University of Groningen Hosts ‘Transforming Interaction’ Workshop, Uniting Global Experts on AI, AAC, and Social Robotics

University of Groningen Hosts ‘Transforming Interaction’ Workshop, Uniting Global Experts on AI, AAC, and Social Robotics

(IN BRIEF) At the University of Groningen, the ‘Transforming Interaction’ workshop was held from April 2–4 to bring together international experts in Conversation Analysis, Social Robotics, AAC, Artificial Intelligence, Speech Synthesis, and Interaction Design. Organized in collaboration with CADL at SUNY Buffalo, the 2.5-day event explored the challenges and opportunities presented by advances in deep learning and large language models for enhancing human–machine communication. Key topics included the integration of AI in AAC, design challenges in augmented communication tools, and the ethical implications of these technologies. The workshop featured keynote speeches, open sessions, hands-on technology demos, and dynamic fishbowl discussions, all designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and technologists. Generous support from the Jantina Tammes School Grassroots Grant enabled the event and helped build a foundation for ongoing professional development and collaborative research in technology-mediated communication for atypical communicators.

(PRESS RELEASE) GRONINGEN, 13-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Groningen recently hosted the ‘Transforming Interaction’ workshop from April 2–4, gathering international experts from Conversation Analysis, Social Robotics, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Artificial Intelligence, Speech Synthesis, and Interaction Design. Co-organized by the Communicative Assistive Device Lab (CADL) at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, the event provided a dynamic forum for discussing the communication challenges and interactional complexities stemming from rapid advances in deep learning and large language models.

Throughout the 2.5-day workshop, participants engaged in a series of keynote speeches, presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and fishbowl discussions to explore the potential of conversational AI for creating socially interactive robots and enhancing augmentative communication systems. The workshop highlighted topics such as interaction dynamics in co-present communication, AI innovations in AAC with a focus on user empowerment, and the specific role of Large Language Models (LLMs) in shaping social interaction within robotics.

Other key areas of focus included:

• Examining the integration of social robots in human-computer interaction and the implications for AAC. 
• Investigating lifespan and developmental issues in communication disabilities and the potential for technological interventions at various stages. 
• Delving into design challenges for augmented communicators, with an emphasis on speech synthesis, multimodality, and advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques. 
• Applying Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis (EMCA) in microanalysis of interactions to inform the design of more effective communication tools. 
• Addressing ethical considerations in the development and deployment of these emerging technologies. 

This multidisciplinary workshop fostered collaboration among experts from diverse fields, including Speech Pathology, Speech Technology, Conversation Analysis, Design, and Human-Computer and Human-Robot Interaction. The active discussions and online follow-up sessions initiated during the event have laid the groundwork for ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue, with plans for follow-up meetings to further explore research challenges and collaborative opportunities.

The success of the workshop was supported by the Jantina Tammes School Grassroots Grant from LOT – Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics. Their generous support helped provide essential materials, facilitate event logistics, and contribute directly to the overall success of this groundbreaking event focused on the future of technologically mediated communication for atypical communicators.

Key areas

The 2.5-day workshop covered several key areas, including:

• Interaction dynamics in co-present communication with social robots and human-computer interaction, particularly within the context of AAC.
• AI innovation in AAC, with a focus on user agency.
• The role of Large Language Models (LLMs) in social interaction, specifically within social robotics.
• Lifespan and developmental considerations in communication disabilities, exploring the role of technology and social robots at various developmental stages.
• Design considerations for augmented communicators.
• Speech synthesis technologies and Multimodality.
• The application of Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis (EMCA) and microanalysis techniques to study interaction involving AAC and technology, and how these insights can inform the design of effective communication tools.
• Demo sessions that provided participants an opportunity to showcase relevant technologies, prototypes, and research projects.

The workshop provided participants with a comprehensive overview of technologically mediated interaction, focusing on the contributions of AAC and social robotics to talk-in-interaction research. Discussions explored the impact of technology by examining how users interact with social robots and chatbots, and the implications for typical and atypical communicators. A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to discussing design challenges, including interaction analysis and design considerations involving AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and LLMs. Finally, the workshop addressed the ethical dimensions of these technologies, exploring the ethical implications of their development and use. Participants had also the opportunity to discuss different research approaches and methodologies, in studying the interplay between AI, AAC, Robots and Human interaction.

Workshop activities included keynote speeches, presentations, open sessions, hands-on demonstrations of state-of-the-art technology, and fishbowl discussions.

Multidisciplinary

A key aspect of the workshop was fostering collaboration across disciplines, including Speech Pathology, Speech Technology, Conversation Analysis and Ethnomethodology, Design, Human-Computer and Human-Robot Interaction, and AAC. The open and fishbowl discussions were particularly instrumental in sparking future discussions and collaborations. Online forms were also used to gather questions and continue discussions after the event, facilitating ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue and exploring the potential of AI and related technologies for atypical communicators. Participants identified common research challenges and networked with peers interested in technology-mediated communication, communication disabilities, and the role of technology, AI, LLMs, and social robotics, and follow-up meetings will be organised to ensure continued collaboration and progress toward the workshop goals.

JTS Grassroot Grant

This valuable opportunity for professional development, knowledge exchange, and community building was made possible, along with LOT – Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics, by the generous support of the Jantina Tammes School Grassroots Grant. This grant was instrumental in providing essential materials, facilitating event logistics, and contributing directly to the workshop’s overall success. We extend our sincere thanks to the Jantina Tammes School for their commitment to fostering these important interdisciplinary activities within its community and for recognizing the potential of this research to impact the lives of atypical communicators!

Media Contact:

communicatie@rug.nl

SOURCE: University of Groningen