Perspectives is the newsletter of the Stanford course,
Perspectives in Assistive Technology.

Upcoming Abilities Expo

This course relies on your involvement,
so please suggest a project based upon an identified problem or challenge.

Course News

Request for additional student project suggestions - Project suggestions are continuing to be solicited. For more information refer to the Call for Team Projects Suggestions webpage.

Approved student project suggestions - Several project suggestions are in the process of being formulated, received, reviewed, and approved to be candidate projects this coming academic year.

Confirmed guest lecturers and field trips - Field trips to the VA Spinal Cord Injury Center and the Magical Brisge Playground have been confirmed. Katherine Strausser will be making a return guest lecture appearance. The dates of their presentations as well as the field trips have not yet been scheduled.

Review of Project Solicitation Process and Activities

Briefly, what is the process for considering and submitting project suggestions? - First identify a specific challenge or problem experienced by a person with a disability or older adult. Then perform an internet search to confirm that the problem has not already been adequately addressed. Then carefully review the project requirements to make sure the idea complies with all the criteria. Finally submit a short email - text format is ok - that identifies the user or population affected and briefly describes the nature of the problem. Include desirable features of a solution, but do not specify how the device should appear, be built, or solve the problem - as those are tasks for the student team to consider. It is ok if the problem affects just one individual.

Unsuitable Project Suggestions - In an effort to improve future project suggestions, I thought it would be informative to provide some unsuitable examples with explanations.

1. I have a family member with a disability who lives on the east coast ...
   
   The person with a disability who experiences a challenge or problem must be available locally (within 25 miles) to work with the student project team to further illustrate the problem, offer advice during the quarter, and test the students' prototypes. Someone who lives outside the local area may not be able to work effectively with the project team.
2. Here are some projects off the top of my head ...
   
   Projects must be well-considered and based upon an observed problem or challenge. You are welcome to contact me with your initial ideas to get a quick determination if you are on the right track.
3. Can you offer a project to prevent falls in older adults?
   
   Student prototypes must no pose a risk of harm to the user, so a project addressing this problem really is not suitable as the prototype may fail to prevent a fall.
4. Commercial prosthetic devices are very expensive. Can you come up with a less expensive design?
   
   Prosthetic devices are expensive because they are made in small numbers and are custom fitted by a professional prosthetist. In addition, the fitting process may require multiple visits. Medical devices such as these also incur a high product liability insurance premium which figures into the price.
5. I haven't seen a commercial device that solves this problem ...
   
   Please perform an internet search for commercially available products before suggesting a project.
6. How about designing a way to call an elevator or open an electric door or press a street crossing signal with a wireless push button on my wheelchair?
   
   Students will be unable to obtain permission to modify an elevator call button or a street crossing signal.

What happens after a project suggestion is submitted? - Even if you have submitted project suggestions that weren't accepted, I would encourage you to consider my comments and offer new or revised ideas.

What happens after a project suggestion is submitted? - Submitted project suggestions will be read, reviewed, and considered. Those that meet all the project requirements and receive my approval will be accepted as candidate team projects. A project Problem Statement describing the challenge will be composed for posting on the course website and disseminated as a handout to students on the first day of class. Refer to this past year's team candidate project list for examples of past Problem Statements.

What is the deadline for submitting project suggestions? - Please email suggestions to me as soon as possible so I have adequate time to consider all submissions, edit approved entries, and post them - not later than Saturday, December 1st. Feel free to contact me before the deadline to discuss your ideas and suggestions.

Local Events

Opportunity to Learn about Powered Clothing

Learn about Powered Clothing The Avenidas Generations Lab is recruiting older adults to provide input to improve Seismic's line of powered clothing. Seismic is an apparel company, located in Menlo Park, that seeks to transform people's relationship with clothing that enhances one's ability to move through life. Their goal is to shape human potential through a new integration of apparel and robotics called Powered Clothing™. Powered Clothing™ enables everyone - from older adults to athletes to people with a wide range of physical disabilities - to achieve their full mobility potential. To learn more, schedule a one-hour appointment through Avenidas with Eric Gee by email or phoning him at 650/289-5409. Older adults will be paid $25 to attend an initial orientation and selected individuals will be paid for each hour of future participation. The initial orientation includes: Watching a video that introduces Seismic and Powered Clothing™ Learning about enrollment opportunities for Seismic's user testing program Be measured and fitted for a Seismic garment (selected individuals) Ideal Powered Clothing™ users are those who: Experience difficulty with activities such as standing up from a seated position, climbing stairs, bending, etc Are active, engaged individuals Have a body mass index (BMI) less than 30

Disability-Related Movie

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Is it possible to find humor - corrosive, taboo-shattering, laugh-till-you-cry humor - in the story of a 38-year-old- cartoonist who’s both a quadriplegic and a recovering alcoholic? The answer is yes, if the cartoonist is John Callahan - whose infamous work has graced the pages of Omni, Penthouse, and The New Yorker - and if he’s telling it in his own words and pictures. But Callahan’s uncensored account of his troubled - and sometimes impossible - life is also genuinely inspiring. Without self-pity or self-righteousness, this liberating book tells us how a quadriplegic with a healthy libido has sex, what it’s like to live in the exitless maze of the welfare system, where a cartoonist finds his comedy, and how a man with no reason to believe in anything discovers his own brand of faith. Don’t Worry is based on John Callahan’s memoir of the same name. Phoenix plays the controversial cartoonist as he struggles with alcoholism and recovers from a car accident that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. The supporting cast includes Rooney Mara, Jonah Hill, and Jack Black. Van Sant debuted the drama at Sundance earlier this year, where Phoenix instantly became an early contender for the Oscars. The actor gives a transformative performance in the lead role, but it’s really Jonah Hill who walks away with the film. Hill plays Phoenix’s A.A. sponsor Donnie, and it’s a perfectly calibrated supporting performance, one that makes a lasting impression and leaves you wanting to know more about the character. When: Thursday, September 11th through Sunday, September 23rd Where: 3 Below Theaters, San Jose Information: 113 minutes - trailer (2:11)

San José Disability Awareness Day

11th Annual Disability Awareness Day “Expanding Our Horizons” as we celebrate diversity, awareness, and empowerment for persons with differing abilities. Attend and enjoy: Live Music, Food Trucks, Movie Screenings, Panel Discussions, Art Displays, Resource Fair, Games, and Activities When: Tuesday, October 4th from 11am to 2pm Where: San José City Hall Rotunda & Plaza - 200 E. Santa Clara St. Information: Free - more information

Abilities Expo

Abilities Expo The Abilities Expo is the go-to source for the community of people with disabilities, their families, seniors, veterans, and healthcare professionals. This event offers new technologies, possibilities, solutions, and opportunities. Discover ability-enhancing products and services, play adaptive sports, learn new dance moves, and attend informative workshops. When: Friday, October 26th through Sunday, October 28th Where: San Mateo County Event Center Information: Free registration

Email questions, comments, or suggestions - Please email me if you have general questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the course. Thank you again for your interest.

Dave