- The Problem (The Gap): Current HRI and AI development often rely on “vanity metrics” or rigid, neurotypical-centric design. There is a lack of tools that measure how neurodivergent users actually experience “bionic agency” and “cognitive sovereignty.”
- The Solution: You are filling the gap between academic psychometrics (measuring submissiveness, bias, and interaction) and real-world application (Ontario Math Curriculum, teacher resources, and bionic exoskeletons). You aren’t just building a robot; you are building a validation system for neuro-affirming technology.
2. Launch Strategy: Applying Lean Startup Principles
To move from a research-heavy academic site to a functional deployment, your strategy should focus on the following Lean components:
A. The Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Instead of waiting for a fully realized “Social Exoskeleton,” your MVP consists of the Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans (e.g., the “Active Hallway” and “Snakes and Ladders Systemic Audit”).
- Goal: To collect the maximum amount of validated learning regarding how neurodivergent students interact with these systemic audits with the least physical development effort.
B. Build-Measure-Learn Loop
- Build: Deploy the current PDF lesson plans and the NSIR scale to a pilot group of educators.
- Measure: Track specific “customer” behaviors: Are teachers downloading the “Sovereign Progress Report”? Does the NSIR accurately predict student engagement levels in the “Active Hallway”?
- Learn: Use the feedback from the UVic community and Ontario school districts to determine if the “Sovereign Dyad” architecture needs a pivot (e.g., more focus on the AI/LLM interface) or if you should persevere with the current physical HRI focus.
C. Validated Learning vs. Vanity Metrics
- Vanity Metrics (Avoid): Number of site visits to your UVic blog or total number of citations.
- Validated Learning (Focus): The percentage of neurodivergent users who report a measurable increase in “Cognitive Sovereignty” after using the NSIR-informed tools compared to traditional methods.
3. Key Strategic Benefits for Your Project
- Reduced Risk: By using the “Digital Ramp” (Gemini/LLMs) as a low-cost testing ground for your theories, you validate the logic of the “Sovereign Dyad” before investing in expensive hardware.
- Efficiency: You are leveraging the Elevate IP program (Tiers 1–3) mentioned on your site. This allows you to conserve research capital by using existing infrastructure for patenting and IP strategy while focusing your energy on the “Sovereign Reboot Protocol.”
- Speed: Moving from a “List of Appendices” to “Lesson Plans” allows for rapid iteration. You can change a digital curriculum in hours based on feedback, whereas a physical robot might take months to redesign.
Summary of Alignment
Your site is currently in the “Measure/Learn” phase. You have Built a massive repository of theoretical frameworks and appendices; your next launch milestone is the “Pivot or Persevere” decision point—determining which specific application (Healthcare Robots, Education, or Policy Exoskeletons) shows the strongest “validated learning” signal from your community.