About Adam

Adam Pantanowitz is an electrical and biomedical engineer, entrepreneur, technologist, motivational speaker, researcher, and philanthropist.

An expert and enthusiast of artificial intelligence, Adam fills his time doing keynote talks, researching, creating unique business ideas and developing technological platforms - all of which revolve around healthcare, biotechnology and automation. Adam can be found on his laptop in coffee shops, lecturing medicine or engineering to hundreds of students, or providing new ideas in the world of technology and business. Using his experience in engineering, software and entrepreneurship, his areas of expertise are focused on artificial intelligence, ethics, biotechnology, engineering and robotics. With 10 years of experience, Adam has and continues to use his skills as a technologist to disrupt and innovate in industry and think about change.

His impact has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Ozy, Futurism, together with producing an abundance of academic journals and patents. Adam’s work and projects have been re-released in hundreds of languages, making him a global phenomenon, with the worldwide interest piece “Brainternet”. Carte Blanche, Mail & Guardian, Man Magazine, and many other media platforms have spotlighted and captured his projects. This has all brought to light that which Adam continues to do for society: some other projects include an eye-controlled wheel chair; a non-cognitive brain transmission channel using light; a thought-controlled robotic arm with a light-invoked on/off switch; a hands-free controlled surgery interaction system; a CPR monitoring system; a computer-based sign language interpreter; and an eye- controlled cursor using the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Adam’s projects continue to grow in complexity, benefit and social impact.

Adam is the co-founder of multiple startups such as AURA a mobile security app, Tariffic a platform to best predict a customer's preferred mobile plan, Resolute Robotics an online education forum to promote engineering and robotics , and think3dots a start-up focused on biotechnology, AI and engineering. Adam acted as CTO of VATIT, the world’s largest VAT Reclaim business (2015 - 2017). He also consulted extensively to three of South Africa's major banks, on matters at the junction of technology and business.

As an advocate of ongoing learning and professional development, Adam is a Fellow of the IET, a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Senior Member of the SAIEE,, and is Chartered internationally as an engineer (CEng ,EUR ING, CITP, Pr Eng, IntPE).

Adam's own personal journey allowed for him to engineer his way around certain challenges, leading him on a most successful path. From a young age Adam has pursued the act of deconstructing technology in order to build a better and brighter future. In his quest to combine industry and academia, he continues to focus on the future, on technological innovation, and on education throughout.

Affiliations

ADAM PANTANOWITZ

Professional Registrations & Voluntary Memberships
  • Professional Engineer (Pr Eng (SA))
  • Engineering Council of South Africa, 2013
  • International Professional Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering & Technology in the UK(IntPE)
  • Engineering Council of South Africa, 2016
  • Chartered Engineer (CEng (UK))
  • The Institute of Engineering & Technology in the UK 2016(IntPE)
  • Chartered IT Professional (CITP (UK)
  • The Institute of Engineering & Technology in the UK 2017(IntPE)
  • European Engineer, FEANI 2016(EUR ING (Europe))
  • Fellow of the Institute of Engineering & Technology in the UK (Fellow IET)
  • Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (SMIEE)
  • Senior Member South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SMSAIEE (SA))



Headline Experience


Place Position Description
Singularity University Faculty Member 2018 – Present Singularity University South Africa
Entrepreneurship 2009 - Present Co-founder and Technologist AURA, Lawbuntu, Gladi8, DocFox, Medinexus SA, think3dots consulting.
Resolute Robotics Co-founder and Technologist An online education platform for the broader understanding of robotics and engineering. This blended learning environment allows for students to build applications, engineering kits and assists through learning materials, tutors and practical application.
Think3dots Co-founder and Technologist Consulted to 3 of South Africa’s largest banks on engineering/financial technology. Consultant at Grey Matter Thinking. Consultant to a variety of tech businesses, including SQN.
AURA Co-founder and Technologist AURA is a revolutionary approach to security and armed response in South Africa. AURA provides mobile response for one of the largest Mobile workforces in the world, Aura is in the prime position to revolutionise the armed response industry.
VATIT Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO) November 2015 – December 2017 Driving technological change through the global group, from security & compliance through to innovation and delivering new technologies. Built a team of 50 people. Obtained ISO27001 Certification.
Tariffic Co-founder & CEO August 2011 – March 2014 Innovative South African mobile phone disruptor. Analyses customer’s bill against all options on the market to find the best choice. Winner of Frost & Sullivan Innovation Award; recipient of Department of Trade & Industry Grant; over 100 media appearances (radio, television, written media).
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Lecturer March 2009 - present Conceptualised, developed and lectured multiple courses, including HSD II (Medical Students); Software Development; and the Lean Launch Pad (Engineering Innovation). Supervised numerous Masters & Honours students. Served as IP Scout for Wits Enterprise (2014, 2015); MIT Mentor for AITI Student Group (2013); Established Lean Launch Pad course & integration of methodologies to coursework; assisted in establishment of Tshimologong (innovation hub in Braamfontein).

Education

* 2019: PhD (in progress)
* 2016: Nanodegree - Machine Learning Engineer - Udacity
* 2008: BSc Eng (Elec) with distinction – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
* 2006: BEngSc (BME) with distinction – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Most Notible Awards

* Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award (2015)
* Team Category SAIMM Gold Medals Award (2008) - for the best student in any Engineering discipline
* Bernard Price Prize (2008) - for the most distinguished final year student Electrical Engineering Leadership

Leadership

* Chairman of Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment Students Council (2008)
* Class representative (2005 – 2008)
* IEEE Student Branch (co-founder, secretary (2006) & Chair (2007))
* School Council (Founding member & Education officer, 2005; Vice chair (2006); Chair (2007 & 2008))

Projects

Current Projects



Upcoming Projects


Past Projects


* A hands-free controlled surgery interaction system

* A 1:1 Robotic Arm

* A thought-controlled robotic arm with an light-invoked on/off switch

* An eye-controlled wheel chair

* a CPR monitoring system

* A computer-based sign language interpreter

* An eye-controlled cursor using the vestibulo-ocular reflex

* Media-interest piece “Brainternet”, where he created the world-first brain-internet livestream

* A non-cognitive brain transmission channel using light

* Ethics of Brainternet & the connected human

Lecturing


* Wits University: The Future of the Connected Brain


Publications

Welcome to the various publications that Adam Pantanowitz has authored, co-authored or been associated with
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Find his Google Scholar profilehere
Provisional Patents
  • Monitoring Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation** South African Patent 2015
  • Improvements in Lip Segmentation** South African Patent 2015
  • Brain computer interfaces** South African Patent 2014
  • Remote Tracking **Control System** South African Patent 2009


Media

TECHNOLOGY IS NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD, NOR IS IT NEUTRAL" - Melvin Kranzberg
Adam has had the opportunity to found, assist, and develop some incredible software that has both changed and challenged the biomedical industry.
From technological inovations to expontential advances in brain-computer interfaces.

Follow the media updates and certain features here:
2019:
"An eye on assistive tech at home"

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"Story of Adam Pantanowitz"

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"Bold Biotech from Wits"

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“How AI and robotics are transforming healthcare”

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“The brain as a network device”

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"BCI: Will you connect your brain to a computer?"

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"Wits engineers connect brain to internet"

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"How this disruptor is connecting brains to the internet"

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"Small step turned into giant leaps for A-man"
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“[LISTEN] Good News Thursday: The brain as a network device”

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“Mix FM Interview with Adam Pantanowitz - Exponential Africa Podcast”

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“Wits biomedical engineers incorporate the human brain as part of a computer network”
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"Wits researchers connect human brain to the internet"

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“En el futuro, la convergencia entre la tecnología y los humanos será la norma”

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2017:
“HOW THIS BIOENGINEER LINKED A HUMAN BRAIN TO THE INTERNET"

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“Researchers Have Linked a Human Brain to the Internet for the First Time Ever"

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2013:
"Adam Pantanowitz MyBroadband Forum"
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Events

Singularity University

Hacking Humans I


Hacking Humans II



Step🔺



Biotechnology


Investec conversations for medical professionals: How AI and robotics are transforming healthcare




Education



A.I.