ENGR110/210: Perspectives in Assistive Technology

Abstract: Candidate projects will be "pitched" by those who suggested them. Open time at the end of the presentations will enable students pursuing projects to connect with project suggestors.

Agenda

Introduction of Course Resource People

Deborah E. Kenney, MS, OTR/L: Occupational Therapist

Douglas F. Schwandt, MS: Mechanical Engineering Design Consultant

Gary M. Berke, MS, CP, FAAOP: Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Prosthetics

Jules Sherman: Designer and Entrepreneur

Candidate Student Project Pitches

Projects Suggested by the Community: Individuals with Disabilities, Older Adults, and Organizations
- Projects with Abby - Introduction
  
  New projects
  
  Improved Pooper Scooper
  
  Sewing Machine Needle Threading Project
  
  Team Projects rolled over from 2020
  
  Camping Cot - video
  
  Alert Project - video
  
  Other Projects
  
  Cutting vegetables for cooks with one arm
  
  Cutting boards for cooks who are blind or those with limited arm/hand mobility
- Projects with Olenka at the Magical Bridge Playground
  
  Accessible and Inclusive Playground Attractions (2020)
- Project with Austin
  
  Cutting Knife for Austin (2021)
- Project with Danny and Stanford
  
  Wearable Storage Pack for Danny (2021)
- Project with National Children's Hospital
  
  Identifying Emotional State Project (2021)
- Project with Tilly
  
  Cell Phone Holder for Wheelchair (2021)
- 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.
- Projects from previous years
  - Assistive Technology Maker Space Projects (2020)
  - Assistive Technology Pop-Up Shop (2019)
  - LiveWell RERC 2021 Student App Challenge (2020)
  - Simple Games for Children with Austim (2017)
  - Durable Medical Equipment Projects (2017)
  - User Survey of Power Wheelchair Desirable Feature and Capabilities (2016)
  - Projects employing inexpensive voice-recognition technology (2014)
  - Household Tasks Project
  - Shower / Bathtub / Sink / Toilet Cleaning Project
  - Individual Projects Suggested by the Ideation Workshop Senior User Insights Panel - 7 projects
- 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.
- Projects suggested by Dave
  
  Creative Expression (2014)
  
  Designing Your Afterlife (2014)
  
  COVID-related Projects (2021)
  
  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
  
  Student-defined Projects (2014)
Open Question Time & Non-Random Access

Lecture Material:

Slides - 4.12 Mb pdf file

Suggestor's Pitch Videos:

Abby's Camping Cot Project (1:19)

Abby's Alert Project (0:53)

Danny & Stanford's Wearable Storage Pack

Handouts:: Assignment - for students working on Two Credit Unit projects

Links:: Student Project Resource People; Candidate Projects

Updated 01/17/2021