HERE-U Inclusive Hearing

Product Design + AI

Together with my cohort at NCSU, we theorized how machine learning could improve the conversational experience of a DHH (Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing) user. Through machine learning, the HERE-U system adapts microphones in hearing aids or cochlear implants to focus on what the user wants to hear. Our goal was to create a more natural conversation experience without requiring the user to monitor a device constantly.

Research Inquiry: A speculative design inquiry into Human-Centered AI for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. Co-theorized with my NC-State cohort using IBM tools, this project proposes a wearable system that utilizes machine learning to create a more natural, inclusive conversational experience.

Outcome: Cited as a case study in Big Data, Big Design by Helen Armstrong, demonstrating the ethical application of AI in user experience design.

Our work was referenced on page 20 of “Big Data. Big Design: Why Designers Should Care about AI” by Helen Armstrong.