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

Film Screening - 4 Wheel Bob

This issue invites you to attend a film screening
and announces two upcoming local events.

Next class session - Tuesday, March 6th at 4:30pm in the atrium of the Peterson Building - please RSVP if you plan to attend to ensure adequate chairs and popcorn

Abstract: Bob Coomber, an intrepid adventurer, sets out to be the first wheelchair hiker to cross the 11,845-foot Kearsarge Pass in the Sierra Nevada. This story of overcoming immense obstacles will inspire us to look at our own self-imposed limitations and perhaps reach beyond what we think is possible.

Kearsarge Pass is a classic high approach into the Eastern Sierra, ten miles north of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower forty-eight states. The famously steep and prolonged trail to the pass unfolds with Kings Canyon National Park providing the dramatic backdrop. For Bob in his wheelchair, this adventure is fraught with danger. He must deal continually with altitude sickness and the threat of diabetic coma, not to mention possible fatal or crippling falls in the steep terrain. The path is often blocked with shattered granite, and Bob must turn his wheelchair backward in order to push uphill using only his arms. Going downhill has its own hazards; the trail is narrow, and his wheels often skid on the loose rock. We gain an intimate, foot-by-foot familiarity with Bob’s herculean effort and with some of the most perilous sections of the famous trail.

Away from the Sierra, Bob is an advocate for the disabled in his beloved Northern California. He takes groups from the wheelchair-bound community as well as war veterans on local hikes, teaching about ecology, animal and plant life, and ways to navigate in the wilderness.

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.

Remaining class sessions:

Thursday, March 8th Wheelchair Fabrication in Developing Countries Tuesday, March 13th Student Team Project Final Presentations Thursday, March 15th Student Team Project Demonstrations, Course Evaluation, and Celebration

Upcoming Local Events

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