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Design, Technology , and Engineering benefitting individuals with disabilities and older adults in the local community
 September 27, 2024    
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Perspectives is the newsletter of the Stanford course,
Perspectives in Assistive Technology.

Early Fall Update

This newsletter issue introduces Guest Lecturers
and describes current course organization activities.

Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - embarking on its nineteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly in-person discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; a tour of an accessible inclusive playground; student project presentations and demonstrations; and an Assistive Technology Faire. Students pursue team-based projects that address real challenges faced by people with disabilities and older adults living in the local community. Check out the course website.

Early Fall Update

Stanford Fall foliage

Early Fall Greetings to members of the Stanford's Assistive Technology course community,

Course Plans

Plan image

Important Dates:

  • Monday, December 2nd - Deadline for student team project suggestions
  • Thursday, December 5th - Winter Quarter course enrollment opens
  • Tuesday, January 7th - First class session of Perspectives in Assistive Technology

Current Instructor Tasks:

  • Investigate and select color scheme for the 2025 course website - completed
  • Update 2024 course website for 2025 - in progress
  • Solicit, review, approve, and post student team project suggestions - in progress (see below)
  • Check on availability of Guest Lecturers - completed
  • Schedule Guest Lecturers - in progress

By the Numbers:

  • 12 = Guest Lecturers anticipated
  • 14 = Confirmed Team Projects (5 new & 9 renewed)
  • 22 = Prospective Students
  •   2 = Course Assistants hired

Community Attendance - Community members are welcome to attend class sessions on campus, enrollment is not required. There will not be a Zoom participation option.

Confirmed Guest Lecturers and Draft Presentation Titles

Gayle Curtis Returning Guest Lecturer - Tue, Jan 14th
Creating Assistive Technologies - Understanding the Problem
Debbie Kenney Returning Guest Lecturer - Thu, Jan 16th - to be confirmed
Bridging the Gap between Consumers and Products in Rehabilitation Medicine
Ralf Hotchkiss Returning Guest Lecturer - Thu, Mar 6th
Wheelchair Fabrication in Developing Countries
Olenka Villarreal Field Trip Host - to be scheduled
Field Trip to Magical Bridge Playground
Katherine Strausser Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Exoskeletons in Rehabilitation and Industry
Gary Berke Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Issues of Human Interface Design
Monroe Kennedy Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Assistive Robotics
Lindsey Felt Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Bionic Ears: Cochlear Implants and the Future of Assistive Technology
Peter Axelson Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Designing Beyond the Norm to Meet the Needs of All People
Sha Yao Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
From Idea to Market: Eatwell, Assistive Tableware for Persons with Cognitive Impairments
Erin Michelle Kunz Returning Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
Brain-Computer Interfaces for Communication
Steve Cousins New Guest Lecturer - to be scheduled
PR2 Robot Interface for Henry Evans

Student Project Solicitations

In preparation for the upcoming Winter Quarter course offering, I would like to continue to solicit projects suggestions from community members. Here are some important project criteria to consider:

  1. Team project suggestions must address a real challenge experienced by an individual with a disability or older adult who lives in the local community. The challenge, problem, or struggle must be one that is not adequately served by existing commercial products. (Perform an internet search to verify this.) It is important to identify and describe the challenge rather than imagine a solution.
  2. The scale and complexity of the project must be such that it could be pursued by a team of three students in the 10-week quarter, resulting in a fabricated functional prototype.
  3. Refer to Project Requirements webpage for more detailed information.
  4. Several new projects have already been submitted and approved. Their tentative titles are:
    • Laptop Storage for Abby
    • Laptray Artwork Easel for Abby
    • Water Bottle Opener for Danny
    • Obstacle Detector for Danny
  5. Please submit a very brief description of suggested projects for review and approval.
  6. Below is an example suitable project suggestion designed to guide your project suggestion thinking:

Example Project Suggestion

Title:

Improved Pooper Scooper
Background:

The intended user is an older adult who relies on her powered wheelchair and service dog for mobility.
Problem:

Current products are bulky, difficult to operate, and are not designed for wheelchair users.
Aim:

Explore designs for a device that will allow a wheelchair user to effectively clean up after their service dog while remaining active in their community.
Design Criteria:

Compact to facilitate storage
Aesthetic design
Easy to retrieve and store
Integrated waste disposal bag
Easy to dispose bag
Easy to clean

Examples of reacher products for inspiration:

Examples of pooper scooper products that are too bulky:

Please contact me with your ideas, questions, comments, and project suggestions - or just to say hello. Please continue to stay safe & healthy.

Dave Jaffe - Course Instructor

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