A Research Lab at CSE, University of Michigan
We are researchers who build and study interactive systems to solve pressing accessibility challenges. Our long-term vision is that accessibility will be integrated, by default, in all devices, systems, and environments. To achieve this vision, our lab has three focus areas:
1. Democratizing Accessibility
Explore interfaces and systems that empower end-users to build or personalize assistive technologies on their own. This will enable future assistive technologies to accommodate the diversity of individual needs and preferences. Our current focus in on sound accessibility (e.g., deaf & hard of hearing people, people with auditory processing disorders). Skillset required: interactive machine learning | data visualization | HCI | sound engineering
2. Accessible Software and Devices
Make toolkits, APIs, or guidelines to support developers in intergrating accessibility into their apps, softwares, and devices. Our current focus is on XR (AR, VR) software. Skillset required: design | software engineering | prototyping
3. Accessibility of Healthcare
Explore technologies to ease communication between healthcare professionals and people with disabilities. Our current focus is on deaf & hard of hearing patients. Skillset: qualitative & quantitative analysis | prototyping
For all three areas, we critically involve end-users in our design and build pipeline by conducting studies to understand their needs, building technology systems to address those needs, and deploying and studying our systems with our users in their natural enviroments. This heavy focus on people-centric design has allowed us to make a lot of real-world impact from publicly releasing our technologies (e.g., one deployed system has over 100,000 users) to directly impacting products at Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Our research work is published in the most prestigious human-computer interaction and computer science venues such as CHI, UIST, and ASSETS and have been honored with multiple awards. Much of what we build also empowers non-disabled users as well, because, really, accessibility affects everyone. We all find conversations difficult to hear in noisy bars or a phone difficult to see in direct sunlight and can benefit from using adaptable technologies.
If this interests you and you want to work with us, please apply below.
