The journey of Iranian-American scientist honored by Bush

He is an Iranian who came to America eight years ago to start his Ph. D. at the University of Michigan. This year, President George W. Bush singled him out in his speech at the White House annual Iftar dinner before a crowd of diplomats, Administration and Congress officials.
U.S. President George W. Bush: This immigrant form Iran has become one of our nations most ingenious biomedical engineers.
Dr. Maysam Ghovanloo: I feel very privileged just to sit at the dinner table with the U.S. President and talking to him face to face, not in a quietly formal but friendly manner.
President Bush: Last month, the good professor and his team of researchers at Georgia Tech unveiled an incredible invention that could one day help some with severe disabilities operate wheelchairs and surf the Internet by simply moving their tongue.
Thirty-five year old Dr. Maysam Ghovanloo attaches a lentil-size magnet to the tongue to mobilize the severely disabled.
Ghovanloo: As you can see in this diagram, the changes in magnetic fields are being sensed by magnetic sensors and this information is being sent to a smart phoneIt can translate the tongue movement into a particular command.
And that command could operate devises in their surroundings:
Ghovanloo: TV, computer, lights, phone, wheel chair, the bed
He developed this idea three years ago But his innate desire to help the disabled started while growing up with his younger brother Yasser who was born with hearing deficiency.
Ghovanloo: I think that had an impact on me early on to use my knowledge and experience in engineering in the field of medicine for people with most severe disabilities, because in their life I can have the biggest impact that thats why here I am and that is what I am doing.
The kid who liked playing with electronic toys was fascinated with studying engineering.
Ghovanloo: against the desire of my parents who also wanted me to become a doctor.
So Ghovanloo studied electrical engineering at the University of Tehran. Eventually, he received his M. Sc. in biomedical engineering from Amirkabir Institute of Technology. He credits Iran for the education that paved the way for his accomplishments today. He is married to lawyer Azadeh Shahshahani who works with the American Civil Liberties Union defending the rights of women and immigrants.
Ghovanloo: We are, thanks to God, quite happy with our life and hopefully we also continue to feel happy in the future.

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