UC Irvine Asst. Professor One Of Popular Science's 'Brilliant 10'

IRVINE, CA —Stacy Branham, a UC Irvine assistant professor of informatics, was named this week as one of the "Brilliant 10" by Popular Science magazine. The list highlights "the most innovative up-and-coming minds in science," and features scientists, engineers, academic researchers and inventors.

Branham, who works in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science, was recognized for her work in adapting commonly-used technologies for people with disabilities.

The magazine highlighted Branham's project, nicknamed Jamie, which helps older adults and people with disabilities to navigate airport corridors, customer service counters and security lines using voice assistance and a geolocation system that relies on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals.

"It was built from the beginning with input from people who are blind, people who are wheelchair users and people who are older adults," Branham told Popular Science.

A pilot program for the system at Los Angeles International Airport was postponed due to the pandemic, but Branham told Popular Science there are plans to resurrect the program.

The profile of Branham also notes that she is working to create a text-to-speech app that helps blind people read to their children. Branham also said the software could help others, like those who speak English as a second language.

"I am thankful this recognition highlights the importance of engaging people with disabilities in technology innovation from the earliest stages," Branham said. "I couldn't imagine a more supportive environment than UCI's Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences to carry out our work."

According to her profile, before joining the faculty at UCI, Branham spent three years as a lecturer and one year as a postdoc in Human-Centered Computing in Information systems at University of Maryland Baltimore County, and she earned a PhD in Computer Science from the Center for Human-Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech.