The Eastman Medal awarded to Prof. Kevin J. Parker and Theophano Mitsa, former PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Blue Noise Mask

Many of you are probably aware that Kevin Parker, our Dean Emeritus and William F. May Professor of Engineering, and Theophano Mitsa '91, a PhD student working with Parker, invented the Blue Noise Mask, which dramatically improved the quality of images produced by printers, faxes and other devices, and the speed at which they are produced. But you may not realize what this has meant to the Hajim School. Royalties generated by their invention provided $4 million to endow two chairs in biomedical engineering -- which was instrumental in securing $6 million from the Whitaker Foundation for what was then a  fledgling biomedical engineering department. The funding included a challenge grant that helped construct Goergen Hall -- and helped BME become the powerhouse department it is today.

Royalties from Blue Noise Mask also endowed three professorships in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and were used to establish the Theophano Mitsa and Kevin J.Parker Scholarship Fund.

This is a great example of what can happen when great ideas of our researchers are translated into products and services. It sets in motion what Kevin refers to as a "virtuous cycle," in which royalties can be plowed back into faculty positions and research labs, sparking more innovative ideas, some of which can in turn be commercialized, creating a continuous cycle. The Eastman Medals that Kevin and Theo received last week are richly deserved -- not only for what the two of them accomplished, but for the superb example they have set for all of us.