MICHAEL CALLAHAN  

Graduate Student, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Michael Callahan is a graduate student at the College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He was recently named EE Times’ 2007 Student of the Year.

Starting as his senior project in Fall 2004, Callahan developed an innovative technology to translate neurological signals into speech. His goal is to restore mobility and communication for millions of severely disabled people living in the United States. By interfacing near the source of vocal production, he has been able to translate unspoken thought of the mind from intercepted neuronal activity at the vocal cords into spoken words or commands for other devices, such as a motorized wheelchair.

Callahan also co-founded Ambient, a company to commercialize this technology to improve the lives of the severely disabled. Leading a team of engineers and researchers, he is determined to bring this technology to market and make it accessible to those who need it most.

To promote student innovation at the University of Illinois, Callahan is also working to bring resources to those interested in pursuing their ideas. He has been instrumental in creating a laboratory for students involved with the Technology Entrepreneur Center to develop product ideas. Callahan is also working with Motorola to develop technological innovations for the impoverished in India.