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Cindy Kao

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Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao (Traditional Chinese: 高新綠; pinyin: Gāo Xīnlǜ) is a professor, researcher and interdisciplinary designer based at Cornell University focusing on human-centered design, computer science, and wearable technologies.[1][2] She is the founder and director of Cornell University's Hybrid Body Lab, a transdisciplinary research laboratory focusing on integrating cultural and social perspectives into the design of on-body interfaces.[3][4] Through her research, Kao aims to foster inclusive designs for soft wearable technologies. Kao was awarded the 2021 National Science Foundation CAREER Award and SXSW Interactive Innovation Award for her wearable research technologies, along with over a dozen design awards.[5][6] Her work has been mentioned in Forbes, CNN, TIME, and WIRED.[4][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Education

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In 2011, Kao attended the National Taiwan University and received a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.B.A. in Technology Management.[14] In 2013, Kao continued her education at the National Taiwan University and graduated with a M.S. in Computer Science. In 2018, Kao attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving a Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab.[15][16]

Career

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After publishing her research about NailO [17][13][18] – a technology focused on using the fingernail as a site for wearable technology – at the MIT Media Lab, Kao became a intern at Microsoft Research in the summer of 2015.[19] That summer, Kao initiated and lead a project focused on the creation of tattoo antennas with the capability of being read by NFC tag readers within smartphones. Kao continued this tattoo antenna project at the MIT Media Lab in the fall of 2015 where she was a PhD researcher, and in 2016 expanding it into a novel fabrication approach for creating a jewelry-like interactive temporary tattoo called DuoSkin.[20] DuoSkin received viral media attention and numerous accolades due to its unique convergence of emerging on-skin technology, fashion, and human-centered design. DuoSkin expanded public interest in the potential of smart tattoos.[10][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Forbes described DuoSkin as: "This tattoo is temporary, but it’s permanently changed people’s impressions of wearable tech."[10]

Kao currently holds the position of assistant professor in Human-Centered Design at Cornell University, with additional graduate field faculty appointments in Information Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering.[2][1] She is also the founder and director of Cornell University's Hybrid Body Lab, a research laboratory dedicated to the exploration of on-body interfaces.[3][9][4][7] Kao has worked on the development of a research practice known as Hybrid Body Craft, an approach for blending cultural and social perspectives into the design of on-body interfaces.[28] Her goal is to create more inclusive and diverse designs for next generation wearable technology that may reflect (instead of constrict) the uniqueness of individual identities.[29][28][4]

In 2021, Kao founded the Hybrid Body Lab Artist-in-Residence (AiR) Program.[30] The goal of the AiR is to invite on-body artists, such as tattoo, makeup, hair and nail artists, to collaborate and leverage the on-body technology developed by the Hybrid Body Lab into their artistic practices.[31][32] The goal is to enable diverse perspectives beyond STEM for the development of next generation wearable technology.

Kao was awarded the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2021 for her project focusing on the advancement of on-skin interfaces, such as smart tattoos and bandages, through a lens of inclusive design.[5]

Awards

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In 2016, Kao was awarded the Silver A'Design Award Winner in the Wearable Technologies Design Category, given to the top 5% percentile of participants.[33]

In 2017, Kao's work were recognized as a finalist for the Fast Company's Innovation by Design Award.[34] Kao received a nomination for the Ars Electronica STARTS Prize.[35] She was also awarded the SXSW Interactive Innovation Award for her research technologies.[6]

Exhibitions

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In 2017, Kao's work was featured on the New York Fashion Week Runway, showcasing the fusion of technology and fashion.[36] In 2019, Kao's work was displayed at the Pompidou Centre in Paris.[37] That same year, the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture exhibited Kao's work in its "A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes" exhibition, organized by Barrett Barrera Projects and curated by MUSEEA.[38] In 2020, Kao's contributions were showcased at a joint exhibition titled "human (un)limited" in Beijing that was hosted by hosted by Hyundai Motorstudio and Ars Electronica.[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kao weaves craft techniques with on-skin tech | Cornell Chronicle". news.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  2. ^ a b "Cindy (Hsin-Liu) Kao | Cornell College of Human Ecology". www.human.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ a b "Skin Deep: Crafting Tech onto the Body -- A Talk with Prof. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao | Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity". milstein-program.as.cornell.edu. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  4. ^ a b c d Stuart, S.C. (27 July 2021). "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Tiny Printed Circuit Board". PCMAG. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  5. ^ a b "NSF Award Search: Award # 2047249 - CAREER: On-Skin Interface Prototyping Toolkits: Democratizing Next Generation Wearable Computing". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, Jordan (2017-03-15). "Announcing the 2017 Winners of the SXSW Interactive Innovation Awards". SXSW. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  7. ^ a b "These 'Smart Tattoos' Are Showing The Future Of Wearable Technology". IndiaTimes. 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  8. ^ Sharma, Anirudh (13 June 2021). "Engineering and Environmental Analysis Researchers Develop Technology to Invest in Local Communities - The Cornell Daily Sun". cornellsun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  9. ^ a b "About". Hybrid Body Lab. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  10. ^ a b c Drahl, Carmen. "The Surprisingly Simple Chemistry In DuoSkin, Temporary Tattoos That Control Your Phone". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  11. ^ McFarland, Matt (2016-08-15). "This tattoo that controls a smartphone may be a glimpse of the future". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  12. ^ "Get Ready To Turn Your Thumb Into a Miniature Trackpad". Time. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  13. ^ a b Stinson, Liz. "This Adorable Thumbnail Trackpad Could Actually Be Useful". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  14. ^ "全系所公告". 國立臺灣大學資訊工程學系 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  15. ^ Asia, Tech Wire (2016-08-17). "WATCH: Taiwanese PhD student creates flash tattoos that let you control your phone". Tech Wire Asia. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  16. ^ "Person Overview ‹ Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao". MIT Media Lab. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  17. ^ "Thumbnail track pad". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  18. ^ "This Shiny Nail Art is Actually a Bluetooth Trackpad". Fast Company.
  19. ^ "NailO | MIT Media Lab". nailo.media.mit.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  20. ^ "DuoSkin". MIT. 2015. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  21. ^ "These temporary tattoos turn you into a temporary cyborg". The Washington Post.
  22. ^ "This tattoo that controls a smartphone may be a glimpse of the future". CNN.
  23. ^ "From smog-eating towers to ocean-cleaning barriers, how design is inspiring innovation". WIRED UK.
  24. ^ "DuoSkin turns temporary tattoos into on-skin interfaces". TechCrunch.
  25. ^ "MIT shows off a smart tattoo that can turn your skin into a touchpad". QUARTZ.
  26. ^ "MIT's and Microsoft's flash tattoos can control gadgets". Engadget.
  27. ^ "Amplified Skin- DuoSkin". Arte Tracks.
  28. ^ a b Kao, Cindy Hsin-Liu. "Hybrid Body Craft: Toward Culturally and Socially Inclusive Design for On-Skin Interfaces". www.computer.org. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  29. ^ "CSDL | IEEE Computer Society". www.computer.org. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  30. ^ "Hybrid Body Lab Artist in Residence Program".
  31. ^ "Tattoo artist bridges design with 3-D technology".
  32. ^ "Artist explores cultural identity by deconstructing materials".
  33. ^ Competition, A' Design Award &. "Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao Designer Profile". A' Design Award. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  34. ^ "Fast Company's 2017 Innovation by Design Awards".
  35. ^ "DuoSkin". S+T+ARTS PRIZE. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  36. ^ designboom, martin hislop I. (2017-03-29). "MIT duoskin electrical temporary tattoos a success at new york fashion week". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  37. ^ "Designing the Living - "Mutations/Creations 3"". Centre Pompidou. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  38. ^ "A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes | MoPOP". Museum of Pop Culture. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  39. ^ Kreuzhuber, Katia (2020-01-07). "DuoSkin: Like a Second Skin". Ars Electronica Blog. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
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