Sponsoring Agencies
U.S. National Science Foundation Information and Intelligent Systems	The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities	Université Victor Segalen (Bordeaux2)	The Federative Network of Research on Disabilities (RFRH)	Union Nationale pour le Développement de la Recherche et de l’Evaluation en Orthophonie

Virtual Speech and Language Therapists

Fostering International Collaboration between the U.S. and France

Workshop Organizers

Ron Cole University of Colorado Boulder		Jean-Michel Madaux Université Victor Segalen

The Workshop on "Virtual Speech and Language Therapists" will bring together over 100 researchers and practitioners from France and the United States to learn about and explore opportunities to work together to develop computer programs that incorporate lifelike computer characters.

During the first day of the workshop, researchers from the two countries will describe ongoing research efforts in several laboratories. The U.S. group will present results of experiments and clinical trials using treatment programs that incorporate virtual therapists. During the morning of the second day, researchers from France will present results of investigations that use leading edge technologies for treatment of neurological disorders. During the afternoon of the second day, a small group of French and U.S. researchers will meet to plan a research agenda that will lead to collaborative projects using virtual speech and language therapists.