The Dr. Frederica Darema Lecture Series in Computer Science will host Aqueash Martin-Hammond, assistant professor, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, who will present “Designing Intelligent Interactions to Support Aging Well.” This event is open to the Illinois Tech community and will be held from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Thursday Nov. 3 in Room 104 of the Stuart Building.
Abstract: The growing ubiquity of consumer-facing intelligent technologies such as Alexa and Siri has led to increased interest in how these tools can support continued independence and health over the lifespan. In this talk, I will discuss opportunities for AI-enabled technologies to support older adults as they age and their concerns about adopting these technologies into their homes. I will also discuss potential collaborative strategies and AI-enabled tools developed through participatory design that may address older adults’ needs and overcome the hesitancy of adoption.
Speaker Bio:
Aqueasha Martin-Hammond is an Assistant Professor of Human-Computer Interaction in the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Clemson University, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and a B.S. in Computer Science from Tougaloo College. She conducts research and teaches in Human-Computer Interaction, where she examines the intersection of the areas of aging, health, and intelligent technology design. She employs user-centered and participatory design methodologies to investigate the design of existing and novel intelligent technologies such as conversational assistants and AI-enabled tools to support aging through improved access to health information and wellness resources at home and in the local community. More broadly, she investigates ways to enhance the usability and accessibility of technologies for older adults across their lifespan and explores the benefits and barriers of adopting these technologies in home and community environments. Her work is funded by Google, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is also a recipient of an NSF CAREER award.
About the Dr. Frederica Darema Lecture Series in Computer Science:
The Illinois Institute of Technology College of Computing’s Dr. Frederica Darema Lecture Series in Computer Science is funded by an endowment to help advance female and minority early-stage computer science researchers at U.S. academic institutions. The lecture series is designed to encourage women and individuals from under-represented groups to pursue academic careers in computer sciences, and to focus on providing speaking opportunities for tenure track assistant professors (or the equivalent) at U.S. institutions in their fourth to sixth year. Lectureships may also be awarded to exceptional junior researchers in U.S. federal or industrial research laboratories in the third to fifth years of their careers, following doctoral/postdoctoral studies.