Martine Kempf facts for kids

Martine Kempf is a French computer scientist. She is famous for inventing the Katalavox in 1985. This was a special computer system that could understand and react to spoken commands. It's like a voice assistant for machines!

Martine Kempf was born in 1951 in Dossenheim-Kochersberg, France. Her parents were Jean-Pierre Kempf and Brigitte Maguerite Klockenbring Kempf. She studied astronomy at the University of Bonn in Germany from 1981 to 1983. While there, she became very interested in how electronics, computer parts (hardware), and computer programs (software) work.

During her studies, Martine was inspired by young people in Germany. Some were born with physical challenges because their mothers had taken a medicine called thalidomide. Martine thought that a voice control system could help them drive cars. This idea also led to her invention helping surgeons. They could use voice commands to control tiny tools during operations. It even has the potential to let people control a car using their voice through a mobile phone.

Martine Kempf's Family and Early Inspiration

Martine Kempf's father, Jean-Pierre Kempf, faced his own challenges. He became paralyzed in his legs from polio when he was two years old. Despite this, he loved mechanics. Jean-Pierre built his own car, changing it so he could drive it himself.

How Jean-Pierre Kempf Helped Others

His special car design became very popular. Many people with disabilities wanted a similar car. So, Jean-Pierre started his own company. He made cars for people who had lost the use of their legs or arms. His company became the top maker of driving aids in France. It also became well-known in other European countries.

Jean-Pierre invented important driving tools. These included a digital accelerator ring and a main hand brake. These inventions are now standard hand controls in France. He kept creating new driving solutions for people with disabilities. He could adapt his designs for almost any vehicle. Jean-Pierre Kempf continued this work until he passed away on April 10, 2002.

Building Her Own Company

Martine Kempf wanted to start her own company in France. But in 1985, she couldn't get a loan from the French government. So, she moved to Silicon Valley in the United States. There, she started a company that adapted surgical microscopes.

Taking Over the Family Business

In the mid-1990s, Martine became a supplier for her father's company. Later, she restarted his company in France, named KEMPF SAS. She also established KEMPF Inc. in the U.S. and became its CEO. Martine Kempf took over her father's mission. She continued to help people with disabilities gain the freedom to drive. She is also the founder of Kempf Beijing Technology Co Ltd.

KEMPF Inc. changes vehicles for drivers with disabilities. This includes trucks, vans, minivans, SUVs, cars, and even sports cars. KEMPF SAS in Europe and Kempf Beijing Technology Co Ltd. in China are like sister companies to KEMPF Inc.

The Amazing Katalavox Invention

While at university, Martine Kempf taught herself electronics. She learned from books and magazines. This knowledge helped her design a very advanced speech recognition system.

What the Katalavox Can Do

Martine Kempf's big invention was the Katalavox. It's a special voice recognition microcomputer. Surgeons can use it to control surgical microscopes easily with simple spoken words. For example, they can say "zoom in" or "move right."

The Katalavox can also help people with disabilities. They can use their voice to control their electric wheelchairs. The Katalavox looks like a small box and weighs about five pounds. It responds to commands like "right," "left," "zoom in," or "zoom out" incredibly fast – in just 0.008 seconds! The device remembers the user's voice even when it's turned off.

Where the Katalavox is Used Today

Today, the Katalavox is used in many important places. These include Moscow's Institute of Eye Microsurgery, Paris' Rothschild Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic. Martine Kempf created the Katalavox by changing human voice signals (analog) into computer signals (digital). Even NASA recognizes this invention. They are testing the Katalavox in space shuttles to control cameras.