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About

Jeffrey P. Bigham is a leading researcher in human-computer interaction, accessibility, and crowd-powered systems, with a particular focus on designing technologies that empower marginalized populations. His work bridges the gap between physical and digital spaces, addressing critical challenges in urban accessibility, assistive communication, and collaborative intelligence. Bigham’s most cited paper, "Accessibility and The Crowded Sidewalk" (46 citations), examines how micromobility devices impact public space for people with disabilities, highlighting systemic inequities in urban design. He has also pioneered motion-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) through co-designed "socially assistive sidekicks" (35 citations), enabling nonverbal communication for individuals with motor impairments. His research on real-time collaborative planning with crowds (10 citations) and conversational telepresence robots for homebound older adults (9 citations) demonstrates his commitment to leveraging collective human and machine intelligence for social good. Bigham’s influential concept of the "crowd actor" (6 citations) reimagines dynamic groups as a unified agent for real-time interaction. With over 100 publications and numerous best paper awards, his work has profoundly shaped accessible computing, earning him recognition as a Sloan Fellow and ACM Senior Member.