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We produce immersive simulations of real-life social communication
based on interactive 3D video games involving spoken dialogs
and cultural protocols with "socially intelligent virtual
humans". Our initial applications are courses that teach
how to communicate in foreign languages and cultures. We
anticipate growth in training, education, entertainment,
advertising and healthcare applications.
Our products started as a research project in 2003 at the
University of Southern California’s Information Sciences
Institute under funding from the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA). In 2004 we transitioned the project
from the lab into field use by the U.S. Armed Services.
In 2005 the project’s lead researchers at USC founded
our company to further develop and commercialize the products
in both defense and non-defense markets. We serve our defense,
national security and intelligence customers worldwide through
our wholly owned subsidiary Alelo TLT, LLC (formerly
Tactical Language Training LLC).
» Alelo
TLT, LLC
Our team
We employ professionals in instructional design and development (pedagogy,
curriculum development, educational psychology, adult learning), linguistics
and foreign languages, natural language processing and computational
linguistics, automated speech recognition, computer
science (artificial intelligence, software engineering,
modeling, simulation), human-computer interaction, videogames, graphics
arts and animation, and media production.
» Careers
at Alelo
ANDRE VALENTE, PH.D. M.B.A. | Co-founder, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Valente co-founded our company while he was deputy leader
of the Tactical Language project at the Information Sciences
Institute of the University of Southern California. He joined
our company full time in 2006. He has over 20 years of experience
in management, technology development, and research in knowledge-based
systems, ontologies, and intelligent teaching systems. Previously,
Dr. Valente co-started and was vice-president of operations
for Coordinated Software Systems, another spin-off from
the University of Southern California's Information Sciences
Institute. His career includes managing numerous engineering
and operations teams for manufacturing, media, aerospace
and e-business companies. Dr. Valente holds a Ph.D. in computer
science from the University of Amsterdam and an M.B.A. from
the University of Southern California. He is fluent in Portuguese
and English; and has a working knowledge of Dutch, French,
Italian, and Spanish.
W. LEWIS JOHNSON, PH.D. | Co-founder,
President, Chief Scientist
Dr. Johnson co-founded our company while he was director
of the Center for Advanced Research in Technology for Education
(CARTE) at the Information Sciences Institute of the University
of Southern California, where he was the principal investigator
of the Tactical Language project that resulted in our products.
He left USC ISI in 2007 to join us full time, but continues
to be active in research focusing on the successful adoption
of interactive learning environments. His work on Tactical
Language won DARPA's Significant Technical Achievement Award
in 2005. Dr. Johnson was program co-chair of the International
Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces in 2003, past
president of the International Artificial Intelligence in
Education Society, and past chair of the ACM Special Interest
Group for Artificial Intelligence. He holds a B.A. in linguistics
from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in computer science
from Yale University. He is fluent in English, French, German, Chinese,
Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic; and has a working
knowledge of Portuguese, Japanese, Dutch, Malay, Pashto,
Greek, Dari, and Cherokee. » More
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