Perspectives is the newsletter of the
Stanford course,
This course relies on community involvement, Introduction to Student Projects Previous newsletters described the benefits of student projects and the project suggestion submission process. This issues addresses the requirements for those project suggestions. 
Project Requirements What are the project requirements? - When considering a project suggestion, keep in mind these broad requirements: Deliverable: Project suggestions must involve the design and fabrication of a device (or the development of software) that addresses problems or challenges experienced by older adults, individuals with a disability, or those who care for them, including family members, therapists, and other health care professionals. Non-engineering issues such as health care insurance, legislation, medications, and policy can not be pursued. Creativity: In pursuit of their projects, student teams are required to fully understand the problem, search for existing products, judge the need, brainstorm concepts, choose a design (or designs), and fabricate, test, analyze, and report on their creative solution. Originality: Student teams' designs must not be a copy of an existing commercial product (as confirmed by an internet search) or a physical representation of another's design concept. Feasibility: Projects' aims and specifications should be realistic. Project solutions that can only be achieved by employing magic, violating the laws of physics, defying gravity, creating a perpetual motion machine, employing materials or technology that do not exist, or disrupting the space-time continuum are examples of infeasible projects. Constraint: The project's overall design and required operational features must be achievable. Repair: The project must not simply consist of the repair / update / improvement of an existing device or product. Suitability: Unsuitable project suggestions include those involving advertising, engaging in market or data analysis or research, performing surveys, creating websites, compiling databases, or pursuing long-term studies. Overlap: Project suggestions must focus on real problems that are inadequately addressed by commercial products and could include diagnostic and rehabilitation therapy equipment as well as personal devices. Projects that assist family members or health care professionals in caring for individuals with disabilities and older adults are also welcome. Scale and Complexity: Project suggestions must be of appropriate scale and complexity to be completed (design, fabrication, and testing of a functional prototype) in one academic quarter (about 8 weeks). Size: Project solutions must be of an appropriate physical scale. The prototype should fit on a desktop as there is insufficient space on campus to work on larger items such as cars. Availability: For project suggestions that involve modifying an existing assistive technology device like a wheelchair, a sample device must be made available to a student team. Size: Project solutions must be of an appropriate physical scale. The prototype should fit on a desktop as there is insufficient space on campus to work on larger items such as cars. Work Location: A majority of the project fabrication effort should occur on campus rather than in the residence of the older adult or person with a disability. Expertise: Project suggestions must be compatible with the skill level and expertise of students in the course who typically have mechanical engineering backgrounds, although some may have product design, electrical engineering, computer hardware, and/or software experience. Cost: Estimated parts and fabrications costs must be modest - no more than a few hundred dollars. Lower Cost: Fabricating a ready-to-be-manufactured, lower cost version of an existing product is not a suitable project goal as a student team's final prototype is a very long way from becoming a potential commercial product and parts typically represent a fraction of a product's retail price. Proprietary: Project solutions must not require access to or modification of proprietary software, such as adding functions to a cellphone. Participation: An older adult, a person with a disability, a family member of a person with a disability, or a health care professional 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. Risk: Project prototypes must not pose any risk of harm to the user or student team. The device must also be minimally invasive and must not provide physical therapy or cause changes in physical anatomy (without the consent of the instructor and presence of a therapist or physician). Damage or Modification: Project work must not damage or alter any Stanford or private property. Examples of prohibited activities include drilling into walls, rewiring the installed infrastructure, home improvements, and vehicle modifications. Duplication: Project suggestions should not be a duplication of a candidate project already described in the current candidate project list. Support: Project suggestions supported by a monetary gift to the course will be given preference. See Call for Project Support. Microsoft Research Study on Accessible Virtual Reality "Microsoft Research is exploring how to improve the accessibility of virtual reality systems for people who experience tremor, muscle weakness, fatigue, limited mobility in their hands, arms or legs, people with missing fingers or limbs, and people with conditions that impact motor abilities such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or stroke." "As part of this effort, we are conducting an interview study with adults to learn about their thoughts on, and experiences with, virtual reality systems. Prior experience with virtual reality is not required. The study will be conducted for two weeks spanning August 26th to September 6th and will last approximately 90 minutes. Participants will receive a $75 Amazon gift card for their participation. Interviews can be conducted over Skype, Zoom, or another video conference platform. If you live in the Seattle, Washington area, we can conduct the interview at our research lab in Redmond. Up to $50 can be added to the gift card (if needed) to reimburse for transportation expenses to get to our Redmond offices. Participation is confidential; all data from our study will be anonymized. If there are any questions, please contact the lead researcher, Martez Mott." Eligibility Criteria:
Other Support the course - Funding in any amount for the course and student projects is always welcomed. Monetary gifts support approved project expenses, administrative costs, honoraria for guest lecturers, and the end-of-term celebration. Refer to the Course and Project Support webpage for more information. 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
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