Desney Tan speaks at the 2018 GeekWire Summit. (GeekWire File Photo / Kevin Lisota)
Desney Tan, who rose from researcher to corporate vice president and managing director of Microsoft Research, announced Monday that heβs leaving the company after 21 years.
Tan became known in part for research in βwhole body computing,β physiological sensing, brain-computer interfaces and other novel forms of human-computer interaction. His work spanned areas including Windows multi-monitor functionality, handwriting recognition, motion tracking for Xbox Kinect, and the technology behind the Microsoft Band fitness tracker.
In more recent years, he shifted his focus to healthcare, for a time leading Microsoft Health Futures, the companyβs health and life sciences βmoonshot factory.β He oversaw major partnerships including Microsoftβs collaboration with Adaptive Biotechnologies.
βNew year, new adventures,β Tan wrote on LinkedIn, adding that heβs βsigning off with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of pride.β He thanked colleagues at Microsoft Research for βthe warm home, the unwavering trust, and the inspired pursuit of impactful innovation.β
In a message to GeekWire, Tan said heβs intentionally keeping his options open, without anything concrete lined up yet, so he can experiment with a few different things.Β
Beyond Microsoft, he serves on the boards of ResMed and the Washington Research Foundation, and advises startups including surgical navigation company Proprio and cognitive health startup NewDays. Heβs also senior advisor and chief technologist at Seattle-based incubator IntuitiveX, and holds an affiliate faculty position at the University of Washington.