UCT Computer Scientist wins Google Award for Inclusion Research (AIR) Programme
For this project Melissa Densmore and Naveen Bagalkot will use speculative design approaches to develop community-centered perspectives on AI technologies like chatbots and automation tools. The photo below is from a “day-in-my-life” activity conducted as part of speculative design workshops conducted under the ITU Connect2Recover project in India and in South Africa.
A research proposal by Assoc Prof Melissa Densmore has been named as one of the winners of this year's Google Award for a Inclusion Research program.
The proposal,"Collectively Reimagining Chatbots and Voice-based automation for Content Creation tools from the “Margins” in South Africa and India," received an unrestricted gift made to UCT for US$35 000. Launched in 2020, the Award for Inclusion Research (AIR) Program is an ongoing effort to support innovative research and professors working to create positive societal impact.
The proposal: "Collectively Reimagining Chatbots and Voice-based automation for Content Creation tools from the “Margins” in South Africa and India," emerged from earlier collaboration by the two academics on the CoLRN project (A community-based vision for local resilient networks.) that was funded by the International Telecommunications Union last year, as well as work Densmore is conducting with the research unit Fraunhofer AICOS in Portugal on the design of chatbots to support parenting