What we do

AIDA bridges the gaps between academia, charities, and industry for serving people with accessibility needs with AI-driven technologies.

What we do for people with accessibility needs

We are currently focusing on two user groups, people living with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) (also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), one of the most common MNDs) and people living with low vision. These two population face unique challenges that require tailored solutions to enhance their quality of life and independence.

Through our dedicated research and development efforts, AIDA is committed to delivering impactful, user-centered technologies that meet the specific needs of these communities, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and supportive society.

People with Vision Impairments

Based on WHO’s report in 2020, 43.3 million people are blind, and 295 million people are with moderate to severe vision impairment (MSVI) globally. It becomes challenging for them to explore unknown places, complete unfamiliar tasks, and learn new skills.

For people with vision impairements, we are creating innovative visual aids that adapt to their developed experience. By leveraging the latest advancements in technology, we strive to develop solutions that significantly enhance their ability to navigate and interact with the world around them.

People with MND

NIH reported that 268,674 individuals had MND globally in 2019 and 80-95% of them develop speech difficulties, making communication of everyday needs increasingly challenging. They have to rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, while such products are either unaffordable or even inaccessible to people in need in many regions.

For individuals with MND, we open source free advanced AAC systems that address the complex communication needs. We continuously innovate assistive tools that enable better interaction with their families, friends, and environment and maintain their independence for as much as possible.

What we do for researchers

Many researchers eager to see the impact of their research in the real world. However, it often requires interdisciplinary cooperations, from the understanding of user needs to the back-end technologies.

We provide a platform to amplify their research, focusing on assistive technologies (ATs), AI, and HCI. We link them with industry resource (e.g., language models and devices) and social connections (e.g., access to people with accessibility needs). For students/junior researchers, we also supervise and guide their research, allowing them to gain project experience. We open source our code and encourage cooperations.

What we do for charities

Charities work closely with people with accessibility needs, with deep understanding of the real users’ requirements. They alleviate these needs via existing products and social services, which can be costly and may not be easily accessible for some people. Moreover, some requirements do not have existing solutions.

We develop and provide accessible and affordable (and many are free) assistive technologies for charities to further help them to improve the life quality of people with accessibility needs.

What we do for tech companies

Tech companies have various needs of assistive tech consulting to explore the boundaries of their products and gain social impacts.

We can amplify their impacts by integrate their product into ATs that can actually be used by people in need.