About Me

I’ve always loved animals and the creativity of computer science—building anything you can imagine

I started building computers early in my teens. One of my first programs was a Visual Basic application for my Dad that asked if you wanted a place for your cup of tea and ejected the CD drive. I have always been in love with animals, having guinea pigs, rats, fish, horses and dogs growing up.

After I graduated, my dad bought me a dog, and I fell instantly in love. While watching TV together, I started thinking about how I could give him control of the TV using microcontrollers. This sparked my PhD research on dogs controlling screens, which expanded into work with other animals and has driven my primary research focus: giving animals more control and autonomy over their lives. You can often see photos of my dog in my talks and papers. He is the primary anchor of my heart.