Accessible Robotics

IDPP and its founding organization, COTELCO, have long focused on understanding the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in fostering inclusion for persons with disabilities. In recent years, we have focused our attention on including persons with disabilities in global governance processes. Accessible webconferencing has been one of our key technologies to participate in distributed collaborative activities. However, over the past two years, we have started exploring the role telepresence robots can have on enabling access to physical locations, including UN conferences, meetings, and events. 

"Ally" our robot

After we received the invitation from UNISDR to partner with them on a study exploring the use of telepresence robots to enable remote participation for the global disability community, we started preparing "Ally".

GP2017 - Mexico

The major part of our study was focused on comparing web conferencing with robots to achieve the goals of both UNISDR and the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network (DiDRRN).

WSIS 2018 - GENEVA

Dr Cogburn attended the World Summit on the Information Society Forum on behalf of AU's Internet Governance Lab and showcased the role of "Ally" in accessible global governance.