Tag: Artificial Intelligence

Posted on

What Role is There for Artificial Intelligence in the Assessment of Neurodiversity?

Research Stream: Social Technologies

Author: Emily McConway, Undergraduate Intern in Psychology, Maynooth University and Mac MacLachlan, Professor of Psychology & Social Inclusion, and Co-Director of the ALL Institute, Maynooth University

Early assessment and intervention are vital in facilitating positive developmental and behavioural outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Early intervention has a positive long-term effect on both autistic children and their caregivers. The current process of assessing the needs of children with possible autistic traits focuses on the use of behavioural clinical diagnostic instruments such as Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Both instruments require direct clinician-to-child observation and can take hours to administer and score. In many countries, long waiting lists, coupled with social, economic and geographic barriers hinders timely assessment of neurodiverse children. The ALL Institute is interested in pragmatic ways to streamline access to services, including assessing a person’s needs for services and supports.   

Continue reading “What Role is There for Artificial Intelligence in the Assessment of Neurodiversity?”
Posted on

Exploring the Impact of the EU ‘Draft AI Act’ on Democracy: A Timely Discussion with the ‘Draft Compromise Text’ of the European Parliament

Social Structures

Author: Gizem Yardimci, Early Career Researcher at ADVANCE CRT, PhD Student in Law, Maynooth University

Gizem Yardimci
Gizem Yardimci

The Draft Artificial Intelligence Act (Draft AI Act) for the European Union (EU) represents a significant milestone towards the regulation of technologies employing AI within the EU. Since the zero version of the Draft AI Act was released on 21 April 2021, it has been discussed extensively by academics, policymakers and professionals  who are involved in the decision-making processes within the EU. In May of this year, the European Parliament released a Draft Compromise Text with significant amendments on the Draft AI Act. Therefore, the European Parliament is in a position to launch ‘trialogues’ with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. Overall, this development represents a formal step towards finalising the regulation for AI systems in the EU.

The main goal of the Draft AI Act is to improve the functioning of the internal market and to advance the creation of a digital single market as indicated in the Digital Single Market Strategy.

Continue reading “Exploring the Impact of the EU ‘Draft AI Act’ on Democracy: A Timely Discussion with the ‘Draft Compromise Text’ of the European Parliament”
Posted on

SFI ADVANCE CRT: Interdisciplinary Research for a Connected Society that Promotes Independent Living and the Rights of the Individual

Social Structures

Author: Matthew McKenna, PhD Researcher at Maynooth University’s Assisting Living and Learning Institute (ALL) Institute, Research Funded through the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research Training in Advanced Networks for Sustainable Societies (ADVANCE CRT)

Matthew McKenna Profile Picture
Matthew McKenna

The Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research and Training in Advanced Networks for Sustainable Societies (ADVANCE CRT) is a multidisciplinary research project focused on ‘Future Networks and the Internet of Things (IoT) with applications in independent and sustainable living’. ADVANCE CRT aims to fund and train 120 PhD students in four annual cohorts in five partner universities, including Maynooth University, across a multitude of academic disciplines and through engagement and cooperation with industry partners. In the words of the ADVANCE CRT:

‘Our vision is to train the next generation of researchers who will seek solutions to the technical and societal challenges of global hyper-connectivity between large numbers of People and Things’.

Continue reading “SFI ADVANCE CRT: Interdisciplinary Research for a Connected Society that Promotes Independent Living and the Rights of the Individual”
Posted on

A Matter of Trust: Accepting Artificial Intelligence and Robotics-Aided Care to Enhance Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities

Social Structures

Author: Matthew McKenna, PhD Researcher at Maynooth University’s Assisting Living and Learning Institute (ALL Institute)

Matthew McKenna Profile Picture
Matthew McKenna

The European Union (EU) is arguably emerging as a global leader in the ethical and human rights-based regulation and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, domestic and wider societal settings in the twenty-first century. On the 8th of April 2019, the EU High-Level Expert Group on AI presented ‘Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence’. This followed the publication of the guidelines’ first draft in December 2018 on which more than five hundred comments were received through an open consultation.

According to the Guidelines, trustworthy AI should be:

(1) Lawful – Respecting all applicable laws and regulations

(2) Ethical – Respecting ethical principles and values

(3) Robust – Both from a technical perspective while taking into account its social environment

Continue reading “A Matter of Trust: Accepting Artificial Intelligence and Robotics-Aided Care to Enhance Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities”
Posted on

15th June 2021, United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Fostering Accessible Assistive Technology for Older Persons with Disabilities

Social Structures

Author: Matthew McKenna, PhD Researcher at Maynooth University’s Assisting Living and Learning Institute (ALL Institute)

Matthew McKenna Profile Picture
Matthew McKenna

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Department of Data and Analytics published a technical report in December of 2020 yielding data which highlights the need for increased global awareness of the importance of healthy ageing in the twenty-first century. The report found that global life expectancy increased by more than six years between 2000 and 2019; from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. However, it was found that increased life expectancy did not entail a corresponding reduction in the number of years lived with a disability among older persons. In addition, the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates a 56 percent global increase, from 901 million to 1.4 billion, in the number of people aged 60 years or over in the 2015-2030 timeframe; this figure is predicted to rise to almost 2.1 billion by 2050 based on current data.

Human society must adapt to support and engage with older persons so that nobody is left behind in an older society. In that regard, the promotion of active, healthy, engaged and independent living for older persons above the age of 65 is key.

Continue reading “15th June 2021, United Nations World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Fostering Accessible Assistive Technology for Older Persons with Disabilities”
Skip to content