Prof. Catherine Holloway visits RAIL for Research Collaboration in Assistive Technologies

Prof. Catherine Holloway, Co-founder and Academic Director of the Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub at University College London (UCL) visited the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) to discuss research collaboration in Assistive Technologies. This visit follows a lecture delivered by Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of RAIL, at the GDI Hub, UCL, on June 26, 2024.

During her visit, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo provided an overview of RAIL’s mission to promote the responsible use and deployment of inclusive AI within African communities to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted RAIL’s efforts to strengthen the capacities of researchers and AI practitioners in the responsible utilisation of AI, focusing on the complex interplay between energy and environment, health systems, food security, and assistive device development to support the most vulnerable communities in Ghana and the sub-region.

Dr. Rosemary Gyening, Responsible and Inclusive AI Fellow, RAIL, presented the transformative ‘I See and I Hear’ project. This initiative, which aims to provide AI-enabled visual and hearing aids for individuals with visual and hearing impairments, has the potential to improve their lives significantly. The project includes comprehensive datasets to capture real-world environments and language installations.

Mrs. Betty Agyei Kponyo, Assistive Devices Research Lead, presented her research, which investigates the factors affecting the adoption of assistive devices among differently-abled persons. It is hoped that with the findings from this research, the adoption of assistive technologies could be significantly enhanced.

Prof. Catherine Holloway stressed the importance of co-designing these solutions with end users, addressing critical questions related to functionality and design. Both teams, demonstrating their shared commitment, agreed to collaborate on innovative solutions and develop short courses to further their shared goals.

This partnership will help RAIL advance its assistive technologies and promote inclusivity through the responsible use of AI.