{"id":18858,"date":"2023-05-30T09:10:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T09:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muse.international\/?p=18858"},"modified":"2023-05-31T11:09:37","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T11:09:37","slug":"interview-with-tam-vu-from-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/interview-with-tam-vu-from-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Tam Vu from United States"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A person of many talents, Tam Vu is the CEO and co-founder of Earable Neuroscience, a scientist and an inventor that is passionate in designing innovative systems and machines that marries functions into one.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name is Tam Vu, the CEO and co-founder of Earable Neuroscience. I am a scientist and an inventor. I have developed a passion for designing innovative systems and machines that seamlessly integrate multiple functions into one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, I came to the realization that scientific breakthroughs should be accessible to everyone and should enhance our everyday lives. As a result, I embarked on a journey to create a system that not only boasts cutting-edge scientific features and technological advancements but also elevates our lifestyle and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. What made you become\/why did you choose to become a designer\/artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always wonder why even the greatest minds of our time, like Albert Einstein, only utilize 5-6% of our brain capacities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turned out that: Some don\u2019t reach their full potential because of cognitive disorders such as ADHD, autism, seizures, etc. Instead, most people don\u2019t reach their full potential simply because they didn\u2019t have a good night’s sleep, can\u2019t focus during the day, or can\u2019t fully recover from stress. More than 45% of people have sleep problems whether they know it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After college, during my time in academia as a researcher and then a professor, working with many of the greatest minds, I would wonder why the frontier technology of improving human cognitive functions has been so overlooked, with so little progress made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve worked on making wearable and mobile devices to improve human health, my vision is to make these benefits accessible to everyone, everywhere, by democratizing access to brain health. And the first goal of mine is to bring the sleep lab cost up to about $1,500-2,000 into a small wearable design. To make all of those things, a product has to be built with a simple and convenient design to be used by billions of people. I envision a world where people can easily monitor their brain health and sleep quality, just as they can track their physical health with exercise mapping since then to unlock the potential of their minds and improve their daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that brought me to become a designer to make my dreams come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. Tell us more about your business\/company, job profile, and what you do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the very first, I found that the current wearable devices which are able to track brain signal are quite inconvenient, you would not want to wear them in a long period of time. So, I thought, I needed to take action, I have to design a better wearable device so that everyone will be pleasant wearing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And thanks to innovation breakthroughs from our core technologies (more details will be revealed during the Global Launch Day on 6 Jan, CES 2023), we are currently the most precise and potential consumer wearable that can become the commercial platform for neuroscience applications (starting first with sleep, focus and relaxation enhancement). FRENZ\u2122 is 100x more affordable than a month in a sleep lab with similar features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company is now in the final stage of commercializing this consumer wellness tech lifestyle to help improve the world\u2019s mental state by enabling an entire new world of possibilities for neuroscience applications through the company\u2019s neuroscience data platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earable\u00ae Neuroscience is a pioneer deep tech company delivering scalable, human-centric solutions that improve the everyday experience \u2013 from deep sleep to all-day focus, relaxation, meditation and other neuroscience-based potentials. FRENZ\u2122 Brainband by Earable\u00ae, our first child after 9 years of deep research, continuous R&D is the world\u2019s first AI-powered sleep tech wearable that can track and stimulate brain activities via bone-conduction speakers to facilitate better quality sleep, focus, and relaxation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Jan, our FRENZ\u2122 Brainband was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) as CES 2023 Innovation Honoree for the Wearable Technology category. This achievement marks a significant first for sleep-tech wearables in the history of the CES awards list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our company is now in the final stage of commercializing this consumer wellness tech lifestyle to help improve the world\u2019s mental state by enabling an entirely new world of possibilities for neuroscience applications through the company\u2019s neuroscience data platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. What does \u201cdesign\u201d mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always follow the philosophy of \u2018design for life\u2019, meaning that the design has a solid and clear value proposition for end users, in other words, it must be able to solve a common problem better than others, or it attempts to identify new needs and offers itself as the best possible solution. Other factors include the product\u2019s ease of use, quality, enjoyability, and price point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. What\u2019s your favorite kind of design and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I work in innovative product design, so in my opinion, the design must be stylish, smart, minimal, clean, and sleek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q6. To you, what makes a \u201cgood\u201d design?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \u2018good\u2019 design is a design that is accessible to everyone, everywhere, and resolves one of the most concerning problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q7. Describe your design style and its main characteristics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes us outstanding in wearable design is convenience. Using advanced nano-material science results, we conducted soft thermoplastic elastomers material into FRENZ\u2122 design so that it can be worn daily and nightly comfortably. Coming along with a foldable structure and stretchable backstrap or holders, the FRENZ brainband is really user-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q8. Tell us about your design process.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the philosophy of “Designed for Life” \u2013 the FRENZ Brainband is designed for daily use and lifestyle. Scientific breakthroughs and perfectly crafted components power this unobtrusive device seamlessly through everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past 8 years, after coming through many versions, from masks, to in-ear headphones,… the FRENZ\u2122 Brainband has undergone continuous innovation, transitioning to a headband. At the very first, there are many things need to improved, for example, people do not want to wear masks while sleeping, as it makes them feel more suffocating, or the headband version was too strict or hard which makes people feel annoyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout each iteration of the product, we have actively sought out feedback from users to ensure that the product not only looks sleek but is also comfortable and maintains its key features. We are now confident that the FRENZ\u2122 Brainband is not only a disruptive device but also smart in design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q9. Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Vietnamese who abruptly moved to the US to work and study, I understand the demands of Vietnamese consumers when it comes to wellness products. In addition to effectiveness, people in Vietnam look for convenience in daily use and simplicity in terms of data exposure and connectivity with other devices. Drawing on my experiences living in the United States, I have incorporated what I have learned into product design to satisfy not only the demands of Vietnamese consumers but also the needs of people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q10. Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This accomplishment signifies that our efforts have been successful and we are immensely grateful and proud of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This award proved the potential of our company in particular and of the Earable industry in general.  And this is the first major step for Earable\u00ae Neuroscience! Furthermore, it started a new movement, where this Brainband become the accessory for a generation of people who are driven to improve their mental health – aware of their well-being – coming not only from the physical body but also their mental state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even FRENZ is technologically outstanding in sensing brain signals and helping users easier to sleep more, but receiving this award marks a significant milestone for Earable\u00ae\u2019s proof of design, which means the design is not only good at work but also good at appearance, and it was recognized from the point of view of consumers. And this award is like a reminder for us to improve not only the function and technology of the product but also its visuals as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q11. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long before moving to the US, receiving my Ph.D. at Rutgers, and later becoming a professor at the University of Oxford and the University of Colorado Boulder, I would wonder why even the greatest minds of our time, like Albert Einstein, only utilize 5-6% of our brain capacities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turned out that:  Some don\u2019t reach their full potential because of cognitive disorders such as ADHD, autism, seizures, etc. Instead, most people don\u2019t reach their full potential simply because they didn\u2019t have a good night’s sleep, can\u2019t focus during the day, or can\u2019t fully recover from stress. More than 45% of people have sleep problems whether they know it or not. Even if you know it and want to unlock your potential with sleep, it is still not affordable since your only choice is coming to the sleep lab, which costs around $100K for a professional PSG device set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why I start this journey. I aimed to demonstrate that our device is not only backed by advanced technology but also boasts a sleek design, making it a stylish accessory suitable for everyday use with the vision to make a smart world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q12. What was the biggest challenge with this project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with other wearable designs, we are now looking for the most accurate way to data gathering, monitor, and diagnosis of health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q13. How has winning an Award developed your practice\/career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re very excited to be recognized for our innovative technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope that these awards will help us reach more potential customers who consider sleep quality, desires to process sleep experiment, or simply wants to contribute to the general data about sleep or neuroscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q14. What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I highly value the purpose of MUSE, which is to inspire designers to push boundaries and challenge fundamental ideas through their expertise and advancements. Additionally, I believe that competitiveness and user-centeredness are also important aspects to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q15. Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trend of the design industry is customer-centric and experience-centric, and in the next 5-10 years, the design, wearable design in particular, can detect what you want and what you need to propose for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q16. If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you want to give up, try to remember why did you start, and what kind of world you want it to be, to see that you must not stop right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q17. What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice for yourself a habit of observing. To realize what is the missing piece in the world, you need to observe from surroundings and people so that you can know what people want and what will help to improve your lives so that your design will be more aesthetic, realistic, and useful for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q18. Tell us something you have never told anyone else.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a pioneer is really problematic and uncertain but its results are really worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q19. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Einstein quote: “Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FRENZ Brainband is the world’s first consumer wearable that unlocks human potential by tracking and stimulating \u2026 (Read more at MUSE Design Awards<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about this interview<\/a> with Yang Yan  from China, the Silver Winner of the 2022 MUSE Design Awards. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A person of many talents, Tam Vu is the CEO and co-founder of Earable Neuroscience, a scientist and an inventor that is passionate in designing innovative [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[372],"tags":[360,12,382],"yoast_head":"\nInterview with Tam Vu from United States<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winner interview with Tam Vu of Earable Inc from the United States, the Platinum Winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/interview-with-tam-vu-from-united-states\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Interview 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