AI-Enabled Multiple Assistive Robots for Emerging Smart Healthcare, and An Interactive Session on Creating a Shared Vision for the CS Department

This session consists of two parts. The first part is a technical talk. As we sail through the Artificial Intelligence (AI) storm that is sweeping across the globe and penetrating virtually every sphere of life, we propose innovative technologies that are likely to make a lasting impact. AI-enabled assistive technologies, such as robots, are poised to proliferate because they can alleviate rehabilitation and service connected health challenges—perceptual disorders, pain disorders, musculoskeletal injuries limiting mobility, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders. We describe some of our AI-enabled research projects on multiple assistive robots, addressing key research challenges and privacy issues and how they can catalyze multidisciplinary research and educational programs. 

In the second part, which will be interactive, we will share ideas on how to lead and build up the department. This will include a description of a shared vision. This will explain consultation and cooperation-based governance and administration, empowering and mentoring the faculty, increasing enrollments, enhancing productivity, and, most importantly, making the department an environment that the faculty, staff, and students can call home. We describe some benchmarks and strategies on how to engage with various stakeholders and how a department chair can act as a bridge between the faculty and the university’s upper administration.