Adegboyega Akinsiku

Participant: PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium

Adegboyega Akinsiku
Department: Human-Centered Computing
Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium 2015

ABSTRACT

The United States Department of Education (DOE) has identified a need to provide adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) with continued learning opportunities. The DOE wants to create new teaching methods and programs that will provide support to adults with intellectual disabilities to develop independence and critical thinking skills. SUCCESS (Students United for CampusCommunity Engagement for Post-Secondary Success) is a pilot program at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) that gives young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to have a college experience through a combination of courses and internship training; SUCCESS is a result of the DOE’s effort. The lack of job placements for people with intellectual disabilities is an issue that the SUCCESS program intends to address. The SUCCESS staff believes that with technology becoming more accessible, and their students growing interests in technology, that the use of technology in the internship could be become a viable option for helping the students become more independent. This presentation will discuss an ethnographic field study conducted at a SUCCESS internship site that follows one SUCCESS student. The presentation will also highlight how the field study’s findings guided the design of an appropriate assistive technology solution that will motivate, encourage, and keep student on task.

PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium 2014

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this project is to explore the potential of upcoming wearable technology platforms for improving interaction between instructors and students in the classroom setting. This project will explore issues related to wearable computing technologies in classroom settings before these technologies are widely available, providing an opportunity to direct the development of wearable computing technology and applications.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Adegboyega (Ade) Is a recent graduate of Howard University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in Computer Engineering. He is currently pursuing my master of science degree in Human-Centered Computing at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Ade has a special interest, not limited to, in ubiquitous/pervasive computing and the use of embedded systems within appropriate and assistive technology. Ade has a strong passion to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to future collegiate students, not only within academia, but within entrepreneurship. He hopes to promote the importance of research and development, and the need for development within fields such as appropriate technology.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF GRADUATE RESEARCH

I have research experience in computer vision, micro-controller design, and computational science. I have conducted research abroad at Ateneo de Manila (Philippines) University where I worked with a team of students to develop a hardware interface that will enable an amputee to control a robotic arm using a brain-computer interface. My future research goal is to design appropriate computing systems for the developing world to improve the overall quality of life.

SELECTED LIST OF PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

University of Maryland Eastern Shore 2014 Regional Research Symposium
Princess Anne, MD. Graduate Presenter.
Selected to present on, “Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Wearable Computing in Classroom Settings.”
University System of Maryland PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium & Professional Development
College Park, MD. Graduate Presenter.
Participated in the research symposium “Lightening Round Talks.” Presented early findings of “Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Wearable Computing in Classroom Settings.”
Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM
Washington, DC. Finalist & Presenter.
Selected to present on research project, “Controlling a Robotic Hand using a Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface.”
National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Finalist & Presenter.
Selected to present on research project, “Controlling a Robotic Hand using a Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface.”
Georgia Tech Graduate Technical Symposium ([GT]2)
Georgia Institute of Technology. Presenter.
Selected to present “Applications of Microprocessors, Speech Recognition, & Computer Vision within Assistive Technology” research project.
International Conference on Appropriate Technology (ICAT)
Pretoria, South Africa. Presenter.
Presented on HU-EWB “ Water is Life: Harvesting and Biosand Treatment,” project.