Acknowledgements: How did David ever graduate?

Many people played a part in pushing me on to doctor-dom. These are the people who I thanked in my dissertation. I figure since few people will ever read the dissertation, this page might serve as a better (or at least more visible) thanks:

"Aren't you done yet?"--four words that are sure to tweak a raw nerve in any graduate student who is fighting his way towards a Ph.D. Certainly, if left to my own devices, I would still be hearing that question today, tomorrow, and right up until the day the computer science department finally kicked me out. Fortunately I was not on my own.

My first thanks go to my advisory duo of Kris Hammond and Jim Firby. Jim got me off to a good start in thinking about robotics and interaction at the University of Chicago--many of the best ideas in this dissertation sprang from our discussions. Kris adopted me when it was time to move on to Northwestern and has spurred me on to actually finishing. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of my work and has taught me the importance of being able to articulate my ideas in ways that anyone can understand.

Also, I thank the other members of my committee: Larry Birnbaum, who always finds an interesting new way of thinking about a problem and tells a great story, and Ian Horswill, who lets me think of myself as a roboticist and encourages me to keep my symbols grounded.

The key to my staying (mostly) sane throughout the whole graduate school process is certainly my group of friends in the InfoLab. Josh, my fellow Intelligent Classroom researcher, who shares my vision of an intelligent space and patiently puts up with my abuse. Robb, Shannon and Jay, who intuitively know when to encourage, when to argue, and when to just go out for a walk and grab a coffee. And all the other members of the lab, past and present: Andy, Louis, Xiaobin, Vidya, Robin and Marko.

Outside of Northwestern, I must thank Charmane and Larry, who inspired the "Psychological Warfare Brain Trust" that helped me fight through the last few barriers. Bruce and Karen, who provided a soothing combination of encouragement and music. Alain, who entered graduate school at the same time I did and will exit at the same time as well. Way to go, "Dr. Man!"

Finally, I thank my family and friends back home in Seattle. My Mom, who actually read (and commented on) my dissertation and who is always a great inspiration to me. My sisters, who keep me humble with the knowledge that, to them at least, I will always be a kid. Steve, who shares my belief that you can be both a computer geek and a hip jazz musician.

"Am I done yet?" Yes, I am.

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