Student teams harness artificial intelligence to aid accessibility
What do Amazon Alexa, Netflix streaming and Facebook tagging have in common? Answer: Each uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make our daily lives easier to navigate.
While the world’s largest tech companies employ AI to examine word accuracy through tone of voice or make movie recommendations based on behavioral data, AI has not been widely used to make the world more inclusive. CSUN students aim to change that trend. In order to narrow the inclusivity gap, several teams of CSUN students competed in an artificial intelligence competition, dubbed AI-Jam, in spring 2019. Using their creativity and skills in innovation, the teams worked to develop a marketable AI product that addressed real-world accessibility needs.
The Department of Information Technology took a new angle for AI-Jam 2019: applying artificial intelligence to an assisted technology challenge.
Competitors had 35 days to come up with their idea and bring it to fruition. The finalist teams, Team ChillN, Eliza and Plug N’ Braille, presented their concepts at the AI-Jam showcase at the University Library. The projects included a biometric app that personalizes panic disorder care; a handrecognition app that bridges the gap between those who communicate via American Sign Language (ASL) and those who do not, by translating sign language in real-time; and a plug-in image-recognition tablet that can decode graphic images and translate them into Braille for people who are visually impaired.
Of the three finalists, team ChillN swept both categories — Best Artificial Intelligence and Best Solution Concept. The winning team included psychology students Patty Orozco and Daniel Saravia, and computer science students Thomas Parashos, Dallin Robbins and David Ward. With their victory, the team punched their ticket to participate in CSUN’s I-Corps Program, where they hoped to take their project to the next level: to develop it for market. The program allotted up to $3,000 to support the continuation of their project.