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

Motion & Gait Analysis

This issue invites you to attend the next class session,
encourages your participation in the course's Assistive Technology Faire,
and announces three local events.

Next class session - Tuesday, February 20th at 4:30pm:

Abstract: Clinical gait analysis is now the standard-of-care for diagnosis and treatment of walking disorders in children with cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular conditions. Gait analysis includes 3D motion capture of kinematics (joint motion) and kinetics (joint forces), as well as electromyography (EMG) for muscle activity during gait. New computer simulations are used to clarify the musculoskeletal components of gait abnormalities. The kinematic, kinetic, and EMG data are interpreted along with energy cost of walking and with postural balance measures to determine risk of falls and to avoid unpredictable surgical outcomes. The gait analysis is reviewed to determine an optimal treatment plan by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians that includes physical therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, physiologists, engineers, and orthotists. This lecture will introduce students to clinical gait analysis and to a new, developing assistive technology that utilizes functional electrical stimulation (FES) for artificial walking: FES-assisted gait for children with cerebral palsy.

Biosketch: Dr. Jessica Rose is reseaching the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal mechanisms underlying gait abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and other pediatric orthopaedic conditions. As a Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedics in the School of Medicine and Director of the Motion & Gait Analysis Laboratory at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, her research has focused on the energy cost of walking, muscle pathology, selective motor control, postural balance, and motor-unit firing in CP.

Attend a lecture - The schedule of guest lectures has been finalized. Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:50pm and are open to the greater Stanford community. You are most welcome to sit in on any class sessions that interest you. You need not be a Stanford student and there is no required signup, enrollment, or charge. The class will meet in a large, tiered, accessible classroom on campus in the Thornton Center, adjacent to the Terman Fountain and near the Roble Gym, the same venue as last year. Here are the parking options, maps, and directions to the classroom.

You are invited to participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This sixth annual course event 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 bring assistive technology devices and information to display, demonstrate, and discuss. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage and contact me if you would like to be a part of this event as a user or vendor of assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the faire. The Faire will start at 4:30pm on Thursday, March 1st just outside the classroom, Thornton 110. Here are Dave's and Arne's photos from last year's Faire.

Upcoming class sessions:

Thursday, February 22nd Field Trip to VA Palo Alto Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Services Tuesday, February 27th Bionic Ears: Cochlear Implants and the Future of Assistive Technology Thursday, March 1st Assistive Technology Faire

Upcoming Local Events

Start-Up Nation's Technology Fair Power2ACT, Stanford's open forum for students with and without disabilities (including invisible disabilities) is co-sponsoring Start-Up Nation's Technology Fair at Stanford. Two assistive technology companies will be participating: OrCam: "OrCam’s mission is to harness the power of artificial vision by incorporating pioneering technology into a wearable platform which improves the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, and have reading difficulties." ReWalk: "ReWalk is a wearable robotic exoskeleton that provides powered hip and knee motion to enable individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to stand upright, walk, turn, and climb and descend stairs". ReWalk is the first exoskeleton to receive FDA clearance for personal and rehabilitation use in the country. When: Tuesday, February 20th from 6:00 to 9:00pm Where: Tresidder Oak Lounge, Stanford Admission: Free! Walk-ins welcome!

Center on Longevity Design Challenge Finals Come for a day of exciting pitches by student teams from across the globe as they present their ideas for "Promoting Lifelong Healthy Habits through Design!" The Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge offers cash prizes and free entrepreneur mentorship in a competition open to all university students around the world who want to design products and services which optimize long life for us all. When: Tuesday, April 17th from 8:30am to 4:00pm Where: Paul Brest Hall, 555 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford Admission: Register for free

Stanford GSB Cool Product Expo "The Cool Product Expo is an annual exposition of the most innovative products from Silicon Valley and beyond. Every year exhibitors come to Stanford GSB to demonstrate groundbreaking hardware, software, consumer tech, wearables, thinkables, driveables - anything and everything you can imagine." When: Wednesday, April 18th from 3:00 to 4:00pm Where: Knight Management Center, Town Square, Graduate School of Business, Stanford Admission: Free and open to the public

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 Team 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