Vietnamese girl becomes famous worldwide thanks to mind-reading device
Tan Le, CEO of Emotiv Inc, was included in Forbes' list of '50 people you need to know' thanks to EEG technology that helps control everything with thoughts.
Tan Le was born in 1977 in South Vietnam and moved to Australia with her mother and grandmother at the age of 4. In Melbourne, her mother worked hard at the GM Holden factory to support the family. Life was difficult, but her grandmother always encouraged Tan Le to pursue her education and created conditions for her daughter to access technology from an early age.
Tan Le (41 years old) is one of the pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence. Photo:Emotiv. |
As an immigrant, Tan Le quickly integrated into the local community. At school, she was one of the typical students with excellent academic results and active extracurricular activities.
At the age of 16, Tan Le completed high school and enrolled in law at Monash University in Melbourne. Two years later, Tan Le was elected President of the Service Resource Center for Vietnamese Australians. At the age of 20, Tan Le was awarded the Young Face of the Year award by the government.
The award opened up many opportunities for Tan Le. She met famous figures such as former Australian prime ministers Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and John Howard.Tan Le alsowas awarded a reserve berth to join the Western Bulldogs football club. Here,Tan Lemet famous MC Eddie McGuire, who helped her develop the company's media operations later.
In 2001, when smartphones were not yet available, Tan Le and a Vietnamese friend started their first project with the SASME mobile phone message copying and storage application. This application helps users store important information without fear of running out of memory. Thanks to MC Eddie McGuire, after only one day of launching, this application had 30,000 registered users.
In 2003, a telecommunications company bought Tan Le's application, helping her pocket a small fortune. That same year, Tan Le and two friends founded Emotiv System Company, specializing in researching and manufacturing high-tech devices.
In 2009, Emotiv launched a technology called EEG, which measures the electrical activity of the brain. However, the device did not gain much attention in Australia. In 2010, Tan Le decided to go to the US to seek opportunities to develop the company.
Coming to the US, Tan Le founded Emotiv Lifesciences Inc in Silicon Valley. This company uses EEG technology to produce software, data, mobile apps, mind-reading devices...
Emotiv's EEG technology specializes in exploring the brain's hidden capabilities with the aim of enhancing thinking ability, improving the way of thinking, helping the brain work effectively, increasing human cognitive ability...
Emotiv's head-worn device helps develop children's thinking ability. Photo:Emotiv. |
"The brain has billions of neurons, when these cells interact with each other, they emit electrical impulses. After Emotiv's EEG device is worn on the head, it will measure the electrical impulses emitted by the brain, analyze and translate them into commands or meanings to control robots, turn on lights or drive cars automatically," Tan Le explained.
In 2015, Emotiv launched the Emotiv Insight headset, designed specifically for customers who want to learn about and improve their brains. The device helps users identify good and bad habits in their daily lives and adjust them.
One of the most important applications of EEG technology is the ability to translate thoughts and actions to the outside world. This allows people with disabilities and limited mobility to use their brains to control surrounding objects and adapt to their environment.
In 2017, Rodrigo Hubner Mendes, a paraplegic, used an Emotiv head-mounted display to drive a Formula 1 car. A computer connected to the device translated his thoughts into control commands.
"When I'm in the car and to accelerate, I think about the target ahead; to turn right, left, I think about the car's control stick and move it," Rodrigo Hubner Mendes excitedly shared his experience wearing Emotiv's smart device.
Emotiv's head-worn devices are compact and easy to use. Photo:Emotiv. |
According to experts' predictions, in the future, Emotiv's technology promises to bring people an automated system, the world will be controlled by thought alone. Artificial intelligence will replace data processing and machine operations.
In addition to its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Emotiv Inc currently has three representative offices in Sydney (Australia), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Tan Le is one of the few female leaders in the field of artificial intelligence. Her inventions are highly appreciated by the scientific and technological community. In 2009, Tan Le joined the World Economic Forum's Young Leaders Association. In 2011, she was voted by Forbes into the list of 50 people you need to know.