Muyao Wu
From Microbial Genomes to Mobile Magic.
A scientist by training and an inventor at heart, I build playful, practical tools that bridge the digital and physical worlds.
Muyao Wu
A scientist by training and an inventor at heart, I build playful, practical tools that bridge the digital and physical worlds.
My story is a tapestry woven from threads of rigorous scientific inquiry, playful technological invention, and an insatiable curiosity about the world.
My academic journey began in the microscopic world. At UCSD, I decoded microbial genomes for the Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) team, crafting software tools to unravel complex biological systems. This taught me rigor, precision, and the art of building tools for discovery.
Even as an undergraduate, my inventive spirit led me to create a quirky app to measure phone-throwing distance. This early exploration into sensor fusion was a playful hint of my future path—using the powerful sensors in our pockets in unconventional ways.
Now, I channel my expertise in complex systems and tool-building into app development. I apply the rigor of a bioinformatician to the creative challenges of software engineering, focusing on sensor fusion to create apps that are not just smart, but intuitive and delightful.
Here are a couple of the projects I've brought to life.
The AR tape measure that works.
Tired of frustrating AR measuring apps that rely on aiming? Phruler works like a real tape measure by tracking its own movement. It's simple, accurate, and can measure things other apps can't.
I'm always tinkering with new ideas. Here's a peek at what's currently on my mind and on the horizon.
Designed as a friend for the colorblind and creators, Pholor uses smart AR averaging to see, name, and understand any color with joy and accuracy.
The move-to-measure magic of Phruler, rebuilt from the ground up to bring intuitive AR measuring to Android devices.
Several playful and immersive AR games are in early development. Stay tuned for sneak peeks!
A new suite of tools for digital creators is in the early stages of research and development. More details will be revealed in the future.
An experimental project focused on using AR to create more immersive and contextual educational experiences. Further information is not yet public.
Have a cool idea for an app? I'd love to hear it!
I'm always open to discussing new projects, creative ideas, or opportunities to build cool things.