Candidate
Projects for Two Credit Units - 2021
General Information on
Projects for Two Credit Units
Projects Two Credit Units are
designed for a student who wishes to receive a letter grade and two credit
units. Students working on a project for Two Credit Units must inform the
course instructor of the desired project topic and to discuss and agree upon
the specifics of the project . Also see Required Course and Individual Project
Activities.
Projects for Two credit units differ
from Team Projects from previous academic years in that they (projects for Two
Credit Units) may address simpler problems, have less complex solutions, may
not require a fabrication task, may not involve a user, may not require
following an engineering design process, or result in a lower level of
prototype functionality (such as producing a CAD design instead of a working
physical prototype). For example, a project may focus on investigating a
service related to assistive technology such as connecting older adults with
each other or with college students.
Optionally, two students may work
collectively on projects for Two Credit Units, sharing these tasks: obtaining
background information and brainstorming. However each student is required to
pursue, present, and report on different solutions. Two credit unit projects
require attendance in at least 15 class sessions, including the first class
session, Introduction to Assistive Technology,
Project Pitches, and Project Presentations.
Students working on Two Credit Unit
projects focus on one of the following activities that relate to or would
potentially benefit an older adult or individual with a disability:
-
Report on an advance in assistve
technology - report on new products and research under development in one
of the following topic areas:
- Neural implants, brain-computer
interfaces
- Prosthetics and
orthotics
- Robotics
- Mobility products
- Software products
- Accessibility
solutions
-
Report on applications of
assistive technology - report on products and research under development in
one of the following topic areas:
- Learning for grade school
students with disabilities
- Web access for individuals with
disabilities and older adults
- Mobility for wheelchair
users
- Speech generation for
individuals who are non-vocal
- Activities of daily living for
older adults
-
Report on a disability-related
topic - research one of the following topics:
- Disability and the
Law
- Disability in Film - with a
movie review (could be country-specific)
- Disability in Books - with a
detailed book review
- Disability Activism - Disability
Rights
- Disability in
Politics
- Disability in Sports
- Disability in the
Arts
- Disability in Music
- Disability in
Employment
-
Report on a local disability or
aging organization - submit a comprehensive document that includes student
perspectives, as well as those of a staff person and client. Here are some Bay
Area organizations:
-
Pursue a "paper design" of an
assistive technology device - develop a CAD design or a "low resolution"
physical device built from foam-core or other low-cost prototyping material.
These could address a challenge related to
activities
of daily living, creative expression, sports, vocation, communication,
mobility, recreation, and leisure. Here are some
assistive
technology projects from Hackaday that might inspire you.
-
Fabricate an "appearance model"
of an assistive technology device - build a limited functional model of an
assistive technology device.
-
Create a work of art -
create an original poem, song, skit, painting, or video (such as a day in the
life of a person with a disability or older adult). (This option would be of
particular interest to students who have skills and expertise other than
engineering.)
-
Engage in an aftermarket
aesthetic design - select an existing assistive product that could benefit
from a better appearance, contact the manufacturer, and work with a user of the
device to improve its aesthetic appeal.
-
Engage in an aftermarket
functionality / usability design - select an existing assistive product
that could benefit from a better functionality or usability, contact the
manufacturer, and work with a user of the device to improve its functionality
or usability.
-
Consider one of the projects
listed below - typical tasks include interviewing an individual with a
disability or older adult to get a better understanding of the individual's
life, challenges being faced, successes achieved, and desires for the future.
Review assistive technology used, their usefulness and limitations, problems
experienced, and similar products on the market.
Project Titles Index:
(year originally suggested)
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Assistive Technology Maker Space Projects
-
Background: Maker
Spaces labs are popping up in schools all across the country. They provide
hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build, and
invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering, and tinkering. A Maker
Space is not solely a science lab, woodshop, computer lab, or art room, but it
may contain elements found in all of these familiar spaces. Therefore, it must
be designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, tools, and materials.
Diversity and cross-pollination of activities are critical to the design,
fabrication, and exploration process, and they are what set Maker Spaces apart
from single-use spaces. [1]
-
Problem: "I am
supporting schools that have Maker Spaces, but they lack meaningful,
real-world, open-ended challenges for students to do in them. The schools need
inspirational challenges and basic support resources (background on the
problem, design constraints, and success criteria)." Greg Brown
-
Aim: Design and
document four example Maker Space projects for schools to offer. These projects
should focus on assistive technology and involve the design, fabrication, and
testing of a prototype device or tool that benefits a person with a disability
or an older adult.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Projects should be
suitable for students in grades 7 to 12.
- Projects could be designed
for either individual students or teams to pursue.
- Project durations are
expected to be about a month.
-
Deliverables:
- The report must describe
four example assistive technology projects to be constructed in Maker Space
environment, including full project descriptions.
- The report must describe
the process the teacher would use to introduce disability, assistive
technology, the project design process, and these projects.
-
Example
Projects:
- a piece of specialized or
adaptive equipment for a new game or sports activity that is inclusive for all
students
- a lap tray for a
wheelchair user in class
- a storage solution for a
wheelchair user in class
- a lighting project to
enhance night time visibility for a wheelchair user
-
Other: Field trips to
the Maker Space schools in Los Gatos or Saratoga can be
arranged.
-
Links:
|
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Assistive Technology Pop-Up Shop
-
Problem: Many
assistive technology products are too expensive for people with disabilities or
older adults to purchase. Sometimes a custom solution is required. Others are
not covered by insurance. In addition, broken devices may require
repair.
-
Aim: Explore plans for
a pop-up store that would fabricate low-cost assistive technology devices,
repair broken products, or create custom solutions.
-
Design Criteria: Plans
should include:
- example devices to be
fabricated or repaired
- parts to be
stocked
- equipment to be
purchased
- workers
required
- space required
- work flow
- funding and financial
considerations
- advertising
plan
-
Links:
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LiveWell RERC 2021 Student App Challenge
-
LiveWell RERC is sponsoring an app
development competition for middle, high school, and college students as well
as non-professional developers. Three winning apps will be selected to receive
a cash award. They will also select two apps at random for prizes, to encourage
project submissions even for simple apps.
-
The LiveWell App
Challenge is intended to promote awareness of the need for assistive and
accessible technologies by fostering innovation through a fun, hands-on
activity. Applicants are encouraged to submit mobile applications that address
a need from one of LiveWells target areas, but apps from any area will be
accepted. We are particularly interested in apps that can be used by people
with disabilities and people who are aging. Below are additional focus areas:
-
- Health and
function
- Accessibility
- Money
management
- Navigation
- Home automation and
control
- Personal
communication
- Access to public
announcements and notifications
-
Judging will take place in
May 2021.
-
Links:
Here are some app creation
tools:
|
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Simple Games for Children with Autism
-
"Last week I met with eight
caregivers (mothers of children with autism) about you (Alexandra Berrio) and
your organization's (Assistive Labs) assistive aid. Six have children with
moderate to severe levels of autism who do not have verbal communication
skills. The mothers shared a shocking revelation with me that they lead
socially isolated lives. They do not attend any social activities such
marriages & birthday parties, visit relatives and neighbors' houses during
the festival season, dine in restaurants, go to the market, etc. Other family
members may attend these events, but the mothers, who are the main caregivers
of their autistic children, can't attend. In public, their children exhibit the
following behaviors:"
- They become hyperactive:
do not want to sit in their chairs.
- They make meaningless
sounds, sometimes they shout - sometimes these vocalizations disturb everyone
nearby.
- They become restless:
running and jumping.
- Sometimes they become
destructive: breaking glasses and hitting others. (This may be a sensory
issue.)
- They exhibit unwanted
behaviors such as taking food from another's plate or licking
objects.
-
"People nearby object to
these activities and complain. For these reasons, the caregivers lead socially
isolated lives caring as they care for their autism children."
-
"There are many games and
apps for children, but none specifically for autistic children. These children
do like gadgets, but they face challenges using them. Most of them provide too
much stimulation and require a high level of concentration, making them
difficult to use. The parents want a device to occupy their children when they
attend social activities. During that time, the children should be fully
engaged with the device so they don't misbehave. The device should be easy to
carrry and use."
-
"An Occupational Therapy
perspective offers these consideration for a successful app:"
- Display less visual
information as excessive visual information over-stimulates.
- Use only basic colors such
as red, yellow, and blue.
-
(This document was authored
by the Centre for Rehabilitation and Paralysis in Bangladesh and provided by
Alexandra Berrio of Assistive
Labs.)
-
Links:
|
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Durable Medical Equipment Projects
-
Aim: Explore CAD
designs for affordable durable medical equipment supporting older adults at
home including devices to:
- assist in
standing
- help in
lifting
- transfer to/from
wheelchair to bath tub
- ascend and descend
stairs
- prevent bed
sores
- facilitate transportation
to/from rehab centers and doctor's appointments
- promote upper body
exercise
-
Links:
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User
Survey of Power Wheelchair Desirable Features and Capabilities
-
Perform a survey of power
wheelchair users to identify desirable features and capabilities that could be
incorporated into future wheelchair designs. Include both wheelchair and user
safety items as well as information about the surrounding infrastructure and
route being traveled.
|
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Projects employing inexpensive voice-recognition
technology
-
Background: Thirty
years ago, voice recognition systems were in their infancy. A typical system
cost $3000 and required considerable user training to recognize just a few
words. Today, the cost of these devices has fallen sharply while the
performance has improved greatly.
-
Aim: Explore an
application for a person with a disability using an inexpensive voice
recognition product. Examples include enhanced computer control and
accessibility for those with limited manipulation abilities, control of
household appliances (lights, TV, music system), and operation of a hospital bed.
-
Design Criteria: The
device should be appropriate for the user's abilities and be simple to
configure and use.
-
Other:
- Links:
- EasyVR Shield
- Voice Recognition
Module
- Speech
Recognition with Arduino
|
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Household Tasks Project
-
Problem: Older adults
often find it difficult to perform everyday household tasks such as hanging
curtains, fixing household devices, cleaning windows, ironing, and making the
bed.
-
Aim: Explore device
designs that are capable of improving or restoring the ability of older adults
to attend to daily household tasks, especially the most basic ones such as
making the bed and ironing.
-
Design Criteria: The
design should be intuitive and safe to use, highly reliable, lightweight, and
easy to handle, clean, and store.
- Links:
|
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Shower / Bathtub / Sink / Toilet Cleaning Project
-
Problem: For older
adults to remain in their current housing (as they desire), they must be able
to independently maintain the cleanliness of their house, including its shower,
bathtub, sink, and toilet. While there are numerous cleaning products on the
market, none adequately addresses the problem. [What are some of their
limitations?]
-
Aim: Explore design
solutions for the shower / bathtub / sink / toilet cleaning problem for an
older adult with a disability.
-
Design Criteria: The
design(s) must be economical, esthetically pleasing, as well as easy and safe
to use while performing the cleaning task. The design will be driven by the
user's abilities.
- Links:
|
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Projects Suggested by the Ideation Workshop Senior User Insights
Panel
Address concerns expressed by the
Ideation
Workshop Senior User Insights Panel for the
Stanford Center on Longevity's
Design Challenge, "Enabling Personal
Mobility across the Life Span".
The result of the individual
student project efforts should be ideas, concepts, or low-resolution models
rather than functional prototypes.
- lifting individuals who have
fallen in their home (either with or without the assistance of another family
member)
- promoting community
participation through enhanced use of transportation and communication
systems
- improving appearance and
beauty
- sustaining mobility and
activity after a diagnosis of Parkinson's or other similar
conditions
- addressing technophobia
through instructional techniques
- making new friends and
maintaining current relationships in the community
- redesigning communities for
older adults
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Projects with Abby
-
Background: Abby is an
artist, a retired art teacher (grades K-College), a clinical social worker, and
a computer graphic designer. She is an individual with multiple disabilities: a
mobility challenge, a bipolar disorder, and a visual impairment. She is
passionate about making a difference and advocating for individual rights. She
has been a chair of the
Consumer
Advisory Council and formerly represented consumers on the Board of
Directors of NAMI (National Alliance on
Mental Illness) in Santa Clara County and has volunteered in their
Connection
Recovery Support Group and the
Peer
PAL Program. She has also volunteered for the
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, has been on the
Board of Directors
of the Silicon Valley Independent Living
Center (SVILC), has successfully been involved in litigation to preserve
the rights of service dog recipients when they are hospitalized, and has
presented Poster Sessions and spoken at conferences including NAMI's National
Convention, California ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) 2015 Conference
celebrating 25 years and the California Council of the Blind's Annual
Convention. Abby has mentored elementary school students with art lessons, and
partnered with high school students in programs for
Project Invent and
Design the Future. She is
currently updating a therapeutic board game she made for inpatient psychiatric
units. Abby has a successor service dog, Nathan, from
Canine Partners for Life (CPL) in
Cochranville, PA and has served on their Advisory Council.
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Improved Pooper Scooper
-
Background: Abby is an
older adult who relies on a powered wheelchair for her mobility and her service
dog to help her with daily tasks.
-
Problem: Current
pooper scooper products are bulky, difficult to operate, and are not designed
for wheelchair users.
-
Aim: Explore designs
for a device that will allow Abby to effectively clean up after their service
dog while remaining active in their community.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Compact to facilitate
storage
- Aesthetic
design
- Easy to retrieve and
store
- Integrated waste disposal
bag
- Easy to dispose
bag
- Easy to clean
-
Links:
- Examples of reacher products for inspiration:
Pooper Scooper products
that are too bulky:
- ZEENING Pet Pooper Scooper Long
Handle Foldable Poop Scoop Shovel for Large & Small Dogs Waste Pick Up Jaw
for All Surface, Waste Bags and Holder Included - $15
- LEADALLWAY Foldable Dog Poop
Scooper 24 Inch Long Handle Jaw Pet Pooper Scoopers for Large Small Medium
Dogs, Ideal for Grass,Gravel,Yards or Patio Waste-Pick Up - $11.50
-
Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Sewing Machine Needle Threading Project
-
Background: Abby's
sewing machine is a Brother CS600i. It has
two needles that have to be threaded by hand. The needle that is presently on
the machine works with the self threader. Also the self threader only works
with needles of certain sizes depending on the type of material used. The
needle threads from front to back, rather than from side to side. (These four
photos show the needle and the sewing machine.)
-
Problem: The sewing
machine's needle is located in a tight spot making it awkward to thread,
especially for individuals with limited vision. With the threading from front
to back, it is difficult to see the placement of the thread in relationship to
the needle.
-
Aim: Explore designs
for a device that facilitates threading of the needle.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Device must remain stable
with respect to the machine
- Device provides both
magnification and illumination
-
Links:
-
Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Camping Cot Project
-
Background: "I love
the freedom I feel when I go camping."
-
Problem: "My
Therm-a-Rest camping cot sits low to the ground (6 inches). The bed material
and the long poles across the cot's width are not a problem. However, it takes
a lot of force and hand strength to attach and remove the legs. Even an
able-bodied camper had difficulty putting a leg on, so I didn't use it on a
recent camping trip. It is a great cot, just much too difficult to assemble and
disassemble."
-
"There are 2 collapsible rods
that slide into sleeves down both sides of the cot. The legs are too difficult
to bend into the right position and hook into openings along the sleeves around
the rods. If the legs were integrated into the cot or if there was an easy way
to attach and remove its legs - that would be ideal."
-
"I have tried other cots from
both REI and Sports Basement and have not found one that I could put together
by myself. The Helinox cot is very heavy, and very expensive."
-
"I read a review of Big Agnes
Helinox Cot Lite where it was described as needing a lot of hand strength/force
to put it together - 'note that adult strength is required for assembly and
disassembly'."
-
"Amazon offers many cots, but
unless you actually buy one and try putting it together, you have no idea if it
is in fact light and easy to put together."
-
Aim: Explore designs
for a camping cot that Abby will find to be easy to assemble and disassemble
independently.
-
Design
Criteria:
- "I am interested in a cot
that sits low-to-the-ground."
- Easy to assemble and
disassemble independently
- Lightweight and portable
(parts are collapsible and fit into a small sack)
-
Other:
-
Links:
-
Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Shop
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Alert Project
-
Background: "Another
project I am interested in is some kind of an audible alert that I could easily
press to alert people that I am passing. I had this idea for
Project Invent this summer, and the
idea one team was working on was a recording of my voice very loud saying
"Passing By," "Coming Through," or "Excuse Me." My idea is that it would attach
to the right arm of the WHILL so that I would have easy access to press on it.
I have looked at bicycle bells, horns, etc. The problem I have is using both
hands with Nathan and the WHILL, and not being able to hold something else.
Bicycle bells are for rounded handlebars, and don't fit the WHILL arm, plus you
have to turn them, press something small on them, or some other way of getting
the noise that I can't do. The noise has to be loud enough for people to hear
it."
-
Problem: In crowded
spaces, people are not often aware of a wheelchair user trying to negotiate the
"walking traffic", increasing the possibility of collisions.
-
"This is a huge problem
everywhere I go outside in the community, or in buildings. Many times an
individual's attention is not on where they are walking, or how their walking
patterns may affect someone coming from behind in a powered
wheelchair."
-
Aim: Explore designs
to alert people in Abby's path.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Easy access to activation
mechanism on right side of wheelchair
- Easy activation while
operating wheelchair and controlling Nathan
- Loud enough for people to
be alerted in noisy rooms
- Several alert modes and
volumes
-
Other:
-
Links:
-
Recommended Skillset:
Mechanical Engineering, Electronics
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Other Projects
-
- Cutting vegtables for
cooks with one arm
- Cutting boards for cooks
who are blind or those with limited arm/hand mobility
|
Magical Bridge Playground
-
Background: The
Magical Bridge Playground is the nation's first fully accessible and socially
inclusive playground. It is a public space where children with disabilities as
well as children of parents who have a disability can play together. The City
of Palo Alto designated 1.3 acres of underutilized public land in Mitchell
Park, located at
600
East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto, for the site of the Magical Bridge
Playground - adjacent to Abilities United and close to the new Mitchell Park
Library.
-
The
playground
opened in April 2015 and has been overwhelmingly popular with both kids and
parents, with some families traveling long distances to experience
it.
-
After the Playground was
completed, the Magical Bridge
Foundation was created to assist other communities in building their own
innovative and inclusive playgrounds. Construction on a Playground in Redwood
City began in the Fall of 2017, and funds are currently being raised for
Magical Bridge Playgrounds in Sunnyvale and Morgan Hill.
Back to top
Project with Olenka at the Magical Bridge Playground
Accessible and Inclusive Playground Attractions
-
-
Problem: The
park's play equipment has been well-received, but some aspects of the play
areas could be modified for better access. In addition, suggestions for
replacement play areas are sought to update the park with fresh attractions
every few years. And as new Playgrounds are planned and constructed, there are
ongoing opportunities to design new features and refine existing designs to be
accessible to everyone regardless of their abilities.
-
Aim: Explore
designs to improve access to and navigation around the playground, as well as
to create new play and educational experiences incorporating multiple senses,
actions, and outcomes for all playground users and visitors, especially those
with visual impairments and diminished fine motor skills.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Designs should be
durable, fun, and safe for everyone - accommodating children and parents with
disabilities - and be magical.
- Project prototypes
could be scale models to facilitate their construction and
transportation.
- Designs that
incorporate electronics should be low-voltage or solar-powered.
-
Recommended
Skillset: Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, depends on selected design
concept
-
Links:
|
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Cutting Knife for Austin
-
Background: Austin is
a sophomore studying Symbolic Systems. After a diving accident during the
summer before his sophomore year of high school fractured his C6 vertebra and
left him paralyzed from the chest down, he found direction in his education and
learned to use assistive technology to make up for the limitations imposed by
his disability. Looking forward, he is interested in exploring the ways the
discipline of computer science can improve the lives of those with limited
mobility.
-
Problem: "One of the
more frequent problems I run into is using a knife while cooking. As a result
of my spinal cord injury, my grasp strength is very weak, presenting problems
in my practical ability to cut things with a knife."
-
Aim: Explore designs
that would enable Austin to independently perform cooking activities relating
to food preparation.
-
Design Criteria: The
design must provide cutting safety and have a positive aesthetic.
-
Links:
|
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Wearable Storage Pack for Danny
-
Background: Danny is a
wheelchair user who lives in Los Gatos with cerebral palsy and a cortical
vision impairment.
-
Problem: Danny
experiences limited upper body strength, grip and vision impairments, and
diminished hand and finger dexterity. This interferes with his ability to put
his phone into his existing Fanny pack. When he tries to do so, it falls on the
ground. It is also difficult for him to secure and zip his existing
pack.
-
Aim: Explore designs
for a wearable storage pack that would enable Danny to independently and safely
store his phone, wheelchair gloves, and other miscellaneous objects.
-
Design
Criteria:
- Easy to put on and take
off independently
- Appropriately sized
opening
- Large enough to securely
hold a phone, gloves, and other small objects
- Easy to open and
close
- Cool looking
-
Links:
|
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Identifying Emotional State Project
-
Background: Children
and adolescents are dealing with many feelings as they transition from home to
Children's National Hospital, a
psychiatric hospital with an inpatient psychiatric unit in Washington DC for
children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 due to depression, BiPolar disorder,
ADHD, suicidality, and psychosis.
-
Problem: Sometimes
children have difficulty expressing how they are feeling in real-time and in
person. Clinicians would prefer / like to be aware of their daily emotional
needs prior to interacting with them.
-
Aim: Explore designs
for ways that clinicians can get updated on a patients' daily emotional state
as awareness of their mindset may improve social interaction, medical
treatments, and clinicians' safety.
-
Design
Criteria:
- No video or audio
monitoring of the patients' rooms is allowed
- No physical products can
be placed a in a patients' rooms
- Solutions involving
technology are sought rather than suggestions regarding clinician / patient
interactions
-
Links:
|
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Cell
Phone Holder for Wheelchair
-
Background: Tilly
Griffiths is an international student from the United Kingdom and is a junior
studying Political Science and Communication. Shortly following her first
birthday, Tilly was diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition called Spinal
Muscular Atrophy (Type II), meaning she is a full-time power wheelchair user
and relies on physical support with all aspects of daily life. However, since
the age of 12 she aspired to cross the Atlantic and attend university in
California, and her participation in the Sutton Trust US Programme for
low-income, high-achieving students brought her to Stanford. She is a
passionate advocate for people with disabilities, so far raising in excess of
$7 million to ensure that young people can access the best wheelchairs to help
them achieve their goals, and on campus she serves as the ASSU Co-Director of
Disability Advocacy.
-
Problem: For
someone like me, my cell phone is not just a means of communication and
entertainment - it's the key to my independence. Having access to my phone at
all times during the day means that I can move around campus without the
constant presence of my caregivers because, at the touch of a button or with
the use of Siri, if I run into difficultly I can call for help instantly and
have the situation resolved. However, this method does rely on my phone being
in somewhat close reach because I cannot pull it from a pocket or bag and, as
yet, I have not discovered a way of carrying my phone that ensures I can access
it 100% of the time (for safety reasons) without the risk of it falling on the
ground.
-
Aim: I am looking
for a design of a phone holder for my electric wheelchair that allows it to sit
safely near my lap within reach of my right hand, and ideally the attachment
will hold the phone securely yet allow me to take it in and out independently
with my very limited strength.
-
Design
Criteria:
-
Links:
|
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Projects Suggested by Dave:
Creative Expression
-
Background: Most
everyone has a desire to be creative through activities such as writing,
painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, quilting, photography, singing, dancing,
and music.
-
Problem: Existing
tools supporting creativity are often lacking for people with disabilities.
Movement difficulties may prevent an individual from fully participating in
their chosen activity.
-
Aim: Explore ways to
enhance creative expression for people with disabilities. This could include
the creation of new activities or fabrication of new tools.
-
Suggestions:
- Convert the user's
existing assistive technology device into a creative "paintbrush" or "musical
instrument"
- Use non-traditional inputs
such as residual movements or brain waves
- Adapt or create
instruments for musicians with disabilities
- One-Handed Musical
Instrument (OHMI) Competition
-
Other:
-
Recommended Skillset:
Various, depends on chosen solution
-
Links:
Back to top
Designing Your Afterlife
-
Background: Death is
the most severe form of disability as one is no longer able to interact with
people or physical objects in the living world. What remains are only frozen
static artifacts - images, writings, and the stories of others. Gone are one's
personality, beliefs, expertise, humor, vision, memories, insights, and
intellect.
-
Problem: With one's
passing, it is impossible to provide a full and accurate representation of whom
they were, what they believed in, and how they acted. The recollections of
family and friends fade and disappear with time, leaving the departed one's
legacy at the mercy of the living.
-
Aim: Explore ways to
preserve one's essence after death. In the technology extreme, this might
manifest itself as an interactive system that responds to queries, retells
stories, relates experiences, shares expertise, and expresses humor. The
pre-dead user would be able to create and program his / her eternal
computer-based persona before her / his demise.
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Other:
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Recommended Skillset:
Various, depends on chosen solution
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Links:
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Tactile Objects
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Background:
Tactile sensory sensations can help young children - including those who are
blind or visually impaired - learn and understand ideas. Visual art learning
can happen from direct sensory touching by hands. Tactile art making stimulates
learning in different ways than visual or audio learning.
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Problem: Without
tactile opportunities, a child can miss out on important spatial
learning.
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Aim: Explore
designs to fabricate a tactile creation - a work of art, a museum artifact, an
educational tool, or a play toy - for a person who is blind or visually
impaired.
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Links:
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COVID-related Projects
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- Device to assist with
donning a mask, gloves, gown
- Device that provides
automated hand washing and hand sanitizing
- Device to facilitate
independent cleaning and sanitizing of home surfaces
- Other COVID-related
issues
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Student-defined Projects
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- Meet with course
instructor to discuss and agree upon the specifics of the project. Interview,
observe, and discuss assistive technology problems with an individual with a
disability or older adult. Address their desire to participate in one of the
following activities by designing an adaptation to an existing device / tool or
creating a new, more useful one. Projects could address:
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Activities of
Daily Living - cooking, showering or bathing, dressing, cleaning,
housework, yard work, employment, education, shopping, commuting,
etc
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Sports and
Exercise - walking, running, indoor and outdoor sports, etc
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Leisure Activities
and Hobbies - collecting, model making, crafts, board games &
videogames, etc
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Title
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Background:
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Problem:
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Aim:
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Design Criteria:
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Links:
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top
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