Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU

Director Dr. Troy McDaniel’s project, “Storytelling Robots to Assist Older Adults with Dementia and Their Caregivers,” is one of four projects recently selected for support by the Institute Technical Advisory and Executive Advisory Boards. The project builds on recommendations from the ’s Association to engage in and to combat . Other team members include student Jordan Miller, as well as Dr. Lauren Withycombe Keeler, Dr. Michael Bernstein, and Yatiraj Shetty. Congratulations!

ASU and Zimin Foundation partner for future of urban tech The new Zimin Institute for Smart, Sustainable Cities supports applied research projects to drive a people-centric vision for the future of cities.

Please join us in congratulating Director Dr. Troy McDaniel as he steps officially into the role as PI of the grant program at . Dr. McDaniel has been actively engaged in the project from its inception as an faculty participant (and since 2019, as Co-PI), contributing his expertise in , , and toward the successful development of technologies. As PI, he will bring this same level of engagement and commitment to the leadership of the NRT project. gave their official approval last week. Congratulations, Dr. McDaniel!

Please join us in congratulating Director Dr. Troy McDaniel and incoming trainee Nicole Darmawaskita for winning the Best Paper Award at the 14th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, held in conjunction with Human-Computer Interaction International 2020. The award-winning paper is entitled “Understanding Pattern Recognition through Sound with Considerations for Developing Accessible Technologies.”

Congratulations to our Founding Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, who was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the new National Science Foundation Director! You will be missed at ASU and we are so excited for you!

National Science Board NSB governs NSF, develops Science and Engineering Indicators, and advises the President and Congress on S&E policy, research and education issues.

Last night, some of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU students in the program presented their final project work for their Spring 2020 NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living core course, The Politics and Ethics of the Smart City. The ideas introduced and the discussions that came out of them were fascinating, and very needed in current times. Great job!

Arizona State University has launched ASU For You, in which they have gathered some of their most valuable learning tools in one place to meet ALL learners where they are, both in terms of physical location and educational needs: https://asuforyou.asu.edu/

ASU For You includes many learning tools at no cost such as virtual field trips; library access; video lessons, labs and simulations in K-12 subject areas; badge and certificate programs in areas such as health and well-being, smart cities and environmental science; tutoring, online courses and training videos for teachers or parents teaching from home; and courses for college credit.

While these resources are valuable at any time, they are particularly relevant today given the circumstances we all face with .

Contribute your voice from the comfort of your home! Researchers are working to collect a dataset of speech from individuals with and without voice disorders. If you are interested in your voice being a part of this dataset, please follow this link to start the ~30 minute speech sample collection process. http://uncommonvoice.org. https://youtu.be/iPD4Rc4r1Aw

Uncommon Voice - About Page We are researchers at Arizona State University working at the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC). We are collaborating with the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Congratulations to Executive Vice President of Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise and Chief Research and Innovation Officer (and Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU Founding Director) Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan for receiving the nomination to be the next head of the National Science Foundation! Congratulations!

Trump to nominate Arizona State computer scientist to lead the National Science Foundation Sethuraman Panchanathan would succeed France Córdova in 6-year post

This morning, Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU student Meredith Moore successfully defended her PhD proposal, “A Person-Centered Approach to Improving the Intelligibility of Dysphonic Speech.” Congrats, Meredith!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Some of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU and NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living team got together last Friday for a group dinner to celebrate approaching the !

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service and everything you do for our nation.

Some of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU and NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living team got together this afternoon for a group up “A” Mountain and some at Snakes & Lattes Tempe.

to when / faculty and staff gave a presentation in April in the Decision Theater Network as a part of a Technical Workshop at Arizona State University for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Department of Transport officials to support the HCMC Smart Sustainable City Project. They talked about the new NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living and CUbiC’s work on , , and .

Student Spotlight: Nickolas Dodd is an NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living trainee and a PhD student in the Computer Science degree program in CUbiC and ASU School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering. Born and raised in Arizona, Nick studied Computer Systems Engineering as an undergrad at Arizona State University and has worked in various roles in the tech industry over the last five years. More recently, Nick started PhD work in the Applied Mathematics program before transferring to the CSE department. His research interests include Bayesian Deep Learning, transfer learning and domain adaptation, and algorithms. Nick’s hobbies involve hiking and playing/making music, be it on the guitar, bass, or computer. In the future, Nick hopes to innovate on interdisciplinary research teams and leverage the proliferation of data driven services to positively impact the daily lives of citizens.

Student Spotlight: Danielle Jacobs is an NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Livings trainee and a PhD student in the Computer Science degree program in CUbiC and ASU School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems EngineeringU. As an undergrad, Danielle studied Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University, working on brain computer interface research. After graduation she took a job with Intel working on Pre-Silicon Manufacturing Design, and later Cyber Security Risk Management. Her time in industry helped Danielle better identify exciting areas she wishes to pursue, and she returned to ASU for her PhD. In her free time, Danielle runs and trains for half-marathons, and aims to try a full marathon one day. Through the PhD program, Danielle hopes to develop more technical knowledge and skills to help solve real world problems in smart cities.

Student Spotlight: Jordan Miller is an NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living trainee and a PhD student in the Computer Science degree program in CUbiC and ASU School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering. She is from Nashville, Tennessee and completed her bachelor’s degree at Austin Peay State University. Jordan came to Arizona State University because it offered cutting-edge research and the opportunity for her to study Human-Robot Interaction to help the elderly Age in Place and stay independent. Jordan’s hobbies include running, hiking, and reading. In the future she plans to go into industry, creating robots that live and work alongside humans in their daily lives, helping people around in the home.

Welcome Sun Devils! It’s the start of an amazing year at ASU!

In March 2019, CUbiC & NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living faculty, staff, and students exhibited at the ’s Experience Ingenuity event to celebrate 80 years of graduate education at ASU.

In February, the NSF NRT project at ASU, Citizen-Centered Smart Cities & Smart Living and CUbiC coordinator gave a lightning talk on Urban Futures at the 2019 Social Embeddedness Network Conference, especially regarding the formation of the NRT grant project through engagement with industry partners and the community, and plans for student engagement for social change.

Wishing you a safe and fun 4th of July!

Earlier this June, faculty, staff, and students from CUbiC and the NRT grant project at Arizona State University welcomed Miss Arizona 2018, Isabel Ticlo, to the lab. As an ASU alumna with a platform of Supporting Those With Vision Impairment, Miss Arizona was especially interested to learn about CUbiC research and assistive technologies that enhance situational awareness and support non-visual travel for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Thank you, Miss Arizona 2018, for visiting CUbiC and the NRT program!

In early June, Executive Vice President of Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise Development, Chief Research and Innovation Officer, and CUbiC Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan sat down with New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter for an episode of Innovating the Future on Arizona PBS, discussing how research at ASU is seeking to bring AI and technological innovation to empower and enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Sethuraman Panchanathan talks about AI and other technological innovations | Arizona PBS Innovating the Future host and New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter talks to Sethuraman Panchanathan, ASU’s chief research and innovation officer. The conversation offers a fascinating window into the future by focusing on how his research seeks to bring AI and technological innovation to people w...

This Tuesday (6/18), Cubites Bryan and Abhik visited the STEM & Sports Summer Camp at the Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center during the camp’s iRobot week. They talked to the students about CUbiC’s assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities – and about the importance of inclusion and helping people.

Greetings from the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC) at Arizona State University! It’s been a long journey from when our center was founded in 2001 until now, but we’re excited to begin sharing the amazing things that happen at CUbiC on social media!