Information

Areas of Research Interest

Research Interests:

  • Pervasive and Mobile Computing
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Health Informatics
  • Smart and Connected Communities and Healthcare
  • Applied AI
  • Assistive Technologies
Areas of Teaching Interest
  • Accessible Computing
  • Smart and Connected Health or Health Informatics
  • Pervasive and Mobile Computing
  • Human Computer Interaction and Human-Centered Computing
Publications

2023

CityGuide: A Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Wayfinding System for People With Vision Impairments. Seyed Ali Cheragi, Vinod Namboodiri, Guler Arsal. Universal Access in the Information Society, accepted for publication.

An Accessible BLE Beacon-based Indoor Wayfinding System. Ajay abraham, Vinod Namboodiri. Journal on Technology & Persons with Disabilities, vol. 11, March 2023. 
 

2022

On the Application of Accessible Wayfinding Systems for Tourism. Vinod Namboodiri, Francisco R. Garfias, Ajay Abraham, Siny Joseph. In Proceedings of the 2022 IEEE IoT Vertical and Topical Summit for Tourism, September 20-22, 2022.

Economic Impact of Adopting Assistive Technologies on Quality Adjusted Life Years and Work Productivity. Siny Joseph, Caden Brond, and Vinod Namboodiri. In the Seventh International Conference on Universal Accessibility in the Internet of Things and Smart Environments SMART ACCESSIBILITY 2022, June 2022.

2021

Common reality: An interface of Human-Robot Communication and Mutual Understanding. Fujian Yan, Vinod Namboodiri, and Hongsheng He. In Proceedings of Social Robotics: 13th International Conference, ICSR 2021, Singapore, Singapore, November 10–13, 2021.

PathLookup: A Deep Learning-Based Framework to Assist Visually Impaired in Outdoor Wayfinding. Uddipan Das, Vinod Namboodiri, Hongsheng He. In Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (PerCom 2021) as part of the Mobile Pervasive Assistive Technologies (MPAT) workshop, March 22-26, 2021.

CityGuide: A Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Wayfinding System for People With Vision Impairments. Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Vinod Namboodiri, Guler Arsal.In Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (PerCom 2021) as part of the Mobile Pervasive Assistive Technologies (MPAT) workshop, March 22-26, 2021.

2020

IBeaconMap: Automated Indoor Space Representation for Beacon-Based Wayfinding. Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Vinod Namboodiri, Kaushik Sinha. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP), September 9-11, 2020.

Assessment of Economic Value of Assistive Technologies through Quality-Adjusted Work Life Years (QAWLY). Siny Joseph, Vinod Namboodiri. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP), September 9-11, 2020.

GuideCall: Affordable and Trustworthy Video Call-Based Remote Assistance. Vinod Namboodiri, Naveen M. Ravindran, Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Rakesh Babu. Journal on Technology & Persons with Disabilities, vol. 8, page 53, March 2020.

2019

CityGuide:A Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Wayfinding System for People With Vision Impairments. Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Ali Almadan, Vinod Namboodiri. In Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS), October 2019. (accepted as an extended abstract paper and presented as a poster, 58% acceptance rate).

Auxiliary Location-Based Services for Persons with Disabilities: What do City Planners and Non-Profit Agencies Think?. Siny Joseph, Vinod Namboodiri. In Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS), October 2019. (accepted as an extended abstract paper and presented as a poster, 58% acceptance rate).

SafeExit4All: An Inclusive Indoor Emergency Evacuation System for People With Disabilities. Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Anup Sharma, Vinod Namboodiri, Güler Arsal. In Proceedings of the 16th International Web for All Conference (Web4All or W4A) San Francisco,  May 2019. (best technical paper nominee, overall aceptance rate ~36%)

GuideCall: Affordable and Trustworthy Video Call-Based Remote Assistance for Persons with Visual Impairments. Naveen M. Ravindran, Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Vinod Namboodiri, Rakesh Babu. an extended abstract presented as a demo for the Tenon Web Accessibility Challenge and in proceedings of the 16th International Web for All Conference (Web4All or W4A) San Francisco,  May 2019. (See demo video here)

Towards accessible and inclusive navigation and wayfinding.Vinod Namboodiri. A peer-reviewed position paper at the workshop on Hacking Blind Navigation at The ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, May 2019.

2018

On the Effectiveness of Data Aggregation to Manage Network Congestion in Smart Grid AMI. Uddipan Das, Vishnu Cherusola Dev, Vinod Namboodiri. In Proceedings of the Ninth IEEE Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technology (IEEE ISGT), Washington D.C., February 2018. [acceptance rate ~40%]

A Quality-Aware Multi-Level Data Aggregation Approach to Manage Smart Grid AMI Traffic. Uddipan Das, Vinod Namboodiri. IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, pp. 245-256, vol. 30, Feb. 2019. 

2017

GuideBeacon: Beacon-Based Indoor Wayfinding for the Blind, Visually Impaired, and Disoriented. Seyed Ali Cheraghi, Vinod Namboodiri, Laura Walker.  In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing (IEEE PerCom), Hawaii, USA, March 2017 [acceptance Rate ~13% for full papers]

Seer Grid: Privacy and Utility Implications of Two-Level Load Prediction in Smart Grids. Arash Boustani, Anindya Maiti, Sina Yousefian Jazi, Murtuza Jadliwala, Vinod Namboodiri. IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 546-567, Feb. 2017. 

Professional Experience
  • Professor and Associate Director for Research Engagement, School of Computing, Wichita State University, August 2021-current
  • Professor, Dept. of Elec. Engg. & Comp. Sci., Wichita State University, August 2019-July 2021                             
  • Adjunct Senior Scientist, Envision Research Institute, January 2018-June 2021                           
  • Associate Professor, Dept. of Elec. Engg. & Comp. Sci., Wichita State University, August 2014-May 2019
  • Affiliate Member of Faculty, Dept. of BioMedical Engg., Wichita State University, October 2017-current
  • Adjunct Visting Research Scientist, Envision Research Institute  October 2016-December 2017                           
  • Graduate Program Director (for Master's programs in Computer Science and Computer Networking), Wichita State University, August 2014-August 2016
  • Assistant Professor, Dept. of Elec. Engg. & Comp. Sci., Wichita State University, August 2008-May 2014
  • Research Intern, Wireless Technologies Group, Robert Bosch GMBH, May 2007-Sept.2007
Awards and Honors
  • Received the Wichita State University Excellence in Research Award for 2022.
  • Received the Wichita State University Innovation Pioneer Award for 2018.
  • Received the Duane and Velma Wallace Excellence in Research Award by the College of Engineering at Wichita State University for 2018.
  • Selected as Online Learning Faculty Fellow at Wichita State University, 2015-2016.
  • Received the Excellence in the Advancement of Teaching Award by Wichita State University for 2015.
  • Keynote speaker at NIT Surathkal, India in December 2014.
  • Received the Academy of Effective Teaching Award by Wichita State University for 2014.
  • Invited to speak as a panel member on Education and Workforce Development at the IEEE Power and Energy Society Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) in 2014.
  • Received the Excellence in Teaching Award by Wichita State University in 2013.
  • Received the Duane and Velma Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award by the College of Engineering at Wichita State University in 2013.
  • Research work on the use of wireless technologies for metering in smart grids was noticed by the Department of Energy and included in an internal report to the U.S. Energy Secretary in 2011.
  • Received the Strategic Engineering Research Fellowship for year 2011 by the College of Engineering at Wichita State University.
  • Received the Outstanding Student Branch Advisor and Counselor Award by IEEE Region 5 in 2009.
Grants

 

  1. The Alliance of Persons with Disabilities and Intersectionality for Inclusion, Networking, and Transition Opportunities in STEM (TAPDINTO-STEM), National Science Foundation (NSF), Nov. 2021-- Oct. 2026, (Co-PI), (Total $200,000).
  2. Accelerating Disability Inclusion in Workplaces through Technology, National Science Foundation (NSF), March 2021 - February 2022. (PI). (Total $110,000).
  3. CityGuide: Seamless and Inclusive Location-Based Services for Communities, National Science Foundation (NSF), October 2020 - September 2023, (PI), (Total $1,122,749).
  4. Accessibility and Inclusion Technology Research, Envision Inc., August 2018-May 2020, (PI), (Total $85,292)
  5. Establishment of an Accessibility and Inclusion Technology Research Incubator at Wichita State University, Envision Inc., May 2018-August 2018, (PI), (Total $9,183)
  6. Towards Inclusive Wayfinding in Wichita, Envision Research Institute, Envision Inc., January 2018-May 2018, (PI), (Total $15,580).
  7. CityGuide: Beacon-Based Community-Driven Inclusive Wayfinding, National Science Foundation (NSF), September 2017-August 2018, (PI), (Total $100,000).                                 
  8. Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences in Networked Cyber-Physical Systems, National Science Foundation (NSF), March 2017- May 2020, (PI), (Total $324,000).
  9. Development of an Assistive Technologies Research Agenda, Envision Research Institute, Envision Inc., January 2017-May 2017, (PI), (Total $15,395).
  10. Indoor Wayfinding for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Regional Institute on Aging, WSU, July 2016-August 2017, (PI), (Total $15,000).
  11. Distributed Data Management for Data-Intensive Smart Grid Applications:, Wichita State University URCA, July 2015-June 2016, (PI), (Total $4,500).
  12. Towards a Privacy-Aware Information Sharing Framework for Metering in Smart Grids, Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC) NSF I/UCRC, June 2013-August 2015, (PI), (Total $220,000).
  13. Communication Needs and Integration Options for AMI in the Smart Grid, NSF/DoE funds through PSERC NSF I/UCRC, July 2011 – June 2013, (PI). (Total $34,000).
  14. Towards Sustainable Data Centers, Strategic Engineering Research Fellowship, College of Engineering, Wichita State University, June 2011-May 2012, (PI). (Total $20,000).
  15. Real time and Remote Monitoring of River Water for Trace Pesticides through Nanotechnology Enabled Sensors, Multidisciplinary Research Project Award, Wichita State University, January-June 2011, (PI, Collaborative). (Total $5,000).
  16.  Novel Coding and Novel Service Differentiation Mechanisms to Innovate Army Wireless Communications and Ad Hoc Networks, U.S. DoD (DEPSCOR) 2008-2012, Co-PI. (Total $408,372). (This grant was initially to PI Coskun Cetinkaya before he left WSU; it was re-assigned to another PI with me as a Co-PI)
  17. Communication Requirements and Integration Options for Smart Grid Deployment, Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC) NSF I/UCRC, 2009-2011, Co-PI (Total $160,000).
Areas of Service

Service to the Profession

  • Grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
  • Technical Program Committee (TPC) member at various conferences (Web4All 2021, IEEE PerCom-MPAT Workshop 2021, IEEE PerCom 2018-2020, IEEE ICDCS 2019, IEEE INFOCOM 2013, 2014, IEEE SmartGridComm 2013, IEEE GLOBECOM 2009-2018, IEEE GREENCOM 2010, IEEE IPCC 2009-2011, IEEE ICC 2009.
  • Reviewer for various journals which include ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, Elsevier Pervasive and Mobile Computing, Assistive Technology Journal (RESNA), and  IEEE Transactions on Smart Grids, Computer Communications Review, IEEE Communications Letters, IEEE Transactions on Computers, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Computing, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, IEEE Communications Magazine, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications.

University Service (Selected)

  • Member, Executive Council, WSU College of Engineering, 2022-current.
  • Member, Faculty Workload Committee, WSU College of Engineering, 2019-2021.
  • Member, School of Computig Taskforce, 2020-2021.
  • Member, Research Council, WSU College of Engineering, 2019-current.
  • Member, Dean Search Committee, WSU College of Engineering, 2018,2020.
  • Graduate Program Coordinator, MSCS and MSCN, WSU EECS Department, 2014-16.
  • Chair, Graduate Education Committee, WSU College of Engineering, 2015-16.
  • Chair, Committee on Learning Enhancement, WSU College of Engineering, 2014-15.
  • Member, Online Advisory Board, WSU College of Engineering Representative, 2014-15.
  • Member, Strategic Planning Committee, WSU College of Engineering, 2012-14.
  • Mentor for seven junior faculty from various departments within the WSU College of Engineering since 2015.

Community Service

  • Hosted the Level Up Assistive Technology summer camp at the ACCESS Lab at WSU in 2018.
  • Installed and operated the GuideBeacon indoor wayfinding service at the Ulrich Museum of Art on the WSU campus in fall 2019 for accessible exploration of exhibits by blind or visually impaired individuals
  • Served as a judge for the Shocker Mindstorms competition during the March 2019 event