Physiology could help when bright lights get dim

Tara Akhavan was an Iranian Ph.D. candidate when she gave a presentation at a conference in Vienna, Austria, about the possibility of incorporating human physiology into display screens. During a coffee break, an investor approached her and proposed she move to Montreal to attempt to commercialize her ideas in North America. She did so, and the venture, IRYStec, attracted $9 million from investors and resulted in an application on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class convertible. Last April, her business was acquired by French automotive interior and seating supplier Faurecia and rechristened Faurecia IRYStec Inc. Akhavan, 35, spoke with News Editor Lindsay Chappell about the technology and the need for innovation. Here are edited excerpts.