Independent Study

Overview

My research includes work with the disability community across a variety of accessibility and assistive technology related projects. I typically advise around ten students per quarter on projects that intersect with my research interests. If you would to learn more about the relationship between technology and disability while working on interesting research problems, get in touch!

About

Teaching

Current Projects

Mixed Ability Play

This project explores how we might bridge blind and sighted communities through play. The game incorporates tactile interaction with Minecraft through computer vision and a 3D printed physical game board. Custom games set within Minecraft support collaborative and competitive play designed to leverage the abilities of each player.

Students

  • Beril Gurkas
  • Sam Hansen
  • Vito Nash
  • Tim Twigg
Four students sitting at a table working in front of a large monitor

Cooperative Outrigger Paddling

The Cooperative Outrigger Paddling (CoOP) platform is a set of hardware, software, and cooperative practices that enable the blind and low vision community to paddle one-person outrigger canoes. The CoOP platform provides opportunities for students to explore a variety of topics in electrical engineering, computer science, and informatics. Students working on CoOP gain experience with circuit design, radio communications, 3D printing, mobile, web, and firmware programming, and qualitative research. More information on this work can be found in the paper Design in the Public Square: Supporting Assistive Technology Design Through Public Mixed-Ability Cooperation.

Students

  • Antonia Piercy
  • Elissa Yang
  • Roderick Shi
  • Alyssa Lu
A blind paddler in an outrigger canoe using the CoOP system

TASC

The Tangible Activity Service for non-visual Computing or TASC, is an activity-based computing environment designed specifically for blind and low-vision desktop computer users. TASC integrates with smartphones to introduce a tangible, two-dimensional interaction model for dekstop computing. More information on this work can be found in the paper An Activity Centered Approach to Nonvisual Computing.

Students

  • Anthony Navarette
  • Jesus Ramirez
  • Congyu Luo
  • Jayden Le
  • Jeremy Chang
Two students sitting at a table looking at a laptop and mobile phone