Paul Ruvolo

Dr. Paul Ruvolo is a Professor of Computer Science at Olin College in Needham, MA. His research focuses on developing assistive technologies for people with sensory and motor impairments, leveraging machine learning, robotics, and computer vision. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California San Diego, and a B.S. in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College.

Key research areas include creating systems that learn through imitation and experience, such as navigation aids for the visually impaired and educational tools for orientation and mobility. He leads projects like Co-Designing Assistive Apps with Students Who Are Blind, emphasizing participatory design. His work integrates Bayesian statistics, numerical optimization, and linear algebra to solve complex sensorimotor tasks.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego
  • M.S., Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego
  • B.S., Computer Science, Harvey Mudd College
• Awards:
  • NSF IGERT Fellowship for 'Learning and Vision in Humans and Machines'

Recent publications highlight innovations in AR navigation systems, smartphone-based SLAM for indoor environments, and educational tools for blind users. His work bridges computational methods with real-world accessibility challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and user-centric design.

Dr. Ruvolo’s lab, linked at occam.olin.edu, focuses on assistive technologies. He actively contributes to Teach Access and other initiatives promoting inclusive technology education. His research has applications in robotics, healthcare, and educational technology.