Steve Mann, widely considered the “father of wearable computing,” has devoted his life to turning this curiosity into radical innovations. His journey to T3 America started from a humble background where he showed an exceptional ability with technology as a child. By the time he celebrated his eighth birthday, Mann had already started a successful repair business serving customers in his community. He was an ace radio/TV repairman. This early STEM experience planted the seed for his passion in engineering. Beyond that, it set her on a course toward a career defined by creative thinking and artistic practice.
Mann’s natural curiosity has always helped him to reimagine what could be, instead of focusing on what shouldn’t happen. This can-do attitude inspired him to co-found InteraXon, a Toronto-based company best known for building the Muse brain-sensing headband. The little gadget is being touted as a miracle for deepening meditation. It features community and real time feedback, which serves as a reminder of Mann’s commitment to combining technology and the art of being human.
Early Education and Academic Achievements
His academic journey is nearly as decorated as his professional achievements. He received his first bachelor’s degree in 1986, and a second degree in electrical engineering three years later in 1989. Mann first harnessed this passion for knowledge by getting a master’s degree in engineering in 1991. He subsequently went on to receive his Ph.D. in media arts and sciences in 1997. His doctoral research laid the groundwork for the underlying ideas and hardware that led to further developments. Accordingly, it has had a huge effect on the evolution of smart glasses and life-logging devices.
Mann’s educational accomplishments don’t stop there though, in 1997 Mann co-founded the International Symposium on Wearable Computers. This event has quickly evolved into a critical showcase for research advancements and groundbreaking industry applications. It makes an even stronger case that Mann is one of the thought leaders par excellence in this rapidly changing field.
“I feel like I’m a late bloomer,” – Steve Mann
Despite his numerous accolades and contributions, Mann remains humble about his journey. He believes that the best is yet to come, stating, “I was fixing radios when I was 8, but my best work? That’s going to happen between 65 and 85.” This view shines a new light on his long-lasting love for creation and discovery and the value of lifelong learning.
Professional Impact and Contributions
In 1998, Mann returned to Canada to join the University of Toronto as a professor of electrical and computer engineering. He pours his vast practical knowledge into the classroom, serving multiple terms as an adjunct professor. At the same time, he is at the forefront of an emerging field of wearable computing. Mann is a member of professional societies including the IEEE Computer Society and the IEEE Consumer Technology Society, and serves on various technical committees. The way he expresses ideas gets people rattling their brains and continuing to discuss tech’s promise and peril.
Mann’s work has not gone unnoticed. He has received several prestigious awards, including the IEEE award and the Lifeboat Foundation’s Guardian Award. These awards honor his pivotal work in moving the field of wearable technology forward. They point to its positive effects on all of humanity and its uses for good.
“AI can replace a walking encyclopedia. It can’t replace passion.” – Steve Mann
Mann is quick to stress that it’s passion, not technology that leads the way. For him, the key to innovation has always been a fire-in-the-belly love of the craft. It isn’t merely a matter of meeting academic or professional prerequisites. “Go beyond [what’s covered at] school. Don’t define yourself by the classes you took or the jobs you had. Define yourself by what you love so much you’d do it,” he advises.
Future Aspirations and Vision
And if you think that all these accomplishments signal a slowdown for the 71-year-old Steve Mann, you’d be wrong. That said, he is still passionate about pushing technology to benefit humankind and save the planet. His vision is more than just accelerating technology. His mission is to design inspired solutions that make life better while saving our planet.
“Sometimes you invent it by simply refusing to accept the limitations of the present.” – Steve Mann
Mann’s perspective on innovation reflects a deep understanding of technology’s potential to transform society. He encourages future generations to take risks, be creative, and defy conventions. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it,” he quotes, echoing the sentiments of fellow innovator Alan Kay.