Why? Recent advances in computational object recognition, robotics and machine learning, combined with miniaturization of hardware, offer many opportunities for digital personal assistance. If there are self-driving cars soon, why not use similar camera-based approaches to assist humans in everyday tasks, like shopping and wayfinding? Especially for seniors and those with mild to severe impairments, technology can be the key for a self-determined partaking in society.

How? Today, we have a tactile navigation belt for the blind that makes them feel orientation and navigation cues, utilizing vibration around the waist [1]. Tomorrow, we want to offer the individual user situationally adapted assistance in real-time, for various everyday tasks like shopping in the local supermarket [2]. For this, the team will be using cutting edge approaches of deep-neural-network based object recognition, combined with tactile displays as the user interface and psychophysical tests for validation of the approach.

Where? Company feelSpace GmbH (Osnabrück, Germany) runs the project in combination with the University of Osnabrück. feelSpace GmbH is a high-tech start-up company, known for its sensory augmentation technology. It developed the wearable "naviBelt", the first tactile navigation device for visually impaired people. The project will be supervised by Silke Kärcher (CEO feelSpace) and Prof. Dr. Peter König of the Cognitive Science department from the University of Osnabrück. University of Osnabrück offers many exciting courses to all related topics, international researchers with a wide variety of experience and a lively lab atmosphere.

What can you expect to learn and experience? The position is initially offered for 2 years and can be extended to a third year to allow completion of a PhD thesis. Alternatively, shorter secondments style working contracts are equally possible. You can perform research in an environment that is bridging the gap between theoretical and applied science. The combination of feelSpace GmbH/University of Osnabrück offers the rare chance to collect valuable working experience in a highly innovative company where you are part of a motivated and curious team, while at the same time having all benefits of academic study available to you from the excellent Cognitive Science program of the University of Osnabrück.

Who are we looking for? We are looking for a candidate who contributes to the required skill set for this project. That is knowledge/experience in cognitive science, machine learning, or psychophysics. We are looking for applicants with self-dependent, goal-oriented and self-motivated working habits. We are also open to accommodate your family obligations with flexible working arrangements.

References

• Engel AK, Maye A, Kurthen M and König P (2013) Where's the action? The pragmatic turn in cognitive science. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.03.006. Trends Cogn Sci 17:202–209
• Keshava A, Nezami FN, Neumann H, Izdebski K, Schüler Th, König P (2022) Low-level Action Schemas Support Gaze Guidance Behavior for Action Planning and Execution in Novel Tasks https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.29.428782v3