Featuring LaVonda Brown, Ph.D.

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"Feel the fear, and do it anyway." A lesson taught by Dr. Susan Jeffers, Dr. LaVonda Brown uses this phrase to flee her comfort zone and excel in her career. As an artificial intelligence and eye-analysis technology expert, Dr. Brown honed in on drug screening after enduring a traumatic experience living with a loved one with a drinking problem in 2016.

Having previously developed a robotic engagement model based on user eye gaze and pupil size at Emory University's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Brown inherently knew the signs of increased intoxication levels in eyes.

The constant fear of a loved one losing their life by driving under the influence sparked Dr. Brown’s motivation to create EyeGage — a technology that increases the speed and accuracy of drug detection with computer vision analysis of the eye.

Understanding the Eye

After receiving her BS in Electronics Engineering from Norfolk State University in 2010, Brown moved to Atlanta, GA to obtain her MS and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Her development of an engagement model based on dilation and constriction of the eye has been applied to math education and physical therapy to improve learning outcomes.

Dr. Brown developed an eye-analysis system to validate eye tracking as a viable biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease through machine learning algorithms. This robotic engagement model and eye-analysis software has been published, patented, and licensed for commercial use.

Conception of EyeGage

In 2018, Dr. Brown returned to Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue her MBA, concentrating in Entrepreneurship and Technical Product Management. While conducting market research on eye-tracking technologies, she realized the drug and alcohol screening sector was in need of an innovative solution. Brown was uniquely positioned to create a company that applied eye-analysis techniques to individuals under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Benefits of EyeGage Software

EyeGage can be used by two core segments: consumers and corporations. Both segments can utilize the software the same way, but for different outcomes.

The benefits for consumers to utilize EyeGage and download the app:

1. Increased self-awareness of drug and alcohol usage.
2. Normalizing not driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, opiates, or benzodiazepines.
3. Discussing drug and alcohol usage to encourage potential professional help.

The benefits for corporations to utilize EyeGage for their workforce:

1. Increased revenue by shortening project hold-times and increasing customer retention and acquisition.
2. Time and cost savings by introducing an app that is quick, reliable, and easy to implement.
3. Safer work environments by using reliable technology to decrease accidents and improve risk management.

Minimizing Fear through Technology

Dr. Brown transformed her fear into focus by founding EyeGage — helping individuals and companies easily utilize drug screening technology to prevent fatal accidents. Because of her expertise, she is confident that this software can ease both individuals and corporations' fears by enabling drivers to easily assess drug/alcohol levels before operating vehicles/heavy machinery.