Arizona state university engineering student bijan fakhri is pictured wearing part of a “motor learning suit” in the center for cognitive ubiquitous computing.Cognitive learning model the center’s lab will serve as the primary technical training facility for doctoral students participating in a new research fellowship program that will train them for careers assisting people with disabilities.Cognitive learning model the device worn by fakhri is designed to teach motor skills through “haptic feedback,” using vibrating motors. Photo by: jessica slater/ASU

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“receiving IGERT grants for this kind of endeavor is a testament to the strengths of both ASU and CSULB across a broad spectrum of disciplines,” says sethuraman “panch” panchanathan, an ASU professor of computer science and engineering who will lead the new IGERT-funded program.Cognitive learning model forouzan golshani, dean of the college of engineering at CSULB, will be co-leader.

“this IGERT award is significant from two perspectives.” golshani says.Cognitive learning model “from a technology perspective, it enables the engineering community to frame its innovations in universal design and progressive inclusion policies.Cognitive learning model from the perspective of economic development, it aspires to find methodologies by which innovators can design products and services for small populations and yet realize adequate market share and return on investment.”

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Much of the technical education for the program will be take place at the center for cognitive ubiquitous computing (cubic), which focuses on designing devices to assist people with perceptual or cognitive disabilities.Cognitive learning model the center is part of the school of computing, informatics and decision systems engineering, one of ASU’s ira A. Fulton schools of engineering.Cognitive learning model

Students are also expected to have opportunities to learn through community service with organizations connected to cubic and the accessible technology initiative – including the arizona center for the blind and visually impaired, the southwest autism research & resource center, the department of veterans affairs long beach healthcare system, barrow neurological institute, the microsoft assisted living and accessibility group, johnson controls, cleveland clinic and meyer-johnson.Cognitive learning model

Members of the IGERTS program faculty and staff team are already working with research and education partners that are expected to provide internship opportunities for students – including the microsoft assisted living and accessibility group, apple, meyer-johnson, johnson controls, IBM, google, hewlett-packard, intel corporation, procter and gamble, dow corning corporation, barrow neurological institute and mayo clinic.Cognitive learning model

The NSF expects that in the future the expertise of students trained in the program will have a significant impact on the lives of a large segment of the country’s population – including injured military veterans, the elderly, children with learning and development disabilities, individuals with autism and those with visual disabilities, among others.Cognitive learning model

“they will be engaged in education and research in individually designed technologies that will have widespread uses,” he says. “for example, while sidewalk curb cuts were originally designed for people using wheelchairs, they have become a necessity for people using strollers, bikes, skateboards, grocery carts, rolling bags, segways, and mail carts.”

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With the explosive growth of new technologies and devices in recent years, the design and development of person-centered technologies “provides a new vision for device design – toward not only technologies for individuals with disabilities but to the otherwise so-called able-bodied individuals,” says vineeth balasubramanian, the fellowship program’s research director.Cognitive learning model

“as devices get smaller and faster, the need for devices to conform uniquely to each individual’s requirements is only aptly captured by the unique requirements of each individual with a disability,” he explains.Cognitive learning model “developing such paradigm-shifting technologies for a rewarding cause makes this program immensely attractive to talented and motivated graduate students.”