|
|
|
ATLAS |
|
Assistive
Technology Laboratory at Stanford |
|
|
Technology
and design benefitting individuals with disabilities and older adults in the
local community |
February 24, 2017 |
|
|
|
|
Perspectives is the newsletter of the
Stanford course, Perspectives in Assistive
Technology.
This issue invites you
to attend Tuesday's field trip.
Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter
Quarter Stanford course - now starting its eleventh year - that explores
the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people
with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly classroom
discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and
assistive technology users; tours of local medical, clinical, and
engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; an
assistive technology faire; and a film screening. |
Next class
session - Tuesday, February 28th at 4:45pm at the Magical Bridge
Playground (Directions and
map):
|
Field Trip to the Magical
Bridge Playground Olenka
Villarreal Founder of the Magical
Bridge Playground |
Abstract: Of the thirty-four existing public
parks in Palo Alto today, not one has been built with everyones unique
physical and cognitive needs in mind. Most of the playground designs are
similar and do not reflect the many different types of people living in the
community - those with autism, visual and hearing impairments, cognitive
challenges, and even older adults. The urgent need to create a playground that
would surpass ADA standards was the drive behind the vision for a new kind of
playground - one designed for everyone. The $4 million needed to create such a
place was raised privately in less than two years. Created by a team of
inclusion experts and located in Palo Altos Mitchell Park, the
Magical Bridge Playground broke
ground in June 2014. Now that it is completed, it is the nation's most
innovative inclusive playground.
Biosketch: With an undergraduate degree from
Pomona College and MBA from Golden Gate University, Olenka Villarreal
spent 18 years working with start-up and technology companies in Silicon
Valley. When her second daughter was born with disabilities in 2003, she turned
her focus on improving the quality of life of those with disabilities. Olenka
serves on the Board of Directors for the Palo Alto Unified School District's
Community
Advisory Committee for Special Education, on
Life Services Alternatives in San Jose,
and is Vice President of Friends of
the Palo Alto Parks. In June 2014, Olenka was presented with the
prestigious Jefferson Service Award in recognition of her efforts to make the
Magical Bridge Playground a reality.
Attend a lecture -
Guest lectures 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. |
|
|
Did you miss a lecture? - Course
lectures are posted on YouTube. To find the links, browse to the
Lecture Schedule webpage, scroll down and click
on the lecture of interest. Near the bottom of the page you will see the
Lecture Material section which has links to the slides, photos, weblinks, and
lecture video. |
|
|
Solicitation for Mobility Projects for Older
Adults
A
capstone course is the academically integrative experience of an
undergraduate educational program that gives students an opportunity to
demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained during their time in
college. This experience helps prepare them for their engineering
careers.
ME113
- Mechanical Engineering Design - is a capstone course for seniors in
Mechanical Engineering at Stanford. In this course, students pursue on
"real-world" engineering problems offered by a company or other organization
(project partner).
Starting from a description of project goals provided by the project
partner, a student team of four seniors will develop a design concept and
explore its practical feasibility by fabricating and testing a series of
increasingly refined working models. Each project will supervised by a faculty
member using information and advice supplied by the project partner.
The
course will be conducted in the 10-week Spring Quarter from April through
mid-June.
One of
the themes this academic year is Mobility for Older Adults with a focus
on automobiles and driving.
At
this time, the course is soliciting problems or challenges that could be
addressed by a team of students.
The
best suggestions will be those that represent real problems experienced by an
individual with a disability or older adult in the local community that affects
their ability to drive or otherwise access transportation. Other suggestions
that broadly affect one's ability to walk or move are also welcome.
Please
email me your suggestions describing the problem and important features of what
a solution should do, but not how to achieve them. Thank you for your
consideration. |
|
|
Upcoming Local
Events
What is the Cool Product Expo (CPX)?
CPX is a one-day exhibition of cutting-edge
products organized by the Product Design and Manufacturing Club at Stanford's
Graduate School of Business. Every year exhibitors come to Stanford University
to demonstrate ground-breaking hardware, software, consumer tech, wearables,
thinkables, driveables - anything and everything one can imagine.
For
potential exhibitors: CPX is a unique opportunity for companies and
startups with cool products to interact with Stanford students and the
surrounding community of alumni, press, and investors. People you meet at this
event could end up being your teammates, customers, partners, or investors.
Here's the CPX website and a
video of CPX 2013 (3:16) to give you
an idea of what the event is like. If you are interested in applying to be an
exhibitor, please fill out this
online form. Exhibit space
is limited. If you have any questions, get in touch with
Carlotta Mathieu, VP of CPX
Exhibitor Coordination.
For
potential attendees: This event is free and open to the public. No advance
registration is required.
- When:
Wednesday, April 19th, Noon to 6pm
- Where:
Knight
Management Center
|
|
|
8th Annual Adaptive Arts Film Festival
This
event features local and international films by, for, and about individuals of
all abilities and is sponsored by the
College of Adaptive Arts Film
Festival as a part of its 9th Annual Celebration - Differing
Abilities.
The
Festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 23rd from 2 to 5pm at the
Bluelight Cinemas 5 Cupertino
Oaks, 21275 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino with a Meet-and-Greet
following the event at the nearby Hobee's Restaurant. |
|
|
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 - If you have general questions, comments, or
suggestions about the course, email
David L. Jaffe, MS, the instructor. Thank you again for your interest in
the course.
Dave
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please email
Dave. |
|