“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

 

 

The physiological effects of aging (visual, auditory, and tactile impairments) impact the ability to adopt and use information and communication technologies (ICTs).

 

Dr. Bonnici’s research focuses on the interpretation of non-verbal and physiognomic signals to discover disconnects in ICT use posed by physiological impairments, specifically in aging populations. Methods employ facial action coding of video-captured user behavior.

 

Dr. Bonnici is principal investigator of Project ALFA, an IMLS funded program that re-conceptualized current U.S. models for education to employ a more inclusive approach to equal access to information—one of the tenets of international human rights concern.  The purpose of the project is to educate LIS students in leading development of solutions for mild-severely physically challenged users in their information and communication technology use.

Dr. Bonnici holds a Master of Library Science degree from the University of South Florida (1996) and a Ph.D. in Information Science from Florida State University School of Information (2001).  With over a decade of experience in LIS education,  she sustains a well-funded and sustainable research program centered on technology access for special populations.  Research and creative activities have been published in a mix of peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and other publications.