Access With Speech (JAWS), a software that allows visually challenged to read from a computer screen, to scan Tamil and English books. The software can also be adapted to a smart phone. "Parents, especially mother, read a lot of books and newspapers to me," she said.She wants to begin her diplomatic journey by meeting PM Modi and chief minister Jayalalithaa. "I want to seek their blessings and thank them for all the support", she said.On Sunday, she was felicitated by the Kingmakers IAS academy at Annanagar, where director Bhoominathan told her, "You have a huge responsibility to all the people who have supported you".Couching her words in diplomatic language, she said, "Either you mention the names of all people and institutes who have encouraged and supported me, orParade, created objects like children’s toys for comic strip Family Circle and designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website.

Her artistic ability and dark humor came in handy when she worked on Pee-wee’s Playhouse and the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios. Perhaps more impressive, however, was her work as an art fabricator in New York—her home state—for leading pop artists Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Wesselmann, Marisol and Lynda Benglis.

“As an artist, especially in New York, you just survive,” she says of the experience. “That was all sort of dark and wacky, so my work is still playful and dark.”

While working on the Back to the Future ride, Silvester decided to go back to computers and stop making large models as she had been for sets