Introduction

“Every person’s life is a journey toward himself, the attempt at a journey, the intimation of a path. No person has ever been completely himself, but each one strives to become so, some gropingly, others more lucidly, according to his abilities.”

— Hermann Hesse, Demian

Who am I

Hi, I’m PENG Sai (彭赛), and I also go by my English name, Emily, which I chose back in middle school. I’m a Ph.D. researcher at KU Leuven in Belgium, exploring topics like embedded systems, wearable devices, smart sensors, and soft robotics. My ultimate goal is to develop technologies that make a real difference in healthcare and rehabilitation.

Before embarking on my Ph.D. journey, I worked at Microsoft and Micron. Back then, I felt like a ship adrift, chasing milestones like earning money, getting married, buying a house, and climbing the career ladder, but without a true sense of purpose. The COVID-19 lockdown gave me the time to work from home and reflect on life’s bigger questions. It was during this period that I decided to pursue a Ph.D. Witnessing the struggles of a loved one battling cancer and the many heartbreaking stories I encountered at the hospital further solidified my resolve to contribute meaningfully to the world.

Why this site

I’ve been blogging since 2012, starting on CSDN, then transitioning to a Chinese public account, and eventually to GitHub. Writing has always been a personal joy for me, a way to document my thoughts and, with luck, connect with others who share similar interests.

This site serves a few key purposes:

• Showcasing my independent research and its outcomes
• Documenting my personal achievements
• Highlighting the challenges I aim to tackle
• Exploring and discussing wearable and smart devices, along with their real-world applications
• Knowing myself

I may not have the answer to life’s ultimate question, but I know I’m on a journey that brings me fulfillment. That’s a good start.
希望你走过很多路，最后找到你自己。