ACM Mid-Atlantic Special Interest Group on Accessibility

User Interface Design and Functional Gains from Cognitive
Assistive Technology: Treading on the Frontiers of Neuroscience

Dr. Elliot Cole
Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics

1:30pm Thursday, 4 April 2013, ITE 404, UMBC

Assistive Technology can and should be viewed as a therapy modality, by increasing functioning as a technology effect, and sometimes by an increase in underlying abilities through one or more neuroscience mechanisms. User interface design has been a core technique in achieving gains in the cognitive dimensions. Patient-Centered Design was developed as a methodology to help achieve these gains. This methodology seems to be a close relative of Ability-Based Design. Case studies will help demonstrate effects achieved with Patient-Centered Design. Older psychological and the emerging neuroscience paradigm will be presented.

Elliot Cole, PhD is the founder of the Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics. He brings his training in human-centered computing to developing technology and techniques which address cognitive disabilities from brain injury. The Institute's successful R&D efforts came from a multidisciplinary staff from clinical and computing specialties working closely together and focusing on the rehabilitation needs of the individual patient. This approach has generated deep knowledge of the cognitive disabilities computing domain. For over a decade, the Institute had a "lab" brain injury cognitive rehabilitation facility. Dr. Cole was an associate professor at Drexel University and a research associate at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is currently a Visiting Scholar. His book Patient-Centered Design of Cognitive Assistive Technology for Traumatic Brain Injury Telerehabilitation is being published in April by Morgan and Claypool as part of the series Synthesis Lectures on Assistive, Rehabilitative, and Health-Preserving Technologies.

Timothy Lynch ’87, interdisciplinary studies, was recognized at the 2013 Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards, an annual celebration of the accomplishments faculty and staff campus- and system-wide.

Lynch was honored with the Presidential Distinguished Staff Award-Professional Staff for his work as the assistant director of summer, winter, and special programs. This award recognizes exceptional performance, leadership and service by a full-time member of the associate staff. Lynch’s contributions were summarized in the awards program:

“Since graduating from UMBC in 1987, Timothy Lynch’s commitment to student service, has been unwavering in dedication. [. . .] In his role as assistant director, Lynch regularly works between students, faculty and administrators, to make the enrollment process manageable for all of those involved. His high level of follow through and helpfulness continuously assuage the anxieties students hold while attempting to supplement their educations with special programming, or outside of the spring and fall semesters. Additionally, over 500 students each year, the visiting student population, rely heavily on Lynch’s assistance to navigate the enrollment process for all courses. His friendly demeanor and thorough habits make students feel welcome to the UMBC community, and his interactions are appreciated as unmatched in their level of assistance during the college enrollment process.”

Read more about Lynch and the other awards recipients.