Annalu Waller
School of Science, Engineering & Environment
Current positions
PVC & Dean of School & Professor of Human Assistive Technology Interaction
Biography
I am Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Environment at the Ƭ. As a rehabilitation engineer, I established the first AAC assessment and training centre in South Africa in 1987 within a special school before embarking on a PhD. My academic career has encompassed teaching and research, and I have held roles in discipline and school leadership.
My research focuses on harnessing state-of-the-art technology in the design and development of augmented communication systems for people with little or no functional speech due to physical and/or learning disabilities. I directed the Dundee Assistive Technology and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AT&AAC) Research Group, a world leading research group developing intelligent and multimodal AAC technologies which included the Straight Talking Group of expert users of AAC.
My clinical background allows me to work with educationalists and clinicians to identify challenges faced by individuals with complex needs. I approach innovation from both a research and product management viewpoint, interfacing across different disciplines to match need with state-of-the-art technology. My PhD Intellectual Property was licensed to Don Johnston Ltd, a leading educational software company specialising in assistive technology, resulting in the first commercial narrative based AAC software, Talk:About™ in 1992, followed by the Improv™ AAC system, released in 2012. Don Johnston Inc. stated that: “work at [the university] is instrumental in pushing the boundaries of AAC by taking a conversational discourse approach to supporting aided communication.”
While at the University of Dundee, I launched a unique trans-disciplinary MSc in Educational Assistive Technology in 2021 delivering interdisciplinary training in digital Assistive Technology to teachers, therapists and technologists working in the education and care sector. I also co-developed the MSc in Educational Assistive Technology and the MSc in AAC (with Psychology) and was a director of Dundee’s research centre for educational and life transitions. I have supervised 13 doctoral students to successful completion.
I hold several voluntary posts and am currently the chair of the UK Network for Assistive and Accessible Technology (ATech); board member and treasurer of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE), and the executive director of Blissymbolics Communication International (BCI). I have a strong Public Engagement track record, e.g. delivering projects with National Museums Scotland, delivering stand-up at the Dundee Bright Club and appearing on radio (BBC R4 Word of Mouth) and television (BBC Click).
Awards include: 2025 Research Award, Communication Matters (ISAAC-UK); 2017 Invited Winter Lecture, International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders; Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (2017); OBE for services to people with Complex Communication Needs (2016); BUPA foundation: Communication Award (2005); Medical Futures Innovation Competition (2002); The Shirley MacNaughton Award for Exemplary Communication in recognition of leadership in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication by ISAAC (1996).
Areas of Research
Human Centred Computing
Natural Language Processing
Assistive and Accessible Technology (ATech)
Intelligent and multimodal Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies
Co-design with people who have severe speech and physical disabilities (including learning disabilities)
Qualifications
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Theological Education
2001 - 2004 -
PhD in Computer Science
1989 - 1992 -
MSc (Med.) in Biomedical Sciences
1984 - 1988 -
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science
1980 - 1983