Conference Agenda

Effective communication is vital to human interactions. It enables individuals to express themselves, build relationships with others, and participate in society. Advances in analytic and generative AI hold great potential for improving communication by enhancing individuals’ perceptual and expressive capabilities. My talk will address the advances and applications of conversation-enhancing technologies, focusing on their potential benefits for people with various communication challenges. Applications developed in collaboration with and for users include signing avatars for the hearing impaired, more expressive voices for AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device users, and mixed reality environments that promote motor training for children with autism. In my talk, I will discuss how the use of analytic and generative AI can bridge communication barriers, promote authentic and personalized expression, and support social inclusion. In addition to analyzing the potential of these technologies to support users with different communication abilities, I will address the challenges of an empathic design process to identify and address the specific needs of target audiences while avoiding reinforcing stereotypes.