Beneficial Design with Assistive Technology

When planning classes to take this coming year, please consider the Winter Quarter course:

You should take this course if:

• You are interested in learning how technology is being used to help people with disabilities and seniors
• You would like to apply your engineering and design skills to benefit others
• You want an opportunity to engage in a team-based design project that improves the lives of individuals with disabilities and seniors

Perspectives in Assistive Technology (ENGR110/210) is a Winter Quarter course for students from every discipline that explores issues surrounding the design and use of technology that benefits people with disabilities and seniors.

The course consists of twice-weekly in-class discussions, presentations by guest lecturers, and tours of local medical facilities and engineering labs.

Students pursue projects that address problems faced by users of assistive technology. For students whose schedule does not permit working on a project, lecture-only options are offered.

Students can continue working on projects into the Spring Quarter - engaging in prototyping, fabrication, user testing, and iterative design for credit as an independent study or senior design project.

ENGR110 is a certified Service Learning course that satisfies the optional course requirement for the BSME degree and is newly approved for the Program in Science, Technology & Society.

The course objectives are to:

• Expose students to the engineering, medical, and social issues facing engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, clinicians, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in the design, development, and use of assistive technology

• Engage students in projects that exercises team working skills and applies an engineering design process to address difficulties experienced by individuals with disabilities and seniors

• Provide an opportunity for students to interact with users of assistive technology in the local community along with health care professionals, coaches, and project partners

• Enhance students' critical thinking and communication skills, with specific emphasis on in-class discussions, report writing, and project presentations

• Encourage students to use their engineering skills and design expertise to help individuals with disabilities and seniors increase their independence and improve their quality of life

The teaching staff invites undergraduate and graduate students from all majors and backgrounds to enroll in Axess and attend the first class session in the Winter Quarter of 2012.

To learn more about this course, visit the class website or contact the instructor, David L. Jaffe, MS