PARC Research Organizations

Our research community comprises four research organizations ("laboratories") with a mix of physical, computer, biomedical, and social scientists. However, most PARC research and client projects bring together diverse expertise from multiple groups – so the result is an agile, cross-disciplinary approach to innovation.

Computing Science Laboratory (CSL)

Our CSL organization focuses on the intersection of computing within the environment, and trustworthy, easy-to-use systems that transform the capabilities of people and organizations. With expertise spanning anthropology, applied mathematics and statistics, computer science, human-computer interaction, physics, sociology, and more, CSL researchers are currently focusing on ethnography (with technologies and in workscapes); ubiquitous and pervasive computing research; "usable" security – and are also pioneering a new vision for networking. [example bibliography]

Electronic Materials and Devices Laboratory (EMDL)

Our EMDL organization focuses on core components and devices that provide valuable leverage when integrated into systems. With research ranging from foundational materials science to device- and system-prototyping, the organization utilizes researcher expertise spanning chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science, mathematics, microsystem engineering, and physics. EMDL researchers are currently focusing on large-area systems (including thin-film transistor arrays on flexible substrates and printed electronics); optoelectronic materials and devices; MEMS for printing and other applications; and nanoscale technologies. [example bibliography]

Hardware Systems Laboratory (HSL)

Our HSL organization develops platforms to address significant customer needs, by inventing and applying competitively advantaged PARC technologies. With researcher expertise spanning applied physics, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, and mechanical engineering, HSL is currently focusing on inkjet printing, biomedical systems for drug discovery and clinical diagnostics, and clean technologies that include solar energy generation and water purification. [example bibliography]

Intelligent Systems Laboratory (ISL)

Our ISL organization focuses on interactive and embedded computing at the intersection of humans, information, and machines. With competencies in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computational linguistics, and computer vision, ISL researchers create software and systems that augment human and machine intelligence. Research includes collaborative and social web tools for knowledge acquisition and management; intelligent visual workspaces for making sense of massive amounts of unstructured information; image understanding based on perceptual organization principles; information discovery and question answering with human language understanding; and intelligent control systems for reconfigurable and autonomous machines. [example bibliography]