Steve Mann, who is often referred to as the “godfather” of wearable computing, has been appointed chief scientist at Vancouver-based Istuary Innovation Labs.
Istuary Innovation Labs is part of Istuary Innovation Group, a Canadian tech organization focuses on identifying and filling technology gaps in foreign markets with Canadian design and engineering talent. The incubator’s Innovation Labs and Idea Labs are the core of the business, focusing on market discovery and commercialization, and resources like office space and mentorship, respectively.
The company appointed Mann as a way to accelerate innovation in industrial wearable computing.
“Without a doubt, Steve has the visionary insight and incomparable expertise in utilizing technology to enhance human decision-making. We are extremely confident in advancing Istuary’s research and development capability in this scientific research effort,” said Ethan Sun, founder and chairman of Istuary Innovation Group.
Mann has previously acted as chief scientist of Meta, an augmented reality venture that built AR glasses, as well as the chief scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab at Rotman’s School of Management. Mann also founded the MIT Media Lab’s Wearable Computing project as its first member. He’s been wearing some form of a computer on his body since the 1980s, and invented the EyeTap Digital Glass in 1978, which allows the human eye to effectively become both a camera and TV screen.
Photo via YouTube
