Data guru living with ALS modernizes industries by typing with his eyes
By Susanna Ray
10 September, 2018
The self-proclaimed “oldest nerd of Guatemala,†Otto Knoke is an admitted workaholic, glued to his computer screen from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. as he analyzes data and creates business-intelligence dashboards for customers ranging from restaurants to hotels and real-estate companies.
The 60-year-old data analyst is well-known in Guatemala’s business community, especially after he helped modernize the banking industry by bringing ATMs to the country 20 years ago. But even as the then-40-year-old’s career was blossoming, his muscles were beginning to fail him. In 1998, Knoke (pronounced kuh-NO-kuh) was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and was told he had two years to live.
Always an early adopter of new technology, Knoke persistently researched ways tech advances could help him thrive even as the disease has progressed. Two decades later, he has become the first person in Guatemala to use Microsoft’s new eye-tracking software for Windows 10, called Eye Control. That’s given him access to pivotal tools, helping his mind overcome the restrictions of his body, and his business is booming.
https://news.microsoft.com/features/oldest-nerd-of-guatemala-modernizes-industries-by-typing-with-his-eyes/?ocid=lock1
