From Utility to Social Entity (FUSE) is an interdisciplinary research team at the University of
the West of England, Bristol established in 2018. It was set up by funding from the Vice Chancellor's
Interdisciplinary Research Challenge Fund. The team contains a Linguist, a Computer Scientist, a Psychologist,
and experts in Emergency Medicine and Experience Design. Our techncial partner is the Conversational AI company
Elzware.
Our initial project was LANA, a system for allowing nurses to practice delivering lifestyle and
nutritional support to people with type 2 diabetes.
We are developing a bid for a larger project called ROMI, a “virtual artificially intelligent NHS team member” that will offer 24/7 advice and support on type 2 diabetes via mobile phone through conversation.
The core FUSE TEAM
- Dr. Gary Christopher - Gerontologist and the Ageing Well Lead (Psychology) UWE Bristol.
- Phil D Hall - designer and builder of conversational artificial intelligence systems and managing director
of Elzware Ltd.
- Dr Jun Hong - Professor in Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Computer Science and Creative
Technologies at UWE Bristol.
- Rik Lander - FUSE and ROMI Project Lead. Lecturer in Interface and Experience Design. Maker of participatory narratives.
- Dr. Sarah Voss - Associate Professor in Emergency Care.
- Dr. Luke Rudge - Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, joint Programme Leader for English Language programmes
(with Dr James Murphy), and a member of the Bristol Centre for Linguistics.
Through the LANA project and on into the ROMI project we have been supported by:
- Dr. Clare England – Senior Research Associate at NIHR Bristol Biomedical Centre (Nutrition Theme)
specialising in Diabetes.
- Dr. Andy Gibson – Associate Professor in Patient and Public Involvement and academic lead for People in
Health West of England, a UWE-led collaborative initiative on PPI.
- Nicola Mead - Clinical and Operational Lead for Diabetes and Nutrition Services at Sirona Care.
- John Moore – NHS Practice Nurse with specialist experience in Diabetes.
- Sarah Sauchelli - Senior Research Associate at NIHR Bristol Biomedical Centre (Nutrition Theme).
- Hazel Taylor - Statistician for the Research Design Service South West.
- Dr. Rohini Terry - Qualitative advisor for the Research Design Service South West, based at University of
Exeter.