Director has passion for applying computer science to real-life human problems.
By Susan Polowczuk
Clemson University’s School of Computing director Larry Hodges has a passion for applying computer science to real-life human problems.
“In my career, I’ve gotten letters from people who say, ‘Thank you for changing my life,’ ” Hodges said. “Most computer scientists don’t get those kinds of letters.”
Hodges recently joined Clemson to become the first hf Flagship Director of the School of Computing, an endowed position made possible by a gift from the Howle family. But he started on his unusual college career path as a music major.
“I tell my students I am a good example of someone who didn’t have a clue about where I was headed when I started college,” he laughs.
He quickly changed his major to math and physics and then went on to earn a masters degree in religion. He followed that with a masters degree in computer science and a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering.
A chance collaboration with clinical psychiatrists and psychologists led to a career-long interest in developing virtual reality environments that could be used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Through the collaboration, software has been developed to help patients deal with anxiety disorders such as fear of heights, fear of flying and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is where the life changing thank you letters come in.
“I sat down with these partners, built a team and talked about their needs and the needs of the patient,” he said. “In one case, we came up with a virtual environment that helped pediatric cancer patients cope with the pain and anxiety of their weekly cancer treatments. That was very, very rewarding.”
Hodges maintains that all disciplines interact in some way with computers. He says the primary goal for the new School of Computing located within the College of Engineering and Science is to be defined as much more than a computer science department.
“The goal is to maintain a strong computer science program while also developing new divisions that integrate computation with the arts, sciences and engineering,” he says. “Most importantly, our undergraduates are learning to solve problems in all kinds of areas. Computing skills provide the student with tools that can be used to become successful in almost any discipline.”
Dozens of technically savvy, artistically talented graduates from the Digital Production Arts program have been recruited to work on major film productions that feature animation and special effects — some of which have garnered Oscar nods.
With collaborative projects like iTiger, Clemson’s Memorial Stadium and its 80,000 fans become a living laboratory at home games as research, education, technology and athletics come together for more than just football. This project could eventually bring instant replay, game-day statistics, memorabilia and e-concessions to the fingertips of enthusiasts sitting in the stands using their own handheld digital devices.
“The first speech I give to students is that we work in teams. Team building is the key component to successful research,” says Hodges. “This is not for students who want to sit in a corner and program. Industry today is looking for employees who can work in a team setting, be creative and be trustworthy.”