Research Group on Data Driven Innovations for Human-Technology Symbiosis

With the advancement of technology, we are heading towards a future where we will be interacting, coordinating, and collaborating with different forms of intelligent technology in almost every aspect of our lives. As technology (computers, machines, robots, systems, etc.) becomes more intelligent and human-like, the relationship and interaction patterns between humans and technology are expected to evolve, become interdependent, and approach symbiosis leading to Human-Technology Symbiosis. In such a future, our abilities and our machines' abilities would complement one another, allowing us to pursue goals that they nor we could achieve alone.

As outlined in a recent article on Forbes, the modern-day Internet of Things (IoT) could become the Internet of Bodies (IoB), enabling humans to upgrade their link with technology by wearing devices or by embedding sensors or chips in their bodies. Brain chips, like Elon Musk's Neuralink, may further improve the connection and bandwidth between humans and machines and blur the boundaries between them. There can be several such examples of Human-Technology Symbiosis. At the Research Group on Data-Driven Innovations for Human-Technology Symbiosis, we explore the intersections of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, Data Analysis, Pattern Recognition, and Natural Language processing to contribute towards advancing research in the areas of human-technology interactions, coordination, and collaborations for the future of Human-Technology Symbiosis.

Dr. Nirmalya Thakur, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Emory University, USA, is the Director of this Research Group. Dr. Thakur has advised and mentored several students over the years. The papers of three of his recent students were accepted for publication at the recently concluded 7th International Conference on Human Interaction & Emerging Technologies: Artificial Intelligence & Future Applications that took place in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2022, two of his students also received Research Fellowships to support their ongoing research projects.

Open position: The Research Group on Data Driven Innovations for Human-Technology Symbiosis is currently looking for a motivated undergraduate student to work on a Big Data project. No prior research experience is required. If you are an undergraduate student at Emory University majoring in Computer Science and interested in this position, please send your resume to Dr. Thakur at nirmalya.thakur@emory.edu to apply for this position.