Xiaoyuan Tu facts for kids

Xiaoyuan Tu (born in 1967) is a brilliant Chinese computer scientist. She is an expert in areas like machine learning, which helps computers learn from data. She also works on understanding how things move (physics and biomechanics) and creating smart virtual characters.

Xiaoyuan Tu earned her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Toronto. Today, she is a lead scientist and software engineer at Apple Inc. There, she invents and develops new ways for technology to understand and control motion.

Education and Early Achievements

Learning About Computers and Control

Xiaoyuan Tu started her journey at Tsinghua University in China. She earned a degree in control theory and information science. This field is all about how systems work and how to make them do what you want.

After that, she went to McMaster University from 1990 to 1991. There, she earned her Master's degree in computer science. Her studies focused on special computer programs called algorithms. These algorithms help computers work on many tasks at the same time, which is called parallel computation.

Earning a Ph.D. and a Special Award

Right after McMaster, she joined the University of Toronto. In 1996, she completed her Ph.D. in computer science. Her Ph.D. project was about creating "Artificial Animals for Computer Animation." This involved understanding how animals move, how they see, and how they behave.

For her amazing work, she received the ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award. This is a very important award for new Ph.D. graduates in computer science. Xiaoyuan Tu was the first woman and the first person from a Canadian university to win this award.

Working in the Tech World

Early Career in Research

After finishing her Ph.D., Xiaoyuan Tu worked at Silicon Graphics as a researcher. She also taught for a short time at Stanford University. Later, she joined Intel, a big technology company, as a research scientist.

At Intel, she helped create a special 3D animation system. This system was used to make smart virtual characters. She also led the development of a new way for people to shop online interactively.

Creating AiLive Inc. and Motion Control

In May 2000, Xiaoyuan Tu co-founded a company called AiLive Inc with Wei Yen. She was the lead scientist and product manager there. Her team worked on using machine learning to improve video games.

They developed a program called LiveMotion. This program focused on recognizing, tracking, and controlling motion in games. This technology was very important for Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus controller. It helped create a whole new generation of games that players controlled with their movements.

Innovations at Apple Inc.

In December 2009, Xiaoyuan Tu joined Apple. She continues to work there today. At Apple, she develops new ways for iOS devices (like iPhones and iPads) to understand and control motion.

She has played a key role in many projects, including:

• Recognizing how a device is oriented (which way it's facing).
• The "Raise to Talk" feature, where you lift your phone to speak.
• Classifying different types of motion activity on iOS devices.
• Improving compass algorithms for accurate directions.
• Developing the core motion technology used in iOS.

Xiaoyuan Tu is also listed as an inventor on several patents filed by Apple. These patents include new ways to encrypt data for AirDrop. She also helped improve how magnetometers (which detect magnetic fields) work on iOS devices. Her work also includes advancements in Apple CarPlay automation.

Awards and Publications

Recognitions for Her Work

• ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award — This award recognized her Ph.D. work on "Artificial Animals for Computer Animation: Biomechanics, Locomotion, Perception, and Behavior."
• Technical Excellence Award from the Canadian Academy of Multimedia and Arts.

Books She Has Written

• Artificial animals for computer animation (1999)

See also

In Spanish: Tu Xiaoyuan para niños