Practical, person-centered research exploring how technology can positively impact people’s lives.

image of erin taking a selfie. behind her is a laptop and blue sky with clouds.

How can technology foster communication?

I am a researcher, instructional designer and speech-language pathologist. I incorporate my diverse background into designing holistic research studies exploring the role technologies play in human communication.

My research spans diverse topics and includes working with adults, children and families.

Creativity and Technology

My thesis research involves four studies exploring how engagement in creativity impacts individuals with acquired mobility and/or communication disabilities.

Acquired Disabilities and Employment

What happens when adults acquire disabilities mid-career? What are their options and how can public policies help?

Families and Conversational AI

This research has involved multiple analyses of how diverse families learn about, engage with, and use smart speakers in their homes over time.

Read about our research in this blog post with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center.

Communication in Healthcare

I draw on my background as a speech-language pathologist to study communication in healthcare from a variety of perspectives- including patient-provider communication with both adults and children.

Speaking and Teaching

Instructor of Record

2021- Designing for Personal Health and Wellness (University of Washington INFO 468)

Guest Lecturer

2020- Accessibility, Disability, and Designing for Personal Health Informatics (University of Washington INFO 468- Designing for Personal Health and Wellness)

2020- Gaze Input Methods (University of Washington INFO 463- Input and Interaction)

2020- Research Ethics When Working with Families (Master’s Level Research Methods Class at Monash University)

2018- Accessibility and Informatics (University of Washington INFO 200- Intellectual Foundations of Informatics)

Contact

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in my research or working with me in the future.

Email
ebenet@uw.edu