On any given day, if you’re walking by the Possibilities Engineering And Research Lab (PEARL) tucked in one of the brightly light hallways in the Bloorview Research Institute, you might find Ajmal Khan writing a line of code for a software project or helping a student problem-solve a particular challenge they’re facing.
For the past 16 years, Ajmal has been part of this innovative research team, led by senior scientist Dr. Elaine Biddiss, in co-designing innovative, mixed reality video games to make therapy more accessible and fun for children with disabilities and developmental differences.
He reflects: “I see us making small and large differences for clients and families. It’s a win for the work that we do.”
Ajmal shares how his career evolved from being a software engineer to a research manager, working with a team that is creating a world of new possibilities for children.
Can you share what your journey to Holland Bloorview was like?
I never expected to end up at Holland Bloorview. After studying electrical engineering at the University of Toronto and working as a software developer, I realized I wanted something more meaningful from my career.
That led me to pursue a clinical engineering program at the University of Toronto, where I met Dr. Elaine Biddiss and discovered Holland Bloorview. As a graduate student, I developed a musical stairs system to motivate children to practice stair climbing. Elaine later offered me a position in the PEARL Lab, and 16 years later, I’m still here. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a range of innovative projects such as installing ScreenPlay and developing apps like Bootle Blast, a rehabilitation-focused video game, to support children with disabilities.
What does your role as a research manager at PEARL involve?
The PEARL Lab is a talented and passionate team united by a shared commitment to advancing the lab’s mission: to co-develop gaming technologies that make therapy fun and accessible for clients.
Alongside my teammate, Gloria Lee, I oversee administrative operations, provide technical mentorship to students, and lead the design and development of the technologies that support our research studies.
Our research studies often span several years, so we break those timelines into quarterly goals to help keep projects moving forward. On a typical day, I review our key priorities and focus on work that advances our goals. This might include designing technology for data collection, or mentoring students as they navigate technical challenges such as determining which audio classifier can be easily implemented into our games, allowing kids to use real instruments to interact with our apps.
How do you see yourself making a difference in the lives of clients and families?
Our lab has a strong focus on co-developing solutions with families, ensuring technology fits seamlessly into their lives rather than requiring them to adapt to it. As a result, many of our research studies and solutions are used at home, which makes this form of therapy more accessible and flexible with parents’ busy schedules.
One example of this is Bootle Blast. When onboarding families into our research studies, we personalize the settings of the video game’s system based on their specific schedules. So, if a child has lots of extracurricular commitments, we can adjust their play time schedules accordingly.
Overall, I see our work making meaningful differences for children and families, from giving a parent a few moments to recharge while their child enjoys a game, to helping a child gain the skills to button their own shirt.
What is one stand-out moment?
I always love seeing clients using our technology; that sense of fulfillment is unparalleled. After ScreenPlay was installed on the second floor, I came across a child waiting for an appointment as I exited the stairwell. They cautiously stepped on to the floor and shared with their parent the changes that were happening on screen based on their movements.
That sense of wonder and joy in the child’s eyes continues to motivate me every day.
How do you stay motivated and continue to grow in your profession?
Seeing how kids’ determination to be themselves is what drives me to continue to collaborate with them to figure out solutions to help them live their best lives.
Holland Bloorview attracts the most talented and passionate staff as well. Being surrounded by such brilliant individuals continuously motivates me.
What are some of your hobbies?
A few years ago, my daughter started doing cross country running, which got me into running and I’m loving it. I even did a virtual marathon during the pandemic with some colleagues here, which was a fun experience.
Something that people may not know, is that as an engineer, I enjoy creating and crafting things, which includes baking and most recently I taught myself to knit and crochet and enjoy making winter accessories for myself.
Learn more about the PEARL Lab.
