Event Location: Newell Simon Hall 1507
Bio: Roberto Manduchi is a Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he conducts research in the areas of computer vision and sensor processing with applications to assistive technology. Prior to joining UCSC in 2001, he worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and at Apple. He is a consultant for Aquifi, Inc., and sits on the scientific advisory board of Aira, Inc. In 2013 he shared with Carlo Tomasi the Helmholtz Test-of-Time Award from the International Conference on Computer Vision for their article on Bilateral Filtering.

Abstract: Assistive technology is the art of building tools, devices and services that can support activities of daily life of people with disabilities. In this talk, I will describe some recent projects from my UCSC group focusing on sensing technology for people who are blind and for people with low vision. These include: blind wayfinding using visual landmarks and inertial sensors; text and sign reading; eye gaze-based screen magnification control; and accessible public transportation. I will conclude with a few reflections on some critical requirements of accessible wayfinding systems.