Newsweek magazine and was selected as a member of the Cyber-Elite by TIME Digital. The World Economic Forum honored her with the title Global Leader for Tomorrow. In recognition of her groundbreaking work on the World Wide Web, she was awarded the 1995 category prize by Ars Electronica. Later, in 2000, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council. In addition to her research and teaching, Maes has edited three books and serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for professional journals and conferences.

Technology, Inspirational, Disruptive Thinking, Internet, Women in Tech Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data, Software, Software Development, Healthcare,