Martine Kempf
Martine Kempf is a computer scientist who invented the Katalavox in 1985, a computer-based voice activation system.Early life
Martine Kempf was born in 1951 in Dossenheim-Kochersberg, France. She attended Friedrich Wilhelm University, Bonn as an astronomy major from 1981-1983. Her invention of a voice recognition system was inspired while she was a student at Bonn. Kempf saw many German teenagers born without arms due to their mothers intake of thalidomide during their pregnancies. She reasoned that a voice activation system would allow those affected with physical difficulties to drive cars. The device also helps with microsurgery, as surgeons can use voice commands to focus magnifying devices. The device has potential to be used as a mobile phone to control a car by spoken commands.
Kempf also invented the Comeldir Multiplex Handicapped Driving Systems for people who must operate cars with their feet rather than their hands.
