News
Assistant Professor Stephanie Valencia² (center) shows the Spoken app, a commercial AAC tool to help users of speech-generating devices. Photo by Craig Taylor.
The AI That Tells a Joke With You
October 20, 2025 | Laurie RobinsonNew research explores how AI can help speech-generating device users reclaim timely, humorous comments —without losing their own voic …
Photo licensed by Adobe Stock via DEIB Visuals
WTOP News: Smarter Classrooms, Real Results: How AI is Rewriting the Rules of Education (ft. Charles Harry)
October 10, 2025 | INFO StaffINFO's Charles Harry explores how AI transforms education, enhancing learning, student support, and ethical classroom practices
Press Release: MONET Paints the Way to New Opportunities: University of Maryland Extension and College of Information Launch Digital Navigator Curriculum & Training
October 10, 2025 | Julie Slivka | University of Maryland ExtensionUniversity of Maryland Extension and INFO launch digital navigator curriculum and training
Nabintta Blé, InfoSci '18
Alumni Profile: The Creative Journey of Nabintta Blé
September 5, 2025 | Laurie RobinsonAn InfoSci alum profile
Photo via Baltimore Community Foundation
Baltimore Community Foundation: Leveraging Student Talent to Tackle Nonprofit Challenges: BCF’s Collaboration with UMD’s iConsultancy
August 27, 2025 | Baltimore Community FoundationUMD iConsultancy students help BCF strengthen website management, enhance workflows, and reduce costs
From leveraging AI for pedestrian safety to creating better touchscreen kiosks, the Maryland Initiative for Digital Accessibility brings together scientists across campus to transform existing and emerging tech for people with disabilities. (Illustration by iStock) Photo via Maryland Today.
Maryland Today: Making Tech Accessible—With Benefits for All
August 20, 2025 | Maryland Today Staff | UMD | Karen Shih ’09INFO faculty lead groundbreaking research to make kiosks, PDFs, AI, and everyday technologies accessible for all
Led by the University of Maryland, TRAILS was launched in May 2023 with a $20 million award from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The institute is focused on developing, building and modeling participatory research that—over time—will increase trust in AI. Illustration courtesy of TRAILS. Image via Maryland Today.
Maryland Today: $750K in Seed Grants Awarded by UMD-Led Coalition on Trustworthy AI
July 23, 2025 | Tom Ventsias | Maryland Today | UMDSix INFO faculty are among researchers awarded $750K+ in TRAILS funding to advance trustworthy, human-centered AI innovation
Working in the Small Artifacts (SMART) Lab, Assistant Professor of computer science Huaishu Peng (left) and doctoral students Zining Zhang (center) and Jiasheng Li discuss technology that can assist sight-impaired people. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography. Photo via Maryland Today.
Maryland Today: Blind People Struggle With Nonverbal Cues, A UMD-Cornell AI Project Could Help
July 21, 2025 | Melissa Brachfeld | Maryland Today Staff | UMDINFO's Ge Gao is helping develop AI to assist blind professionals interpret nonverbal workplace cues
