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Imagination over knowledge: Khoa Luu 

By Dawn Wiseman

Khoa Luu’s web page begins with a quote from Einstein, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” which is fitting given his current work. Luu is using computers to estimate peoples’ ages based on digital imaging and to extrapolate from existing images what they might look like as they grow older.

Helping computers determine which wrinkles to emphasize and what hairs to grey based on familial information is actually part of Luu’s PhD research under the supervision of Tien Bui and Ching Suen (Computer Science and Software Engineering). It builds on work he completed for his MASc, the degree he is receiving at spring Convocation and which is currently being considered for a patent.

Luu came to Concordia from Vietnam specifically to work with Bui and Suen because of their internationally recognized reputations in the areas of pattern recognition and machine intelligence.

Since arriving in Montreal he has immersed himself fully in the life of the academy, publishing, attending conferences and building a research portfolio that has attracted interest internationally for its potential application in the areas of security and intelligence gathering.

Luu will remain at Concordia through the completion of his doctorate and hopes to take up an academic research position once he is done. “I also hope to have a chance to work in my homeland one day” he said.