Opening keynotes
Share
Augmental MouthPad^: interaction beyond the hands
- Theme:Keynote
Corten Singer, cofounder of Augmental, will share their origin story. Inspired by a decade of work with assistive technology and hands-free interfaces, Augmental created the MouthPad^: smart mouthwear for hands-free computer control. Corten will discuss the technological innovations enabling the MouthPad^ and the various factors that shaped its creation, drawing from both universal & human-centered design. This session will also cover Augmental's initiatives for 2025 and beyond, which include 'silent speech' input and tongue-based wheelchair control. The session will conclude with a live demonstration and videos showcasing customer experiences.
Corten Singer
Co-founder & President
Augmental
Ryan Hudson-Peralta
Creative Director & Disability Advocate
Rocket & Equal Accessibility
How to be a robot whisperer
- Theme:Keynote
How to be a Robot Whisperer: UX/UI in Robotics. Madeline Gannon doesn’t just build robots—she tames them, befriends them, and reimagines them as living, breathing mechanical creatures. In this keynote, Dr. Gannon shares how as a designer, her outside perspective led to accidental innovations in how we can communicate with intelligent machines. She believes that designers are the future of robotics, and invites every every curious and creative mind to help shape the technologies that will define our future.
Dr. Madeline Gannon
Designer and Founder
Atonaton
About the speakers
Corten Singer
He/himCo-founder & President
Augmental
Corten Singer is one of the two cofounders at Augmental. He is passionate about interactive device design and its ability to bridge the gap between the digital world and the physical. Corten is especially enthusiastic about assistive technology and loves working closely with individuals to increase independence and QOL. Corten studied Computer Science & Cognitive Science at UC Berkeley ('17). He then worked on alternative input interactions at Microsoft Research, followed by his M.S. at UC Berkeley in EECS, where he created eye-tracking interfaces for hands-free control of power wheelchairs.
Ryan Hudson-Peralta
He/himCreative Director & Disability Advocate
Rocket & Equal Accessibility
Ryan Hudson-Peralta is the Creative Director of Product at Rocket, co-founder of Equal Accessibility, LLC, and an inventor and patent holder. Born without hands and unable to walk, he has dedicated his career to breaking barriers in design and accessibility. As a designer, speaker, and consultant, Ryan helps businesses go beyond compliance to create truly inclusive experiences. Through his work, inventions, speaking engagements, and mentorships, he advocates for accessibility that empowers everyone to live, work, and thrive independently.
Dr. Madeline Gannon
She/herDesigner and Founder
Atonaton
Dr. Madeline Gannon is a multidisciplinary designer and inventor forging new futures for human-robot relations. Also known as "The Robot Whisperer", Gannon blends techniques in art, design, computer science, and robotics to convince robots to do things they were never intended to do: from transforming giant industrial robots into living, breathing mechanical creatures, to taming hordes of autonomous machines to behave like a pack of animals. She believes that Designers are the future in robotics, and shares how our unique abilities can shape how robots intersect with society.