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Draft:May-Li Khoe

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May-Li Khoe
Born1977
Netherlands
NationalityDutch-Canadian
EducationSB 6-2 1999, M.Eng 2000
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
SpouseFederico Ardila
Scientific career
FieldsHuman-computer interaction, educational technology, user experience design
InstitutionsVice President of Design at Khan Academy, Former designer at Apple Inc.
Websitehttps://www.maylikhoe.com/

May-Li Khoe (born 1977) is a Dutch-Canadian technology expert, designer, and creative technologist who worked in user experience (UX) design, software development, and human-computer interaction.[1] She has held positions at companies including Apple and Khan Academy, and has been involved in entrepreneurial projects like Scribble Together and Boogie Loops. Khoe has also mentored activities in the technology industry.[2]

Khoe is married to Federico Ardila, a Colombian mathematician specializing in combinatorics and matroid theory.[3]

Early life and education

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May-Li Khoe was born in the Netherlands to Chinese-Indonesian parents and later moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she grew up.[3] Her early interest in digital design began with tools such as MacPaint, KidPix, and HyperCard. By high school, she had already working with software like Photoshop and collaborating on projects that combined art and technology.[4]

In 1999, Khoe completed her undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She then pursued a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, completed in 2000.[2] During her time at MIT, she researched human-computer interaction and user interface design under the supervision of Pattie Maes at the MIT Media Lab.[5] In 2022, Khoe completed a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University.[3]

Career

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Khoe began her career working with HyperTalk programming in HyperCard, where she created interactive educational tools and games. These early projects marked the beginning of her focus on integrating design and technology to improve user experience.[6]

Apple Inc.

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The official logo of Apple Inc., a technology company that designs and manufactures consumer electronics, software, and digital services.

At Apple, she contributed to the development of the initial version of Find My iPhone[6], used for locating Apple devices. She later joined the Human Interface Device Prototyping team, where she worked on new technologies for Apple's application screen animation, including Force Touch and Taptic Engine, which were integrated into devices such as first iPhone, the first iPad Mini and the Apple Pencil.[2]

Khoe learned about the time and effort required for each phase of the design process, including conducting pressure tests and ensuring that selected materials met design specifications. She collaborated with Engineering Program Managers (EPMs) and other designers, including Evans Hankey, Anthony Michael Fadell, and Jonathan Paul Ive, who was the Chief Design Officer at Apple at the time. She observed that significant portions of work were revised or discarded before a final approval, illustrating the iterative aspects of the design process.[7]

Khan Academy

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Logo of Khan Academy, depicting a teal hexagon next to a sans-serif wordmark.

Khoe served as Vice President of Design at Khan Academy, a nonprofit educational platform dedicated to accessible education. In this role, she spearheaded the development and implementation of user research methodologies and design systems, ensuring that user-centered approaches informed the platform’s. Recognizing the importance of team dynamics, she introduced a weekly survey grounded in the four-quadrant model to evaluate key factors such as team diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration. This indicative provided actionable insights to foster a supportive and productive work environment, enhancing the design team’s ability to align with Khan Academy’s mission of delivering equitable educational opportunities.[8]

Entrepreneurship and Mentorship

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May-Li Khoe has worked on projects that integrate design, technology, and user-centered innovation.[7] She co-created Boogie Loops, a project focused on game development and music technology, and Scribble Together, a collaborative tool designed to support educational technology and remote work solutions. Khoe also contributed to Dynamicland, where she worked on spatial computing, tangible experiences, and accessibility across platforms.[9]

In 2018, Khoe co-founded Scribble Together, a collaborative whiteboard application aimed at facilitating remote teamwork. She also developed Boogie Loops, a music and dance creation app for the Playdate console. Khoe has mentored startups and individuals in the tech and design sectors, offering guidance on both creative and technical development.[9][10]

Scribble Together and Boogie Loops

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Launched in 2018 by Khoe and Bridger Maxwell, Scribble Together is an online collaborative whiteboard designed for real-time brainstorming and drawing. Initially focused on educational and creative uses, it quickly expanded into remote work and team collaboration contexts, particularly during the rise of virtual communication in the early 2020s. The platform’s features, including multi-user drawing and screen sharing, have supported educators, artists, and teams in adapting to remote environments and have contributed to adoption both in the professional and educational fields.[10][11]

Interface of Boogie Loops, a music and dance creation game developed by May-Li Khoe for the Playdate console, utilizing the console's crank to control music and dance elements.

Boogie Loops, released on April 25, 2022 as part of the Playdate console's first season, offers a platform for creative expression through music and dance. The game allows users to create layered musical loops and choreograph synchronized dance routines, utilizing the Playdate console's crank mechanism to enhance interactivity and combine elements of art, music, and technology.[9]

The game has been recognized for its role in making creative processes more accessible and engaging for users with diverse skill levels. Its incorporation of physical interaction into music and movement creation has been recognized as an example of interactive entertainment.[9]

Dynamicland

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Khoe has been involved in Dynamicland, an experimental project based in Oakland, that explored new methods of interacting with digital information in physical spaces. Dynamicland utilized spatial computing to create immersive environments that replaced traditional screens with interactive surfaces. This approach allows users to engage with digital content through tangible objects and natural gestures, encouraging collaborative and hands-on experiences.[12]

Khoe played a consultative role in the project, supporting the continuity of the research group behind Dynamicland, during a transitional period in which several original members left. She contributed to the development of the Dynamicland platform, particularly its focus on spatial computing.[13]

The project’s primary objective was to shift from individual screen-based interaction to a more communal, physical approach to computing. The project’s emphasis on immersive, room-sized interactive environments was a key feature of its exploration of new methods for digital information interaction.[13]

Academic Contributions

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Khoe has lectured at institutions such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard University, on topics related to design ad technology. She has also co-taught courses at San Francisco State University with her husband Federico Ardila, integrating design and mathematical concepts.

May-Li Khoe

Publications and Recognition

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Khoe's written works have been appeared in publications such as Umber Magazine and Fourteen Hills, where she explored themes intersecting design, creativty and culture. She was also featured in HTML Review, a publication dedicated to design and technoloy.

In 2021, Khoe served as the Jury Chair for the Interaction Awards, hosted by the Interaction Design Association (IxDA), an event recognizing achievements in interaction design.[14]

Patents

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May-Li Khoe has been involved in the creation of several patents related to touchscreen interfaces, haptic feedback, and user interaction technologies. Many of these patents were filed during her time at Apple, and they have influenced the design of key features in Apple's operating systems, such as 3D Touch, the Apple Pencil, and multitasking capabilities on the iPad.

Patent number Name Area of Application Abstract
US11947724B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for providing tactile feedback for operations performed in a user interface Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces This patent allows a touch-screen device to provide tactile feedback during user interactions, such as adjusting settings.[15]
US9753639B2 (2015) Device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying content associated with a corresponding affordance Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A touch-sensitive device that changes the size of an icon based on the pressure of a user's touch, with harder touches displaying related content.[16]
US10775994B2 (2018) Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving and dropping a user interface object Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A system that responds to touch gestures to move interface objects, tracking touch intensity to determine if both the selector and object should move together or separately.[17]
US 9,245,960 Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving a cursor according to a change in an appearance of a control icon with simulated three-dimensional characteristics Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A touchscreen device that simulates depth perception by altering the appearance of 3D icons based on pressure applied by the user.[18]
US 9,270,839 Systems and methods for resizing applications in a multitasking view on an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display Multitasking, Touchscreen Devices A system that detects user gestures at the borders between two displayed applications to resize the second application and adjust the first application accordingly.[19]
US 9,317,009 Dynamic User Interface Adaptable to Multiple Input Tools Input Methods, Touchscreen Devices A device that detects different stylus inputs, adjusting the user interface to respond to each unique input method. This feature improved functionality with the Apple Pencil.[20]
US 9,403,452 Complex Handling of Conditional Messages Messaging, Notifications A system that manages notifications based on specific conditions, such as location or device activity, to trigger messages when predefined conditions are met.[21]
US 9,249,422 Smart Auto-Completion Text Input, Multimedia, Calculations A system that analyzes user input and context to provide relevant suggestions, including multimedia content, as part of an advanced auto-completion process.[22]
US 9,176,038 User detection by a computing device User Interaction, Device Access A device that detects the presence and context of a user, using facial recognition or other means to perform actions based on the user's identity or location.[23]
US 9,238,522 Graphical user interface for a display screen User Interfaces, Display Technology A system that dynamically adjusts the size and arrangement of display elements based on user interaction to improve accessibility and usability.[24]
US 9,456,501 Newsreader for mobile device Mobile Devices, Content Consumption A system that allows mobile devices to access and display news content in a supported format, implemented in applications such as Apple News.[25]
US 9,195,204 Intelligent digital assistant in a desktop environment AI, Digital Assistants, Desktop Devices A digital assistant that interacts with users via gestures or voice input in a desktop environment, enhancing user interaction with AI.[26]
US 9,295,753 Virtual noticeboard user interaction User Interfaces, Notifications A system that enhances virtual noticeboards by introducing context-sensitive notifications and interactive elements, improving user engagement.[27]
US 9,688,464 Automatic cropping of video content Video Editing, Media Consumption A method for automatically cropping video content to improve its presentation, particularly for videos captured by amateur users.[28]
US 9,410,257 Location-based features for commute assistant Location Services, Navigation A system that provides location-based services, such as real-time traffic updates, estimated arrival times, and alternate routes, to assist with commuting and navigation.[29]

Personal life

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May Li-Khoe and her husband Federico Ardila

May-Li Khoe is married to Federico Ardila, a Colombian mathematician specialising in combinatorics and matroid theory.[30] Both share an interest in music and have collaborated on various projects blending their personal and professional lives.[3]

Travel and Writing

In 2019, Khoe joined Ardila on a sabbatical that included travel to cities such as Paris, Bologna, and Bogotá. During this period, she created a travel-themed newsletter, which led her to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, focusing on nonfiction and genre narratives.[3]

Music and Dance

In 2008, Khoe and Ardila, along with friends, attended the Petronio Álvarez Music Festival in Colombia and co-founded the La Pelanga Collective, which promotes international tropical music and cultural exchange.

Khoe and Ardila are also members of two musical groups: Vallenato Gozaimasu and Neblinas del Pacífico, which explore intersections between Colombian and Japanese musical traditions. They have also collaborated with organizations like the People's Kitchen Collective and The Wall Project to support community initiatives in Puerto Buenaventura, Colombia's Pacific coast.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gray Area. "May-Li Khoe". Gray Area. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  2. ^ a b c Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2022-01-17). "May-Li Khoe". Career Advising & Professional Development | MIT. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Garzón Camilo, Camilo (2022-02-14). "How a Mathematician and a Designer Ignite Each Other's Creative Spark | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  4. ^ Medium (2019-04-18). "Khanversations — May-Li and Priya". Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  5. ^ Women Talk Design. "May-Li Khoe". womentalkdesign.com. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  6. ^ a b Zuegel, Devon (2021-05-20). "May-Li Khoe gets inspiration from the physical world for digital design". Notion. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  7. ^ a b Rene, Ritchie (2019-07-05). "May-Li Khoe: How design and operations really work at Apple". iMore. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  8. ^ Dutt, R. (2021-09-27). Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. ISBN 978-1-5230-9333-5. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  9. ^ a b c d Khoe, May-Li (2022-04-22). "Creating the rhythmic pixel art of Playdate music maker Boogie Loops". gamedeveloper.com. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  10. ^ a b Croissant (2019-03-14). "Scribble Together Overview". Croissant Blog. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  11. ^ Learning Works. "ScribbleTogether". learningworksforkids.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  12. ^ Villamil, Gian Pablo. "Villamil". villamil.org. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  13. ^ a b Gießmann, Sebastian; Röhl, Tobias; Trischler, Ronja; Zillinger, Martin (2019-09-09). Materiality of Cooperation. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-658-39468-4.
  14. ^ Interaction Design Association (2020-10-23). "May-Li Khoe Announced as 2021 Interaction Awards Jury Chair". Interaction Design Association – IxDA. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  15. ^ US11947724B2, Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer; Missig, Julian & Cieplinski, Avi E. et al., "Device, method, and graphical user interface for providing tactile feedback for operations performed in a user interface", issued 2024-04-02 
  16. ^ US9753639B2, Cieplinski, Avi E.; Khoe, May-Li & COSTANZO, Bianca C. et al., "Device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying content associated with a corresponding affordance", issued 2017-09-05 
  17. ^ AU2018253539B2, Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer; Hart, David J. & Khoe, May-Li et al., "Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving and dropping a user interface object", issued 2020-04-30 
  18. ^ US10620781B2, Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer; Cieplinski, Avi E. & Khoe, May-Li et al., "Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving a cursor according to a change in an appearance of a control icon with simulated three-dimensional characteristics", issued 2020-04-14 
  19. ^ US11592923B2, Chaudhri, Imran A.; Khoe, May-Li & Zambetti, Nicholas et al., "Systems and methods for resizing applications in a multitasking view on an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display", issued 2023-02-28 
  20. ^ US11921959B2, Missig, Julian; Khoe, May-Li & Costanzo, Bianca Cheng et al., "Dynamic user interface adaptable to multiple input tools", issued 2024-03-05 
  21. ^ US9059957B2, Os, Marcel van & Khoe, May-Li, "Complex handling of conditional messages", issued 2015-06-16 
  22. ^ US20140040741A1, Os, Marcel van & Khoe, May-Li, "Smart Auto-Completion", issued 2014-02-06 
  23. ^ US9766702B2, Cieplinski, Avi E.; Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer & Missig, Julian et al., "User detection by a computing device", issued 2017-09-19 
  24. ^ USD554144S1, Hally, Judson Craig & Khoe, May-Li, "Graphical user interface for a display screen", issued 2007-10-30 
  25. ^ US7921187B2, Lunati, Stephane; Goto, Ken & Martin, John et al., "Newsreader for mobile device", issued 2011-04-05 
  26. ^ US20140218372A1, Missig, Julian K.; Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer & Cieplinski, Avi E. et al., "Intelligent digital assistant in a desktop environment", issued 2014-08-07 
  27. ^ US9930287B2, Missig, Julian; Brown, Matthew & Khoe, May-Li, "Virtual noticeboard user interaction", issued 2018-03-27 
  28. ^ US11393067B2, Khoe, May-Li; Cieplinski, Avi E. & HART, David Joshua, "Automatic cropping of video content", issued 2022-07-19 
  29. ^ US20230175856A1, Khoe, May-Li; Hagedorn, Joseph A. & Os, Marcel van, "Location-based features for commute assistant", issued 2023-06-08 
  30. ^ Bonato, Anthony (2018). Limitless Minds. American Mathematical Society. p. 155. ISBN 1470447916.

Further reading

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Oliver Lindberg (7 December 2021), "May-Li Khoe subverts the status quo". Wix Studio.

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