Assistive Technology Faire

Abstract: This event will provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of 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 to display, demonstrate, and discuss.

Vendors:

Visual Touch Therapy
Visual Touch Therapy - Eric Medine
Visual Touch Therapy is a software program and game platform that uses standard computer inputs, web-cams, and motion tracking devices as an affordable, at-home therapy regimen for people with difficulty using their motor skills, such as those with spinal cord injuries, head injuries, nerve damage, or stroke patients. It features conventional video game challenges that can be met by using repetitive movement exercises to provide a method of therapy that (unlike exercise) is constantly rewarding, and gives more immediate feedback than traditional methods. It also features a "patient dashboard" that allows users to track in-game achievements, high scores, and a ton of micro-rewards. This provides constant positive feedback and encouragement every time they use their therapy regimen.

Service Dog Training
Service Dog Tutor - Jean Cary and Service Dog Ranger
Service Dog Tutor adapts clients' own dogs to do specific service tasks for their owners. Clients include seniors and children who have mobility and balance challenges as well as cognitive disabilities.

Digital Accelerator Ring and the Main Hand Brake
Kempf - Martine Kempf
The Digital Accelerator Ring and the Main Hand Brake are hand controls that can be installed on most cars with automatic transmissions to allow a person who has lost the use of both legs to drive with both hands on the steering wheel.

Podna Rover
Podna Designs - Elaine Levin
The Podna Rover is an innovative all-terrain mobility device for individuals who need additional support to maintain balance or stability while walking. The device offers confidence to outdoor travelers over gravel, uneven surfaces, and inclines. It features compliant wheels, a self-centering frame, a suspension to soak up bumps, and self-locking brakes.

Magnifiers, Mobility Aids, Computer Hardware & Software
AT Exchange - Joe Escalante
The AT Exchange is a free service of the AT Network that connects Californians to the assistive technology devices they need to live independently. They provide new and used low and high-tech devices for people with disabilities to borrow.

Beyond Exoskeletons - Wearable Exosuit Technologies
SRI International - Roy Kornbluh
SRI is developing wearable "exosuits" that can augment the musculoskeletal system for performance and strength enhancement and assistance to overcome or prevent damage from injury or disease. SRI's exosuit differs from exoskeletons by using new muscle-like actuation, comfortable and soft skin attachment, and electronically releasable spring elements to minimize mass, bulk, and noise. As part of DARPA's Warrior Web program, the technology is being applied to prevent and reduce musculoskeletal injuries caused by dynamic events typically found in the warfighter’s environment. We are exploring other military applications and beginning to use the technologies to assist individuals with musculoskeletal disease.

Eyefluence’s Eye-interaction Platform
Eyefluence - Peter Milford
Eyefluence’s eye-interaction platform provides technology that can be integrated into any head mounted device to realize the potential for wearable computing by connecting your brain to the internet through your eyes. Head-mounted displays equipped with Eyefluence's eye-interaction technology have the potential to expand human intelligence, enhance social interaction, and revolutionize entertainment.

PEAT
BrainAid - Richard Levinson & Sandy Gabrielli
PEAT helps individuals with executive function disorders complete more real-world tasks, improving their quality of life and independence. It is an smartphone or tablet application that provides cueing and scheduling assistance for individuals with memory, attention, and cognitive disorders. PEAT users include individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke, hypoxia, neurodegenerative conditions including Autism, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). PEAT employs NASA technology developed to provide executive functions for autonomous rovers and is currently being used by veterans at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

Whill Wheelchair
Whill, Inc. - Satashi Sugie
The Whill is an omnidirectional four-wheel-drive mobility device meant to give wheelchair users a sleek alternative to standard chairs, which many believe reinforce stereotypes of weakness or helplessness.

RoScooter and Rota Wheel
RotaMobility - Chris Bayne and Daphne Bayne
RotaMobility creates innovative wheelchairs that users “row” - driving users to better health and wellbeing. The RoScooter is a manual lever propelled, geared scooter that provides exercise while traveling at moderate speeds. The Rota Wheel is a lever propelled add-on that attaches to the user's manual wheelchair to provide steering and propulsion using the same mechanism as the RoScooter.

• Tuesday, February 24th - Tour of Motion & Gait Analysis Lab
• Thursday, February 26th - Aesthetics Matter in Assistive Technologies & From Idea to Market: Eatwell, Assistive Tableware for Persons with Cognitive Impairments
• Tuesday, March 3rd - Movie Screenings - Stumped & Fixed: The Science / Fiction of Human Enhancement

Do you have a question or comment? - If you have general questions, comments, or suggestions about the course, David L. Jaffe, MS, the instructor, can be reached by email or at 650/892-4464. Thank you again for your interest.

Dave