Empowering Data Vision: A Self-Paced Introduction to the Convergence of AI and Data Science

The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are delighted to present our third on-line course dedicated to data science for blind individuals.

Overview

This course, “Empowering Data Vision: A Self-Paced Introduction to the Convergence of AI and Data Science”, will teach blind individuals to use low-code and no-code techniques to create their own tools and workflows for accessing their data, powered by AI. This year, the course will be offered as a series of self-paced modules that will be available in August. Participants can opt to take these in any order. A certificate will be issued to those participants who successfully complete all modules within a stipulated time frame that will be shared as part of the course syllabus.

Read below for details about the course curriculum and eligibility.

Course Objective

Our primary objective is to equip blind individuals with the tools and knowledge necessary to independently analyze and visualize data, contributing to a more universally usable data literacy movement. By doing so, we aim to increase their effectiveness in their professional careers and bridge the representation gap in the data science field.

Course Sponsor

Funding for this Summer Research Institute is provided by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Blindness and Low Vision at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

Course Description

This course is specifically designed for blind individuals to explore no-code and low-code methods for people to generate their own tools to access and manage data. The course includes six self-paced pre-recorded modules available from our on-line platform, taught by blind data scientists and blind programmers. These are supported by on-line office hours, where participants can interact directly with faculty and where they can receive technical support related to course content and accessing it using their particular assistive technology.

The course is designed for screen-reader users who rely on speech or braille as their primary means of interacting with software, though there is no requirement for users to have a braille display.

Our main focus in this summer’s course will be on an overview of statistical concepts and their associated visualization techniques, introduction to screen-reader friendly tools and programming environments to analyze data and communicate insights, and tools and strategies to effectively use AI to assist with data analysis. By the end of the modules in this course, we anticipate students to have an inventory of knowledge, tools, and strategies to continue their AI and Data Science learning journey even in partially accessible environments outside of this course.

Our target learners are those who require data visualization skills in their academic or professional journey. This includes faculty, undergrad/graduate students, programmers, analysts, engineers, and scientists.

This year, there are 30 places available on the course and it is open to BVI individuals anywhere in the world.

Eligibility

Participants must:

•    Be 18 years or older.

•    Be proficient in Python or an equivalent programming language

*Note: We will ask everyone to complete a small pre-course task in Python to ensure baseline knowledge on which the course can build.

•    Be an everyday screen reader user (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, ORCA, etc.) using speech output and/or a braille display.

•    Have access to a laptop or desktop that can run Zoom, Visual Studio Code, and Python.

*Note: All of these are free or open-source and we will help you get things set up prior to the start of the course.

•    Have access to a high-speed internet connection to participate in online classes.

•    Have a basic level of proficiency in computer programming, ideally in Python.

•    Have a need for data visualization skills in their academic or professional careers.

Course Instructors

This year’s course will be taught by Dr. JooYoung Seo, Dr. Venkatesh Potluri, Aziz Zeidieh and Dr. Sile O’Modhrain.

Dr. JooYoung Seo is an assistant professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on assistive technologies in computing/data science, ability design human-computer interaction, inclusive Learning Sciences/STEM+C education across abilities, and health informatics.

Dr. Venkatesh Potluri is an assistant professor in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on understanding accessibility challenges experienced by BVI programmers, and addressing them through the development of accessible developer tools and accessibility datasets.

Aziz Zeidieh is an Informatics PhD candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research is in the area of spatial cognition, and is interested in how multisensory experiences can enable blind and low-vision users to interactively explore maps and other data for orientational familiarization.

Dr. Sile O’Modhrain is a Professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on human-computer interaction, especially interfaces incorporating haptic and auditory feedback.

Jeff Bishop, an employee of the University of Arizona, will support students during office hours and host special topic webinars to complement the course curriculum. He has a long history in development and accessibility, strong Python skills and data visualization knowledge, and he thrives on assisting others in the technology space.

Dr. James M. Coughlan, Director of the Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Blindness and Low Vision, will provide overall guidance in developing this course.

Course Outline

Module 1: Language-agnostic data science (JooYoung Seo)

Module 2: Language-agnostic data visualization (JooYoung Seo).

Module 3: VS-code (Venkatesh Potluri)

Module 4: Intro to Maidr: (JooYoung and Aziz)

Module 5: AI assisted programming

Module 6: a preview of emerging approaches to AI assisted information seeking

The skills taught in this course are listed here.