Please note: This seminar will take place in DC 1304.
Rodolfo Cossovich, PhD candidate
School of Information, Carleton University
Digital art can be a powerful tool for self-expression and independence, especially for people with disabilities. But what happens when the very tools meant to empower them become a source of pain and frustration?
We found that many digital artists with upper-limb motor impairments are forced to develop lengthy workarounds and often abandon their passion because of inaccessible technology. They rely on processes where their movements are their art, where they need to overcome challenges pixel by pixel. Automations of their input devices, in this context, conflict with their needs as creators.
We will share our ongoing work collaborating with artists designing input devices that learn and respond to personal hand gestures. We will discuss how designing the future of accessible technology should include users as partners in the design of adaptive, customizable systems, instead of perfect one-size-fits-all solutions.
Bio: Rodolfo Cossovich is an interdisciplinary researcher at the intersection of art, engineering, and accessibility. Currently a PhD candidate at Carleton University, his work focuses on creating adaptive technologies for artists with upper limb motor impairments. He holds degrees in Electronics Engineering (Argentina) and Fine Arts (UK), and has taught robotics and physical computing at Interactive Media Arts at NYU Shanghai (China) for over a decade.