Bill Buxton

William (Bill) Buxton, OC, is a renowned designer, researcher, and advocate for human-centered innovation. Currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science, he previously held roles including Partner Researcher at Microsoft Research (2005-2022), Chief Scientist at Alias|Wavefront/SGI, and faculty at the Ontario College of Art and Design. His work bridges art, design, and technology, emphasizing the social and cultural impact of interactive systems.

• Education: B.Mus. (Queen's University, 1973), M.Sc. Computer Science (University of Toronto, 1978)

Research focuses on human-computer interaction (HCI), design thinking, and the history of innovation. He pioneered concepts like 'sketching in hardware' and contributed to foundational work on multitouch interfaces and natural user interaction.

Recent talks include keynotes on ethics in technology, ubiquitous computing, and design philosophy. His writings (e.g., Sketching User Experiences) and collections (e.g., The Buxton Collection of interactive devices) highlight his commitment to documenting design history.

Honors include ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Achievement Award, Fellow of ACM, and Officer of the Order of Canada. Active in academia and industry, he advises on innovation policy and serves on design and technology boards.