Kanevsky, Dimitri

Studied mathematics at Moscow State University despite barriers to a deaf student. Invented a device to translate speech into vibrations felt on the skin, as a lipreading aid. In 1986, was recruited to work for IBM in the U.S. Developed computer algorithms that are widely used in speech-recognition software not only in computers but in other devices such as cell phones. He continues to work on artificial speech recognition, developing a tablet-sized computer that can transcribe virtually anyone's speech.