Research

Accessible Voice Interfaces

Voice interfaces like voice assistants can be used as a more accessible means for accessing resources like critical health information online or social support, particularly for people who face challenges using smartphones or computers. I study how we can leverage voice interfaces as a tool to facilitate easier information access and meaningful social support. Relevant papers:

  • CareJournal: A Voice-Based Conversational Agent for Supporting Care Communications. CHI 2024.
  • (PDF)
  • Examining Voice Community Use. TOCHI 2024.
  • (PDF)
  • Understanding voice-based information uncertainty: A case study of health information seeking with voice assistants. JASIST 2023. (PDF)
  • Voice Assistant Use in Long-Term Care. CUI 2023. (PDF)
  • Studying Exploration & Long-Term Use of Voice Assistants by Older Adults. CHI 2023. (PDF)
  • Envisioning Equitable Speech Technologies for Black Older Adults. FAccT 2023. (PDF)
  • “If Alexa knew the state I was in, it would cry”: Older Adults’ Perspectives of Voice Assistants for Health. CHI 2022. (PDF)
  • An Empirical Study of Older Adult's Voice Assistant Use for Health Information Seeking. TIIS 2021. (PDF)
  • xPress: Rethinking Design for Aging and Accessibility through a Voice-Based Online Blogging Community. CSCW 2017. (PDF)
  • Exploring Traditional Phones as an E-Mail Interface for Older Adults. TACCESS 2016. (PDF)
  • An Approach to Audio-Only Editing for Visually Impaired Seniors. ASSETS 2016. (PDF)

Designing Accessible AI-Powered Environments

AI has the power to support people with disabilities, but can also pose harms. In this thread of work, I study the role of algorithms, large-language models, and automated transportation in disability communities. Relevant papers:

  • AI Consent Futures: A Case Study on Voice Data Collection with Clinicians. CSCW 2023.
  • "I wouldn’t say offensive but...": Disability-Centered Perspectives on Large Language Models. FAccT 2023. (for PDF)
  • Care and Coordination in Algorthmic Systems: An Economies of Worth Approach. FAccT 2023. (PDF)
  • Understanding the Representation and Representativeness of Age in AI Data Sets. AIES 2021. (PDF)
  • Stories from the Front Seat: Supporting Accessible Transportation in the Sharing Economy. CSCW 2019. (PDF)
  • Understanding Trust, Transportation, and Accessibility through Ridesharing. CHI 2019. (PDF)
  • Understanding the Power of Control in Autonomous Vehicles for People with Vision Impairments. ASSETS 2018. (PDF)
  • 'We can go anywhere': Understanding Independence through a Case Study of Ride-hailing Use by People with Visual Impairments in metropolitan India. CSCW 2018.
  • Facilitating discussion and shared meaning: Rethinking co-design sessions with people with vision impairments. PervasiveHealth 2018. (PDF)

Online Engagement + New Forms of Social Support

Some people cannot easily access computers, smartphones, and traditional forms of internet access everyday, and others may not want to. Yet, internet access does provide resources like social support and can affect emotional well-being. This is particularly important for aging populations who are at higher risk for isolation and depression. My prior work has investigated how older adults currently engage online to inform how to better engage those who do not participate. Rather than force people to use computers and smartphones, I study how we can use technologies people are familiar with and interested in using by mostly studying how landline phones and smart speakers can be leveraged as a source of social support. Relevant papers:

  • Cross-Contextual Examination of Older Adults' Privacy Concerns, Behaviors, and Vulnerabilities. PoPETS 2023.
  • Hugs, Bible Study, and Speakeasies: Designing for Older Adults' Multimodal Connectedness. DIS 2021. (PDF)
  • Understanding the Representation and Representativeness of Age in AI Data Sets. AIES 2021. (PDF)
  • Challenging Passive Social Media Use: Older Adults as Caregivers Online. CSCW 2021. (PDF)
  • "Tell It Like It Really Is": A Case of Online Content Creation and Sharing Among Older Adult Bloggers. CHI 2016. (PDF)
  • "Why would anybody do this?": Understanding Older Adults’ Motivations and Challenges in Crowd Work. CHI 2016. (PDF)