In this first-person narrative, Ethan Claire, a recent graduate from the computer science and engineering department, discusses his research, which spans from website accessibility to the physics behind black holes. Claire received his bachelor's degree in spring 2026. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania and will begin developing software with the intent of accessibility for all.
People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world. In 2023, the reported that 1.3 billion people, approximately 16% of the world's population, have a disability. , a not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic initiative, reported 13.6% of Americans were identified as having a disability, 16% higher than the previous decade. As populations age, census accuracy improves and awareness about disabilities increases, this number is only expected to rise.
These statistics are especially important to me as a computer science major. Born the youngest son of two teachers and the brother of a computer scientist, I have found passion in the two fields since childhood. Persistently questioning how my talents in computer science could be harnessed to supplement my love for teaching others.
This question went unanswered for a long time until I began tutoring children while I was in high school. During one prolonged tutoring session, a student and I were conducting online research for a poster presentation. He was nearly brought to tears when his dyslexia crippled his ability to navigate between websites and retain information. This grew to massive frustration and a period of extreme upset. The concept of software failing its user had sat with me for nearly two years, sparking a desire to search for an answer.
This curiosity brought me north from my hometown in Las Vegas, to the 夜色视频, to consult with Computer Science and Engineering Professor Sergiu Dascalu, Ph.D. Dascalu, the most recent recipient of the Paul and Judy Bible Teaching Excellence Award and principal investigator (PI) of over 70 federally funded research projects, introduced me to the concept of Human-Computer Interaction. Human-Computer Interaction aims to view computer science through the relationship between a user and their device. He offered to mentor me once I enrolled at the University in fall of 2024.
During our first meeting, Dascalu explained the current state of human-computer interaction and emphasized the importance of staying up to date with the latest publications, technologies and trends in software engineering. If I intend to conduct research that yields results that truly have an impact, I must understand the gaps within the field, and the tools within my disposal to fill them. He offered me mentorship and a desk in the Software Systems Lab, in which he, Foundation Professor Fred Harris, Ph.D., and fellow peers develop systems to promote enhanced human-computer interactions.
Two years and two research projects later, I began answering the question that arose in high school: How do we use cutting-edge technology to create cutting-edge tools?
My first undergraduate research project, "Accessible Reading: The Development of a Dyslexia-Friendly Web Browser Extension," aimed to solve the initial web content discrepancies my tutee suffered from four years prior. With the advisory of Dascalu, I developed ADAPT, a web-browser extension that allowed users to dynamically alter web browser content to fit their specific needs. This project allows users to treat web pages as if they were standard text documents, permitting users to edit the font, stylization, coloration and spacing of the page. ADAPT also provides users with a set of reading tools, such as a line guide, highlighter and note-taking tool, to allow users to enhance their reading experience and increase their comprehension. Through the support of the (NSF HDRFS), this project became possible.
My second research project concept was proposed to me by my father. While configuring school devices to support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) software, he found the software to be outdated. While researching topics related to AAC software, I discovered the concept of implementing Natural Language Processing (NLP) models into the systems. Natural Language Processing is a subfield of artificial intelligence that allows computers to process and produce human language. Dascalu and I refined this concept into a project design that was accepted and funded by the Nevada Undergraduate Research Award (NURA). This project harnesses AI through a fine-tuned T5 – a type of NLP developed by Google, designed for text-to-text translation – model to correct grammar and add context to input sentences, with the intention of decreasing users' cognitive load and improving communication speed and accuracy.
With rapid development and increased availability in technology, researchers, even at an undergraduate level, can make monumental strides in assistive technology. Through research opportunities, like NSF HDRFS and NURA, students are provided the resources, mentorship and support that allow them to pursue their talents and motivations. Allowing students, like you and me, to contribute to building an accessible tomorrow.
Article written by Ethan Claire and edited by Casamaro White, Undergraduate Research Advisor and Senior Editor of the Nevada State Undergraduate Research Journal.
