From academia to high tech, Richard (Rick) F. Rashid’s work has innovated in the fields of artificial intelligence, operating systems, networking and multiprocessors. As senior vice president at Microsoft he oversees worldwide Microsoft Research operations – encompassing more than 850 researchers across six labs worldwide. Under Rashid's leadership, Microsoft Research conducts both basic and applied research across disciplines that include algorithms and theory; human-computer interaction; machine learning; multimedia and graphics; search; security; social computing; and systems, architecture, mobility and networking. His team collaborates with the world's foremost researchers in academia, industry and government on initiatives to advance the state-of- the-art of computing.
Rashid was the co-creator of one of the earliest networked computer games, "Alto Trek," during the mid-1970s. At Microsoft he managed projects that catalyzed the development of the company’s interactive TV system, and also directed Microsoft's first e-commerce group. Rashid was the driving force behind the creation of the team that later developed into Microsoft's Digital Media Division.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/rick/
Twitter
“Ultimately the goal of Microsoft Research and really the goal of basic research in a society is to make sure that we have a future.”