News

Waterloo researcher develops cognitive assistive technology for people with Alzheimer’s disease

By Stephanie Longeway
University Relations

People suffering from the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease often have difficulty remembering things that recently happened to them. As the disease takes root, a person’s reasoning and behaviour can change. Day-to-day routines — like handwashing— may become challenging for them and they begin to need more assistance from caregivers for simple at-home tasks.

But now there is technology that can help.

The Waterloo AI Institute and National Centre for High Performance Computing, Applied Research Laboratories (NARlab) have signed a memo of understanding for cooperation in various areas pertinent to AI and applications. The two parties have also explored a number of research areas of strategic mutual interest. and to explore.

A large contingent from (NARlab, Taiwan) have joined officials and institute directors from the University of Waterloo, in the signing ceremony held on Thursday, July 11^th, 2019.

It is with great excitement that we officially announce our partnership with Microsoft, AI for Good initiative. 

Further articles highlighting the partnership between Microsoft and Waterloo.ai

Our very own Professor Fakhri Karray will be representing Waterloo Artificial Intelligent Institute at the upcoming AUTM conference in Toronto. 

Earlier this year in April, University of Bordeaux hosted a workshop for University of Waterloo - Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute members. The aim was to explore the research collaboration ventures on artificial intelligence and health sciences. 

Click here to read more from the University of Bordeaux. 

Many shop owners view anything high tech with trepidation… and with good reason.

The digitization of today’s vehicles has moved diagnosis outside the comfort zone of many veteran technicians. It requires continuous investment in proprietary training and tools. A shop can tie up a top technician for hours troubleshooting an electronic fault and barely break even on the effort.

Does it make sense to apply the highest of high technology to maintaining and fixing cars?

Waterloo EDC interviewed our very own Professor Alex Wong on corporate opportunities in applied artificial intelligence and featuring Waterloo AI Institute.  

Q: What is the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute and what is its role in the Waterloo AI ecosystem?

During the past year, there have been major implosions of robot startups, such as with Jibo, Anki and Rethink Robotics.  They all raised substantial amounts of capital from top-tier investors and had strong teams.

So why the failure? One of the main reasons is the extreme complexities of melding software and movable hardware.  As a result, the technology often does not live up to expectations.

Our very own Waterloo.ai academic member, Professor Mark Crowley will be a panelist at this upcoming event hosted by Waterloo Symposium on Technology & Society on May 15th. 

The panel discussion will feature Avi Goldfarb, Andrew Bailey, Carla Fehr and Mark Crowley, with moderation from Centre for Security Governance  Executive Director Mark Sedra.

For more information and registration, please click here.