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Siddharth Ravinutala: Building AI-for-Good Solutions

Dec 25, 2024 Posted by: Sujit Kunte MA,  SDG 3,  SDG 5,  SDG 9,  Siddharth Ravinutala,  USA
Siddharth Ravinutala: Building AI-for-Good Solutions
Sid: It’s great to be here, Spiffy! It turns out that 80% of a person's income can be determined by their country of birth and their parents' income. That's a very unjust world for many people. IDinsight works to reduce this inequality. The way we do it is by using data, technology, and algorithms to amplify the impact of other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and developing-country governments. This might involve better decision-making, improving efficiency through technology, or creating new services.

Aidan Friedberg: Working to Close the Global Learning Gap through AI

Dec 23, 2024 Posted by: Sujit Kunte Aidan Friedberg,  Germany,  SDG 4
Aidan Friedberg: Working to Close the Global Learning Gap through AI
Aidan: Thanks for having me, Spiffy. Our work tackles the critical challenge of ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstances, acquires foundational literacy and numeracy skills. This is crucial because an estimated 600 million children worldwide will not acquire these skills. We provide an open digital platform designed to enable governments and support all stakeholders—students, teachers, trainers, and administrators—enabling cost-effective, scalable, and impactful education solutions. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4, we aim to close the global learning gap and build a future where every child thrives through education.

Richard Bowden: Working to Address Accessibility for Deaf People

Dec 16, 2024 Posted by: Sujit Kunte
Richard Bowden: Working to Address Accessibility for Deaf People

Ladderworks is a publishing company of diverse picture books and educational initiatives with the mission to empower over a million kids and youth to become social entrepreneurs and advance the SDGs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Changemakers who are using Artificial Intelligence to help advance the UN SDGs.

Spiffy here! I’m back with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Richard Bowden, professor of computer vision and machine learning at the University of Surrey. Let’s see what he is doing to make a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Welcome Rich. Let’s jump right in. Can you tell me what challenge are you addressing through the University of Surrey?

Rich: Thanks for having me, Spiffy. At the University of Surrey, we are working to address accessibility for Deaf people.

Spiffy: That’s very inspiring! What motivates you to do it?

Rich: Fundamentally, I like solving problems, but providing automatic and computation approaches to understanding and producing sign language is something that has become a major part of my work.

Spiffy: Wow! What would you say is the impact of your work?

Rich: Our work aims to reduce the cost of providing sign language translation and, in doing so, to provide accessible content for Deaf people for whom sign language is their primary language.

Spiffy: That's amazing! Tell me about a recent milestone or initiative of yours. What impact does that make?

Rich: We have developed several key technologies that are having a positive impact on Deaf people. Examples are in the transport sector and also websites. But others are in development.

Spiffy: Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?

Rich: Learning sign language is fun and interesting. I'd encourage more people to learn it, even if it's just a little.

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Rich—it’s been an honor!

Richard Bowden is the professor of computer vision and machine learning at the University of Surrey, where he leads the Cognitive Vision Group within the Centre for Vision, Speech, and Signal Processing. His research centers on the use of computer vision to locate, track, and understand humans. (Nominated by Ricki Meyer at Google.org. First published on the Ladderworks website on December 16, 2024.)

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.

© 2024 Ladderworks LLC. Edited by Sujit Kunte. Spiffy’s illustration by Shreyas Navare. For the Ladderworks digital curriculum to help K-3 kids advance the UN SDGs, visit Spiffy's Launchpad: Creative Entrepreneurship Workshops for K-3 Kids and their caregivers here.