Alan Newell, Ph.D., M.B.E., F.R.S.E., Professor of Applied Computing, University of Dundee, Scotland

Professor Newell has been researching into computer systems to assist older people and people with disabilities for over thirty years, and has published widely in this field. He was awarded the Lloyd of Kilgerran Prize from the Foundation for Science and Technology for this research, and has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to IT and communication for people with disabilities.

Professor Newell is the academic leader of “Queen Mother Research Centre for Information Technology to Support Older People” within Applied Computing at Dundee University, which contains the major academic group in the world investigating computer and communication systems for older and disabled people, with over 30 researchers working in this field. A number of software systems they have developed have been marketed in Europe and America, and their Digital Media Access Group provides an accessibility audit and consultancy service for designers for the web and other digital resources. The within Applied Computing, of which, has recently been announced.

Professor Newell, a former Deputy Principal of the University, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the British Computer Society, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and an Honorary Fellow Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. He was a member of the Thematic Panel of the 1999 UK Foresight Exercise on the Ageing Population.

Elliott Cole, Ph.D., Principle Scientist, Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics, USA

Elliot Cole is principal scientist of the Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics (ICP), which he founded in 1987. He is one of the first computer scientists to address needs of people with cognitive disabilities. Over the years, he was worked elbow to elbow with scores of individuals with cognitive disorders, developing computational techniques of augmenting their abilities. ICP developed a clinical program as a vehicle to developing technology and techniques. He and his staff have delivered tens of thousands of hours of services, generally in a brain injury rehabilitation context. ICP has worked with individuals that have traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxia, Parkinson’s disease, brain cancer, brain aneurysm, aphasia, and learning disabilities.

Elliot served on an NIH Study Section from 1994 to 2000, was a UNDP scientific consultant in Puna, India, and was the subject of a PBS documentary. He has written and presented 100 papers in the US, Canada, Europe (including the UK!), and Australia. Prior to founding ICP, Elliot was an associate professor of Information Systems at Drexel University, and then joined the University of Pennsylvania as PI on the Instructional Decision Support Project. He also has had a research appointment at Dartmouth Medical School.
He lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife of 36 years, who is an artist (www.carolcole.com). Both of his children are in PhD programs. He enjoys sailing, collecting rare books, and is tinkering with something he’s calling musical sculpture.

Participants:

Ronald Baecker, Stefan Carmien, Melissa Dawe, Josh Estelle, Gerhard Fischer, David Fourney, Jonathan Goler, Tom Keating, Matt Lee, Jay Lundell, Lone Malmborg, Mike Massimi, Joanna McGrenere, Karyn Moffatt, Andrew Monk, Sonya Nikolova, Jim Sullivan, Dipak Surie, Joe Wherton, Mike Wu

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Accepted Position Papers and Presentations Given at Workshop

Backman, A., Bodin, K., Bucht, G., Janlert, L., Maxhall, M., Pederson, T., Sjolie, D., Sondell, B., Surie, D., easyADL – Wearable Support System for Independent Life despite Dementia, Umeå University, Sweden [PDF9] [PPT9]
Baecker, R., Designing Electronic Memory Aids: A Research Framework, University of Toronto, Canada [PDF13] [PPT13]
Boyd-Graber, J., and Nikolova, S., Design with Proxies: A Desktop-PDA System for People with Aphasia, Princeton, USA [PDF16] [PPT16]
Carmien, S., Assistive Technology for Persons with Cognitive Disabilities – Artifacts of Distributed Cognition, University of Colorado, USA [PDF11] [PPT11]
Cole, E. Patient-Centered Design as a Research Strategy for Cognitive Prosthetics: Lessons Learned from Working with Patients and Clinicians for 2 Decades, Institute for Cognitive Prosthetics, USA [PDF21] [PPT21]
Dawe, M., Designing a Remote Communication Device with Young Adults with Cognitive Disabilities and Their Families, University of Colorado, USA [PDF19] [PPT19]
Estelle, J., Kirsch, N., and Pollack, M., Enhancing Social Interaction in Elderly Communities, University of Michigan, USA [PDF12] [PDF_Pres12]
Fischer, G., Socio-Technical Environments Supporting People with Cognitive Disabilities, University of Colorado, USA [PDF2] [PDF_Pres2]
Fourney, D., Including Cognitive Disabilities in International Standards, University of Saskatchewan, Canada [PDF4] [PPT4]
Goler, J.A., Selker, E.J., and Wilde, L.F., Augmenting Voting Interfaces to Improve Accessibility and Performance, MIT Media Lab, USA [PDF1] [PPT1]
Keating, T., Picture Planner: An Icon-Based Personal Management Application for Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities, University of Oregon Eugene Research Institute [PDF5] [PPT5]
Lee, M., and Dey, A, Capturing and Reviewing Context in Memory Aids, CMU HCI Institute, USA [PDF10] [PPT10]
Lundell, J., and Morris, M. Design Research Techniques for Elders with Cognitive Decline: Examples from Intel’s Digital Health Group, Intel Corporation, USA [PDF17] [PPT17]
Malmborg, L., Jonsson, B., and Svensk, A., Situated Probing, Malmo and Lund Universities, Sweden [PDF18] [PPT18]
Massimi, M., A Context-Aware Mobile Phone for Remembering Names and Faces, University of Toronto, Canada [PDF8] [PPT8]
Moffatt, K., Findlater, L., Allen, M., Generalizability in Research with Cognitively Impaired Individuals, University of British Columbia, Canada [PDF15] [PPT15]
Newell, A. A User Centred Approach to Supporting People with Cognitive Dysfunction, University of Dundee, Scotland [PDF22] [PPT22]
Sullivan, J., and Gorman, A., Extending the Caregiver Network: Remote Support Systems for People with Cognitive Disabilities Living in the Community, University of Colorado, USA [PDF20] [PPT20]
Wherton, J., and Monk, A., Cognitive Support for Dementia, University of York, UK [PDF3] [PPT3]
Wu, M., Collaborative Memory Technology for Supporting the Care Network, University of Toronto, Canada [PDF6] [PPT6]

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Reports from the Workshop

Poster Session:

PDF of the poster presented at CHI 2006 describing the workshop and its outcomes

Breakout Sessions:

Session I

- Design with and for people with cognitive disabilities
     reports by: Sonya Nikolova & Melissa Dawe

- Privacy, consent, and avoiding unintended consequences
     report by: Andrew Monk

Session II

- Evaluation
     reports by: Josh Estelle & Karyn Moffatt

- Dual user interface, designing a framework, & ethnographic techniques
     reports by: Stefan Carmien, Ron Baecker, David Fourney, & Lone Malmborg

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Detailed Workshop Plan

Workshop Day 1: theme-based presentations and discussion of position papers

Session 1 (9:00-10:30 AM): Introduction and Keynotes
- Chair: Ron Baecker
- Workshop introduction (10 min)
- Keynote: Alan Newell [[PDF22]] (40 min total for talk and discussion/questions)
- Keynote: Elliot Cole [PDF21] (40 min total for talk and discussion/questions)

Session 2 (11:00-12:30 PM): Design and Evaluation Methods
- Chair: Jim Sullivan
- Introduction of attendees (20 min)
- 5 presentations (~25 min):
- discussion (~45 min)

Lunch (12:30-2:30):
- reservations at a local restaurant (details)

Session 3 (2:30-4:00 PM): Generalizability, Subject Recruitment, and Multi-disciplinary Teams
- Chair: Stefan Carmien
- 7 presentations (~ 35 min)
  - Wherton [PDF3]
  - Wu [PDF6]
  - Massimi [PDF8]
  - Moffatt [PDF15]
  - Nikolova [PDF16]
  - Dawe [PDF19]
  - Surie [PDF9]
- discussion (~55 min)

Session 4 (4:30-6:00 PM): The Dual User Interface, The Boundary Between Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology, and Frameworks
- Chair: Joanna McGrenere
- 6 presentations (~ 30 min)
  - Carmien [PDF11]
  - Lundell [PDF17]
  - Fourney [PDF4]
  - Fischer [PDF2]
  - Sullivan [PDF20]
  - Baecker [PDF13]
- discussion (~50 min)
- planning for Day 2 (10 min)

Workshop Day 2: breakout sessions, re-group, wrap-up

Session 1 (9:00-10:30 AM): Breakout Session I
- Breakout sessions to discuss themes identified on Day 1 in smaller groups

Session 2 (11:00-12:30 PM): Breakout Session II
- Breakout sessions to discuss themes identified on Day 1 in smaller groups

Lunch (12:30-2:30):
- reservations at a local restaurant (details)
Session 3 (2:30-4:00 PM): Re-group
- one representative from each breakout group will informally “present” their group’s discussion to the whole group and provide opportunity for those not in a particular discussion group to give feedback

Session 4 (4:30-6:00 PM): Workshop Wrap-up
- as a group itemize/document:
  - best practices that were brought forward during the workshop
  - ideas for how to advance research into assistive technology for the cognitively impaired
  - questions that remain open
  - appropriate venues for publishing workshop outcomes
  - strengths and weakness of the workshop

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Workshop Location and On-site Registration

Workshops are being held at the Hyatt (1255 Rue Jeanne-Mance Montréal). You must register on-site before attending the workshop. You will register for both the conference and the workshop at the Hyatt (signs will direct you to the correct location within the Hyatt). Here's a map to help you find the Hyatt from your hotel: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1255+JEANNE+MANCE,+Montreal+Canada

Registration hours at the Hyatt:
Friday - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday - 8:00am to 12:00noon
Sunday - 8:00am to 12:00noon

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Call for Participation

This workshop aims to bring together researchers from both academia and industry that are actively designing technologies for people with cognitive impairments. Technologies can be used to mitigate the impairment or to make general user applications accessible. We are interested to see novel design concepts, methodological innovations, empirical research, or technological solutions. The goal is to share best practices and to generate new conceptual frameworks for how to advance assistive technology research for the cognitively impaired.

Please submit position papers which:

are 2-4 pages, following the CHI Extended Abstracts Publications Format .
describe your work in this area and your perspective regarding the goals of the workshop
include two questions you would most like addressed in the workshop
include a brief biographical sketch, and if you are part of a research group, briefly state the mission or focus of the group

Papers can be co-authored, and should be submitted as a PDF by January 13^th, 2006 to joanna@cs.ubc.ca.

All position papers will be reviewed and discussed by the three workshop organizers. Submissions will be selected on the basis of the significance of the work presented and with respect to how well they will help us reach the aim of the workshop. We shall try to create a good mix of people looking at the topic from different perspectives. Space permitting, we will allow multiple attendees for co-authored papers.

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Workshop Abstract

The workshop abstract is the document outlining the goals and objectives of the workshop. It will be published as part of the CHI Extended Abstracts. (PDF)

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Workshop Proposal

Topic:

Several research groups are actively now designing technologies to serve communities of people with cognitive impairments and their caregivers. For some individuals, cognitive impairments are diagnosed at birth and present stable and well understood learning difficulties that impact how a person will live, work, and participate in society. For others, cognitive impairments result from an injury or illness and present short-term or long-term difficulties. For others still, including the growing elder population, cognitive impairments may be slow, degenerative and progressive. For nearly all, there are profound impacts on a person’s social network that must also be considered when designing technology for people with a cognitive disability.

This workshop will bring together researchers and practitioners who are exploring issues concerning the design, implementation, and assessment of technologies to serve people with cognitive impairments and their caregiver communities. It will explore issues related to design methodologies, software and hardware implementations, and assessment.

Goals:

To bring together the community of researchers who are creating cognitive technologies to share best practices.
To generate new conceptual frameworks for how to advance assistive technology research for people with cognitive impairments.
To identify fundamental differences, similarities, and synergies between different user populations with cognitive impairments and their caregivers.

Challenges and Themes:

We itemize a number of challenges and potential themes that could be covered in the workshop:

identification of appropriate design methods, practices, and evaluation methods
subject recruitment – are there typical or representative users, or is everyone unique (“universe of one” vs. generalizability)?
sources for research partnerships and funding
importance of multi-disciplinary teams
understanding diagnoses vs. functional assessments – how can these be used in design?
requirement for dual user interface development (UI for the caregiver and for the target end user)
exploring the boundary between assistive technology and rehabilitative technology
North American vs. non-North American perspectives and approaches to developing cognitive technologies

Attendee Selection

We anticipate 20-24 attendees (including the organizers). We propose a larger than average workshop in order to accommodate multiple individuals from a single research group. Each of the workshop organizers plans to include 3 people from their respective research groups. Details about the position paper submission are provided in the call for participation below.

Proposed Workshop Plan <See detailed workshop plan above for final plan>

Before the workshop:

All accepted position papers will be forwarded to the workshop attendees a few weeks prior to the conference and they will be asked to read them in advance of the workshop.

Workshop Day 1: theme-based presentation and discussion of position papers + demonstration session

The organizers will categorize the position papers into 3-4 main themes (the themes may be similar/identical to those given above, or they may be somewhat different – we will let the themes emerge from the position papers rather than impose themes at this time). Each theme will be addressed one at a time. For a given theme, the position papers in that theme will first be presented. Attendees will have 5 minutes to present their paper (strictly timed, 3 slides per participant), and then there will be time for the whole group to discuss the issues brought up in that theme. The goal of the presentation will be to refresh the attendees on the content of the position paper, as all attendees are expected to have read the position papers in advance. Presenters should specifically highlight the questions they included in their position paper that they want addressed/discussed in the workshop. These questions, along with any other questions that emerge during the workshop will be recorded on a flip chart.

In addition, there will be a demonstration session where a subset of the attendees will demonstrate their technology. Depending on the specific demos, some may be presented to the whole group, and some may be hands on.

We expect that all attendees will either present within a theme or do a demonstration.

A tentative schedule is as follows. Assuming we have 3 themes, 5 attendees per theme, Day 1 would be:

Morning session before break (1.5 hours): Theme 1
- workshop introduction + introductions of attendees (20 min)
- presentations (~ 30 min, includes time for switching between presenters)
- discussion (~ 40 min)
Morning session after break (1.5 hours): Theme 2
- presentations (~ 30 min, includes time for switching between presenters)
- discussion (~1 hour)
Afternoon session before break (1.5 hours): Demonstrations
Afternoon session after break (1.5 hours): Theme 3
- presentations (~ 30 min, includes time for switching between presenters)
- discussion (~1 hour)

Workshop Day 2: breakout sessions, re-group, wrap-up

Morning session before break (1.5 hours): breakout session I
- Vote on remaining open questions (recorded on flip chart) that attendees would like addressed/discussed
- Breakout sessions to discuss those questions in smaller groups
Morning session after break (1.5 hours): breakout session II
- Breakout sessions to discuss additional questions in smaller groups
Afternoon session before break (1.5 hours): Re-group
- one representative from each breakout group will informally “present” their group’s discussion to the whole group and provide opportunity for those not in a particular discussion group to give feedback
Afternoon session after break (1.5 hours): Workshop wrap-up
- as a group itemize/document:
  - best practices that were brought forward during the workshop
  - ideas for how to advance research into assistive technology for the cognitively impaired
  - questions that remain open
  - appropriate venues for publishing workshop outcomes
  - strengths and weakness of the workshop

After the workshop:

Content summarized in the wrap-up session will be documents and submitted to a venue such as the SIGCHI Bulletin or the ASSETS conference. We will also solicit input on appropriate publishing venues in the cognitive rehabilitation community during the workshop.

Soliciting Participation:

We will solicit participation by sending our CFP to various announcement lists, including CHI-ANNOUNCEMENTS. We will also invite 3-5 leaders in the field of cognitive technologies to submit position papers.

Organizer’s bios:

Joanna McGrenere is an assistant professor in Computer Science at the University of British Columbia where she is a member of the Imager Lab, which is an interdisciplinary group of researchers investigating human computer interaction, visualization, and graphics. Joanna’s research spans adaptable/adaptive interface designs for complex computer software, assistive technology, and computer supported cooperative work. She is currently co-leading the Aphasia Project (http://www.cs.ubc.ca/projects/Aphasia/index.html), which is investigating technology for people with aphasia, a speech and language impairment.

Jim Sullivan is Co-Director of the Cognitive Levers Project (http://l3d.cs.colorado.edu/clever/) in the Center for Lifelong Learning and Design at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. Jim's research interests include mobile context-aware technologies and architectures. In the Cognitive Levers project, Jim is investigating mobile technologies to support independence for people with cognitive disabilities and their caregivers in public transportation and community settings.

Ronald Baecker is Professor of Computer Science, Bell University Laboratories Chair in Human-Computer Interaction, and founder and Chief Scientist of the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto. He is also Affiliate Scientist with the Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He has been named a Computer Graphics Pioneer by ACM SIGGRAPH, has been elected to the CHI Academy by ACM SIGCHI, and has been given the Canadian Human Computer Communications Society Achievement Award. He is currently leading a research project dealing with the design and evaluation of electronic memory aids for a variety of cognitive impairments.

Stefan Carmien is a PhD student and a member of the Cognitive Levers Project in the Center for Lifelong Learning and Design at the University of Colorado. Stefan’s research activities include developing and evaluating socio-technical environments to support independence for persons with cognitive disabilities and support communities. His dissertation research is centered on developing hand held mobile prompting devices as well as end-user programming tools.

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