Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its fifteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly online discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; virtual tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; and a Virtual Assistive Technology Faire.

Student enrollment - Stanford students can begin enrolling in Winter Quarter courses on Sunday, December 6th.

Last call for student project suggestions - If you eagerly anticipate approaching deadlines, this is your time - the last call for student project suggestions!

Your project suggestions should target challenges including performing tasks such as working, learning, moving, communicating, accessing home products (including computers), and daily living activities such as cooking, cleaning, creative expression, and pursuing happiness. Project suggestions that explore design concepts that improve diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation are also welcomed. Refer to the Call for Project Suggestions webpage.

At the minimum, submit a one-sentence description of the problem. The most important requirements are: 1) the availability of a local person with a disability or older adult who would benefit and work with the student team, 2) no risk of harm or injury to the user, 3) a suitable solution isn't already commercially available, and 4) the suggested project must be of an appropriate scale, size, and complexity. Here is the entire list of requirements.

Please submit your suggestions this week or next so I'll have adequate time to consider all submissions, edit approved entries, and post them. The deadline is Tuesday, December 15th. If your project is accepted, you can "pitch" it to the class on Thursday, January 9th. If a student team selects it, you will then have the opportunity to offer them advice, direction, and expertise in person, by phone, and/or by email.

Your contributions and participation will be much appreciated by me and the students who will enrolled in the course.

Attend upcoming Zoom class sessions - Although official enrollment is required for Stanford students to receive academic credit, all the Zoom class sessions will be open to the community. You need not be a Stanford student to attend, there is no signup required, and there is no charge. The first lecture will be on Tuesday, January 12th. Zoom connection information will be posted in future newsletter issues.

You are invited to participate in the Virtual Assistive Technology Faire - This ninth annual course event is scheduled for Thursday, February 25th and will provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of assistive technology devices and learn about available services. Users of assistive technology products as well as small companies and agencies serving individuals with disabilities and older adults are encouraged to join in on this virtual event. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage for more information and contact me to register. Each vendor will have 5 to 10 minutes of unopposed Zoom time to display, demonstrate, and discuss their assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the Faire.

Here is the line up and slides from last year's Faire.

NEXT Village SF - Opportunities for Participation in Stanford's Assistive Technology Course
Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Stanford course that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. Online class sessions will start in January and will feature a series of guest lecturers presenting on topics from prosthetics and virtual reality to product commercialization and adapted sports. This year individual students will pursue a variety of projects including researching assisitive technology topics and designing prototypes that address a challenge experienced by real people with disabilities and older adults.

In this presentation the course instructor, David L. Jaffe, will describe the course, preview the lecture schedule, and highlight projects from the past two years. In addition, Abby Tamara will provide her perspective as she worked with students on many of these projects. Finally, Dave will invite your participation in class sessions and solicit your suggestions for student projects. Individuals who suggest suitable projects will be able to provide valuable input and insight to Stanford students.

The organization hosting this Zoom event, NEXT Village SF, is a community of neighbors aged 60+ and volunteers of all ages living or working in the north and east sections of San Francisco to provide services, support, and events that empower people in northeast SF to live independently in their own homes as they age. Learn how you can get involved on their website.

Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility for people with visual impairements.

Leaders from OrCam, Waymo, Amazon, Microsoft, and technologists Glen Gordon, the original architect of JAWS, and Bryan Bashin, CEO of Lighthouse will be speaking at the event. Listen to these visionaries discuss the future of accessibility technology and ask them questions during the Q&A sessions.

All proceeds from the event will go to The Vista Center, a 75-year-old non-profit dedicated to helping Silicon Valley's visually impaired population. The event will be held in partnership with TechCrunch and Verizon Media.