Haiyan Zhang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haiyan Zhang
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Haiyan Zhang discusses her Japan Geigermap in 2012
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| Alma mater | Monash University Interaction Design Institute Ivrea |
| Employer | Microsoft Research |
| Known for | The Emma Watch Innovations in Technology Making |
Haiyan Zhang is a super talented designer and engineer. She works at Microsoft Research as a Director of Innovation. She helps lead new ideas and projects there. You might have seen her on the BBC show "Big Life Fix".
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Haiyan Zhang's Early Life and Education
Haiyan Zhang was born in China. When she was eight years old, she moved to Australia with her family. She went to Monash University and studied computer science. She did really well, earning top honors!
After university, she worked for a company called Space-Time Research. But she loved design, so she left Australia to study it more. She moved to Canada and studied Interactive Multimedia at Sheridan College. There, she even helped create a tool to see brain activity during operations! Later, she went to Italy to get her Master's degree in Interaction Design.
Haiyan Zhang's Career in Design and Tech
Haiyan Zhang has worked for many cool companies. She was an Interaction Designer for the British Design Council and Stanford University. In 2006, she joined IDEO. This company helps create new technology experiences. She worked with big names like Mattel and Electronic Arts.
OpenIDEO: Solving Problems Together
Haiyan Zhang also helped start OpenIDEO. This is an online platform where people from all over the world work together. They try to solve big challenges for the good of society. Over 150,000 people use this site!
Working at Microsoft
In 2013, Haiyan Zhang joined Microsoft. She first worked on games and wearable tech at their Lift London studio. By 2015, she became the Innovation Director at Microsoft Research. She loves creating technology that helps people play and stay healthy.
In 2011, she made a special interactive map. This map showed radiation levels around Japan. It was used a lot after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. She also helped Safecast. This group makes simple devices to measure radiation. They give these devices to people around Fukushima.
Big Life Fix: Tech for Good
Haiyan Zhang was one of the experts on the BBC Two show "Big Life Fix". On this show, tech experts helped people with real-life problems. Haiyan created two amazing inventions: the Emma Watch and Fizzyo.
Fizzyo: Making Breathing Fun
Fizzyo is a special toy for children with cystic fibrosis. This condition makes it hard to clear their lungs. Fizzyo encourages them to do their breathing exercises. It has a sensor in the mouthpiece. This sensor connects to a computer game on a tablet. Kids play the game by doing their breathing exercises!
The Emma Watch: Helping with Tremors
The Emma Watch helps people with Parkinson's disease. This disease can cause shaky hands, called tremors. The watch helps to reduce these tremors. It works by changing the signals between the brain and the hand. Microsoft showed off this device at a big conference. It was named after Emma Lawton, a graphic designer. Haiyan met Emma on the show. This invention got a lot of attention in the news.
Haiyan Zhang often gives talks and appears on podcasts. She talks about design and engineering. She also works to get more women involved in technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA) and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
