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May-Li Khoe

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May-Li Khoe
May-Li Khoe portrait
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]

Early life and education

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Khoe was born in the Netherlands to Chinese-Indonesian parents and later moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she grew up.[3] By high school she was working with 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] Khoe is also pursuing 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]

Microsoft

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Khoe worked as a Senior Product Designer at Microsoft Corporation from June 2004 to November 2006. She collaborated with the Microsoft User Experience (MSX) team, providing design support for various product teams. Her work focused on entertainment software, including music, radio, video, and movies, as well as information retrieval tools such as search and information agents. Khoe is also believed to have contributed to the design of SongSmith, a music creation application, based on early design mockups from the project.[2]

Apple Inc.

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At Apple, Khoe worked as an Interaction Designer and Prototyper in Apple's Human Interface Device Prototyping group. She contributed to the development of screen animation technologies and the design of features such Force Touch and Taptic Engine, which were integrated into devices like the first iPhone, the first iPad Mini, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro, Iphone 6S. Additionally, Khoe helped design user interactions for the iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and Apple Pencil.[2]

As a Senior Product Design Lead (2006-10), Khoe was responsible for the design and prototyping of applications for the iPhone, iPad, and web. Her work included concept development, visual design, and interaction design. She contributed to products such as Find My iPhone, initial concepts for Find My Friends, and the MobileMe and iCloud applications. She also contributed to the design of the Safari news reader for iPhone and the .Mac Gallery. Khoe collaborated with other design and with Engineering Program Managers (EPMs) and designers, including Evans Hankey, and Jonathan Paul Ive, gaining experience in various stages of the design process, from material testing to ensuring technical specifications were met.[2][6][7]

Khan Academy

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Khoe served as Vice President of Design at Khan Academy, a nonprofit educational platform dedicated to accessible education. In this role, she has developed user search methodologies and design systems to improve the usability and functionality of the platform. She implemented team evaluation processes to assess collaboration and inclusivity within the design team.[8]

Entrepreneurship and mentorship

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Khoe has worked on projects combining design, technology, and user-centered innovation.[7] She co-created Boogie Loops, a music and dance creation application for the Playdate console, and she co-founded Scribble Together, a collaborative whiteboard application designed to support educational technology and remote work solutions. Khoe also contributed to Dynamicland, focusing on spatial computing, tangible interfaces, and accessibility across platforms.[9] Khoe has provided guidance to startups and individuals in the technology and design sectors, focusing on both creative and technical development.[9][10]

Scribble Together and Boogie Loops

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Example of a Scribble Together whiteboard, illustrating its use for collaborative functions and interactive sessions.

In 2018, Khoe and Bridger Maxwell launched Scribble Together, an online collaborative whiteboard designed for real-time brainstorming and drawing. Initially aimed at educational and creative uses, the platform later expanded to support remote work and team collaboration, particularly during the shift to virtual communication in the early 2020s. Its features, such as multi-user drawing and screen sharing, have been supported by educators, artists, and teams and have been adopted in both professional and educational fields.[10][11]

May Li-Khoe developed Boogie Loops to exploit the crank on the Playdate console

Boogie Loops, released on April 25, 2022 as part of the Playdate console's first season, is a game focused on creating layered musical loops and choreographing synchronised dance routines. It utilizes the Playdate console's crank mechanism to enhance interactivity, combining elements of music, art, and technology.[9]

The game has been recognized for its accessibile approach to creative expression and its use of physical interaction in the creative process. Its incorporation of physical interaction into music and movement creation has been recognized as an example of interactive entertainment.[9]

Example of a Sprout space for virtual presentation and interaction.

Sprout

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Khoe is a co-founder and advisor with expertise in technology, collaboration, and user experience (UX) design. She was involved in the development of Sprout, a platform designed to support remote collaboration through tools such as video meetings, interactive whiteboards, and customizable spaces. Her work focuses on digital solutions aimed at facilitating remote teamwork and improving user experience.[12][13]

May-Li Khoe's Number Rectangle prototype explores dynamic periodic patterns via interactive column resizing.

Dynamicland

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Khoe contributed to Dynamicland, an experimental project in Oakland, focusing on developing new methods of interacting with digital information in physical spaces. Dynamicland used spatial computing to create immersive environments that replaced traditional screens with interactive surfaces, enabling users to interact with digital content through tangible objects and natural gestures, fostering collaborative and hand-on experiences.[14]

The project aimed to shift from individual, screen-based interaction to communal, physical computing within room-sized environments.[15] Khoe also worked on the Number Rectangle, a prototype created with Toby Schachman, Bret Victor, and Robert M. Ochshorn. The project examined how resizing the width of columns in a grid could reveal periodic patterns in numerical arrangements. The goal was to visualize periodicity within number grids, reflecting Khoe’s broader interest in mathematical visualization and the interaction between visual and numerical structures.[16]

PostCapitalist consulting

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May-Li Khoe worked as an Executive Consultant for the PostCapitalist Economic Systems design initiative. She assisted in the development of recruiting strategies and processes for building a systems-design product team. Khoe also contributed to the recruitment of leadership positions within the initiative. Between 2022 and 2024, she provided ongoing advisory support for design and recruitment efforts, including assisting with the hiring process for a Postcapitalist Economic System Architect.[12]

Handshake Careers

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May-Li Khoe is the Vice President of Design at Handshake Careers, a platform that connects students and employers. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing the design and user experience of the platform, ensuring that it is accessible, functional, and user-friendly for its diverse audience, including students, alumni, and employers. Khoe's work involves managing the design team and collaborating with other departments to ensure the platform’s design aligns with its broader goals.[12][17]

Academic contributions

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Khoe has co-taught courses at San Francisco State University with Federico Ardila, integrating design and mathematical concepts. From 1997 to 2000, Khoe was a Research Assistant at IBM/Lotus Development Corporation, where she developed prototypes for software supporting collaborative work and contributed to the design of a user interface for threaded discussions, presented at the CSCW Conference in 2000. In 2000, she also served as a Teaching Assistant at MIT, assisting with a computer visualization course in the Departments of Architecture and Computer Science.[citation needed]

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, creativity and culture. She was also featured in HTML Review, a publication dedicated to design and technology.[citation needed]

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.[18]

Patents

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May-Li Khoe contributed to several patents related to touchscreen interfaces, haptic feedback technologies, and user interaction technologies, many of which were filed during her time at Apple. These patents have influenced features in Apple's products, such as 3D Touch, the Apple Pencil, and multitasking capabilities on the iPad.

Patent number Name Area of Application Abstract
US 8,854,491 B2 Metadata-Assisted Image Filters Image Processing, Metadata A method for using metadata, such as face location data, to apply image filters while keeping faces in focus. [19]
US11947724B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for providing tactile feedback for operations performed in a user interface Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A system that provides tactile feedback on touch devices during user interactions, such as adjusting settings.[20]
US9753639B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying content associated with a corresponding affordance Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A touch-sensitive device that adjusts the size of icons based on touch pressure, revealing related content with harder touches.[21]
US10775994B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving and dropping a user interface object Touchscreen, Devices, User Interfaces A system that moves user interface objects based on touch gestures, adjusting the movement based on touch intensity.[22]
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.[23]
US 9,317,009 Dynamic User Interface Adaptable to Multiple Input Tools Input Methods, Touchscreen Devices A system that detects various stylus inputs and adapts the user interface accordingly, enhancing functionality with devices like the Apple Pencil.[24]
US 9,403,452 Complex Handling of Conditional Messages Messaging, Notifications A system for managing notifications based on conditions such as location or device activity, triggering messages when specified conditions are met.[25]
US 9,688,464 Automatic cropping of video content Video Editing, Media Consumption A method for automatically cropping video content to improve presentation, particularly for videos captured by amateur users.[26]

Personal life

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May Li-Khoe and her husband Federico Ardila

Khoe is married to Federico Ardila, a Colombian mathematician specializing in combinatorics and matroid theory.[3] In 2019, Khoe joined Ardila on a sabbatical which involved traveling 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 non-fiction and genre narratives.[3]

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.[3] Khoe and Ardila are 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]

References

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  1. ^ Gray Area. "May-Li Khoe". Gray Area. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Samuel, Priya Joanna (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. ^ a b c May-Li Khoe's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maylikhoe/
  13. ^ Sprout. "Sprout | Your space, your call". sprout.place. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  14. ^ Villamil, Gian Pablo. "Villamil". villamil.org. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  15. ^ Gießmann, Sebastian; Röhl, Tobias; Trischler, Ronja; Zillinger, Martin (2019-09-09). Materiality of Cooperation. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-658-39468-4.
  16. ^ Schachman, Toby; Victor, Bret; Ochshorn, Robert M; Khoe, May-Li (2015-05-10). "Number rectangle - Dynamicland archive". Dynamicland. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  17. ^ Handshake careers. "Handshake careers". Handshake. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  18. ^ Interaction Design Association (2020-10-23). "May-Li Khoe Announced as 2021 Interaction Awards Jury Chair". Interaction Design Association – IxDA. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  19. ^ US8854491B2, Ford, Bradley D.; Johnson, Garrett M. & Bray, Cédric et al., "Metadata-assisted image filters", issued 2014-10-07 
  20. ^ 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 
  21. ^ 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 
  22. ^ 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 
  23. ^ 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 
  24. ^ US11921959B2, Missig, Julian; Khoe, May-Li & Costanzo, Bianca Cheng et al., "Dynamic user interface adaptable to multiple input tools", issued 2024-03-05 
  25. ^ US9059957B2, Os, Marcel van & Khoe, May-Li, "Complex handling of conditional messages", issued 2015-06-16 
  26. ^ US11393067B2, Khoe, May-Li; Cieplinski, Avi E. & HART, David Joshua, "Automatic cropping of video content", issued 2022-07-19 

Further reading

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