Winter Quarter 2012

ENGR110/210
 Perspectives in Assistive Technology 

David L. Jaffe, MS and Professor Drew Nelson
Tuesdays & Thursdays   4:15pm - 5:30pm
Building 530 - Classroom 127

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2012 Candidate Team Projects


Projects suggested this year

Projects suggested in past years

Other projects


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Projects suggested by Parents Helping Parents

1. Babble Helper

Problem: Babbling is an important stage in child development during which an infant is experimenting with uttering the sounds of language before producing any recognizable words. Children born with profound speech impairments do not have a chance to experiment with the sounds of language through babbling. A chance to babble through non-speech means may help young non-speaking children develop better language, literacy, and social interaction skills.

Aim: Create a babbling device that can be controlled by young children with profound speech disorders.

Design Criteria:
  • The project must take into account that children with profound speech disorders also frequently have other significant motor impairments, so the design must be accessible to users with very limited fine motor control.
  • The design must be portable and reasonably durable to withstand messy hands and occasional falls.
  • The design must allow the child to spontaneously create a variety of non-speech syllable strings.
Links:
Baby Babble Blanket

2. Word Imitator

Problem: In the process of language acquisition, children enjoy imitating and playing with words that they hear in their environment, even when they do not know what these words mean. Children born with profound speech impairments do not have a chance to experiment with the sounds of language through non-meaningful imitation. A chance to immediately imitate and play with any language they hear (e.g. by saying it in a different voice, or very slowly, or by moving the syllables around) may help young non-speaking children develop better language, literacy, and social interaction skills.

Aim: Create a device that will allow young children with profound speech disorders to immediately repeat and manipulate (such as change speed or pitch) a word or phrase that they hear in their environment.

Design Criteria:

  • The project must take into account that children with profound speech disorders also frequently have other significant motor impairments, so the design must be accessible to users with very limited fine motor control.
  • The design must be portable and reasonably durable to withstand messy hands and occasional falls.
Project Contact:
Elena Dukhovny, MA, CCC-SLP
Parents Helping Parents
elena -at- php.com
Links:
Parents Helping Parents - San Jose

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Customize the Wheelchair Project

US Market Size Background:

  • About 2 million manual wheelchairs are in use today.
  • 60% of manual wheelchairs (1.2 million) are used by individuals 65 and older.
  • Wheelchair use by individuals 65 and older is five times greater than the entire population.
  • The number of citizens 65 and older is expected to grow from 40 million in 2010 to 55 million in 2020, requiring an additional 450,000 manual wheelchairs.
  • 80 million baby boomers started turning 65 this year (10,000 a day).

Problem: Individuals who use wheelchairs have little opportunity to extend their personal sense of fashion and aesthetics to these devices. This is exacerbated by the fact that the equipment covered by health insurance or Medicare is often the most "basic" version with a plain design. Whereas one's choice of clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry are made on a daily basis, users of wheelchairs have to "wear" the same equipment everyday and for every occasion.

Aim: Explore ways to add a personal aesthetic to wheelchairs.

Design Criteria:

  • The design should not alter or permanently deface or damage the physical structure of the wheelchair.
  • The customization should be able to easily be installed, removed, changed, cleaned, and washed by the user.
  • The design should work on a number of popular / standard wheelchairs covered by insurance and Medicare.
  • Consider different user personas and aesthetics (e.g. refined / elegant, modern / contemporary, smart / sporty, premium / luxury, male / female, as well as the age of user, etc).
  • Consider fabrics, metal finishes, color, patterns, light, texture, and text elements.
  • Consider a variety of usage occasions (e.g. in-home, outdoors, party, tailgater, etc).
  • The design should be inexpensive and easy to fabricate.
  • Also consider designs that would enhance wheelchair visibility while crossing streets.
Project Contacts:
Jennifer Smith - San Francisco
jennifer.dare.smith -at- gmail.com

Marsha Maruyama, PT
Juana Briones Medical Therapy Unit
marsha.maruyama -at- phd.sccgov.org

Deane Denney - Palo Alto VA Health Care System - Spinal Cord Injury Center
denney -at- va51.stanford.edu
Links:
Design Flair for the Least-Stylish Devices
Icon Wheelchairs

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Dog Leash Project

Problem: Wheelchair users who walk their pet dogs need their hands to both control their pets and propel their wheelchairs. A leash that is simply tied to the wheelchair can get caught under the wheels. And a strong dog may be able to tip the owner's wheelchair.

Aim: Explore designs for a dog leash system that will be easy for users to attach to their wheelchairs independently, prevent the leash from being caught under the wheelchair, and avoid being tipped over by a strong dog.

Design Criteria: The improved leash design can employ commercially available components, but must be simple in design, lightweight, easy to attach by pet owners with limited hand movement, provide a reliable release, and be inexpensive to fabricate.

Project Contacts:
Deborah Davis - Miami
abildavis -at- aol.com

Deane Denney - Palo Alto VA Health Care System - Spinal Cord Injury Center
denney -at- va51.stanford.edu
Links:
Deborah's video pitch
Push Living
Wheelchair Leash Hook and Custom Lead
Petego Walky Dog Hands-Free Bicycle Leash

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Adjustable Seating System Project

Problem: Liz Hamil is a Stanford graduate and an author from San Jose who has written several books about traveling with a hidden disability and chronic illness. She experiences moderate to severe chronic pelvic pain and associated chronic lower back pain. In many of her travels - at professional conferences, in airports and train stations, while camping, and while sightseeing - comfortable seating is not readily available.

Aim: Explore lightweight, portable, adjustable seating solutions for Liz.

Design Criteria: The ideal prototype should have a seat back that is adjustable down to about 145 degrees, have a footrest, fold to fit into a large suitcase or an airplane overhead bin, weigh less than 5 pounds, support users up to 250 pounds, and maintain stability on uneven ground, including a sandy beach.

Project Contact:
Liz Hamil
lizscott04 -at- gmail.com
Links:
Liz's books
Liz's blog

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Projects suggested by Henry Evans

1. Electric Scoop Bowl

Problem: Scoop bowls are ubiquitous - they are normal plates with one high side so people can scoop food onto a spoon. The problem is that food gets pushed out of reach after a few attempts.

Aim: Explore solutions that would bring the food back to where the user could reach it.

Specification: The design should be sturdy and dishwasher safe.

2. Wireless Treat Dispenser

Problem: Many people with disabilities (not just blind) use highly trained service dogs or monkeys. Some individuals with disabilities are not able to reward their service animal's behavior with treats.

Aim: Explore a design for a simple wireless treat dispenser that it would operate by a switch or a wireless signal.

Project Contact:
Henry Evans
hevans1000 -at- gmail.com
Links:
Henry's Blog
Stroke AAC Success Story (video)
Article: Why AAC?
Scoop Bowls
X10 Products

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Friendly Cane Project

Problem: As the population grows older, more seniors need canes for balance and support. Current canes may be heavy, awkward to stow when they are not being used, and clumsy to use when both hands are needed - such as when carrying something.

Aim: Explore designs for a light weight cane that can accommodate the weight of its user and easily retract and extend with one hand.

Design Criteria: The design must be attractive and not look merely utilitarian.

Project Contacts:
Don Frank
nodknarf -at- hotmail.com
Rosenna Yau
rosenna.yau -at- stanford.edu
Links:

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Projects suggested by Medinnov

Background: Medinnovo LLC is a medical innovation consulting company whose mission is to help organizations deliver new medical technologies into patient care.

Medinnovo was founded on the belief that technology will continue to have a growing role in helping redefine the way health care is seen today. The next wave of innovation, particularly with the convergence of wireless communications technology and health care, will provide effective, life-improving solutions that empower patients to a better quality of life.

In the medical tech field, opportunities abound for innovators who have the insight to identify real medical needs, and the ingenuity to generate problem-solving ideas. Delivering innovation in patient care, however, is a challenging process: technology, regulatory, and marketing forces are simultaneously involved in this process, and the understanding of their interplay is crucial to the success of organizations that want to make a positive impact in health care. Medinnovo helps companies deliver new medical technologies into patient care by offering consulting services in these key areas.

1. Virtual Community Project

Problem: For elderly people, hobbies are an important occupation for self-development and recreation, and are known to aid mental health. Music, reading, walking, playing golf, and collecting are common activities to spend time, either alone or with equally interested people. However, attending to these hobbies can be challenging for seniors with physical limitations and disabilities. The result is increased loneliness and segregation, which can negatively affect mental health.

Aim: The aim of this project is to explore and design an application or virtual community of elderly persons with same or similar interests. With broadband access to the internet, one has access not only emailing or chatting - online gaming and gambling are also be possible. A virtual community approach may help seniors maintain their hobbies, find new ones, and - most importantly - learn, engage, and to do so with their peers.

Design Criteria: The design must be easy to setup and use, affordable, and appeal to an older population of users (i.e. "playing cards" and "classic music" are preferable to "playing soccer" and "pop music"). It is very important for seniors to have control of their role in the community and to feel safe in using it. In addition, their privacy should be respected.

2. Elderly Drivers at the Wheel Project

Problem: For elderly people, a decrease in physical capabilities causes a lack of mobility. Not only walking can become difficult, but also driving. Typical changes that can diminish the abilities of elderly drivers are a slowdown in response time, a loss of clarity in vision and hearing, a loss of muscle strength and flexibility, drowsiness due to medications, and a reduction in the ability to focus or concentrate. Not only is the safety of elderly drivers at risk, but also that of other drivers and of pedestrians. Yet driving is essential, especially in rural areas where there is no access to public transportation.

Aim: The goal of this project is to research and create devices that are capable of restoring the ability and/or increasing the safety of elderly drivers. These assistive devices may be integrated with the car or used as an adjunct by the driver.

Design Criteria: The device must be easy to setup and use, affordable, and work with most automotive makes and models.

Links:
Senior Driving
Adaptive Driving Aids For Your Car

3. Household Tasks Project

Problem: Elderly people often find it difficult to perform everyday household tasks such as hanging curtains, fixing household devices, cleaning windows, ironing, and making the bed.

Aim: The goal is to explore and create devices that are capable of restoring the ability of elderly people to attend to daily household tasks, especially the most basic ones such as making the bed and ironing.

Design Criteria: The design should be intuitive and safe to use, highly reliable, lightweight, and easy to handle, clean, and store.

Project Contact:
Marta Gaia Zanchi, PhD - Principal Consultant
Medinnovo LLC
650/815-1160
mgzanchi -at- medinnovo.com

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Sailboat Seating Project

Background: Sailing is a competition sport as well as a therapeutic and recreational activity enjoyed by people everywhere. Access Dinghies are small sailboats that have been designed to accommodate the needs of a broad range of people who would like to participate in sailing including: individuals with moderate to severe disabilities, older adults, girls and women, young children, and those who are socially or economically disadvantaged or belong to an ethnic minority group.

Problem: Access Dinghy sailors who have a spinal cord injury have special seating requirements that include the need to both securely support their upper body as well as to provide sufficient freedom of movement to efficiently operate their sailboat.

The current seating system is hard, slippery, too wide at the hips, and positions the sailor in a reclined position which makes it difficult to reach forward to operate the sail rigging.

Aim: Explore a seating design for a sailor with quadriplegia that is adjustable, comfortable, functional, and secure.

Design Criteria: The seat itself should include an appropriate cushion, address the deficiencies of the current design, and be compact, foldable, and removable for storage and shipping.

Project Contact:
Fernanda Castelo
lizzenu -at- aol.com
Links:
Access Dinghy Foundation
Kathi Pugh sailing solo in McCovey Cove with Bay Area Association of Disabled sailors - :34 - YouTube video
Beneficial Designs' Canoe Seating System

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Projects suggested by LeVaunt

Background: LeVaunt, LLC is a private company investigating the market demands for seniors who wish to "age-in-place". The purpose of the investigation is to identify product opportunities and collaborate with research institutions, product development organizations, product design organizations, manufacturers, and distribution organizations to serve unmet needs of seniors who have disabilities or limitations that have a negative effect on their quality of life.

In a survey published by AARP Research and Strategic Analysis Healthy@Home 2.0 in April of 2011 89% of those over 50 years old strongly agreed with statement, "What I'd really like to do is to continue living on my own for as long as possible."

The potential market for quality-of-life enhancement among Americans 55 years of age or older is huge: 3 of 10 such Americans have difficulty stooping or bending, 1 of 10 has difficulty reaching or grasping, 15% have difficulty carrying 10 lb (4.5 kg), nearly one third have some hearing impairment, one fifth have lost all their natural teeth, and 1 of 4 has difficulty walking a quarter of a mile (0.4 km).

In the US there are 111 million households (2006) with 23% of households containing one or more individuals 64 years or older and 70% of population lives in single family homes (2001). Almost 22 million households are headed by older persons (2003) where 80% were owners and 20% were renters. Thirteen percent of the US population is between 65 and 74 years old. Forty-four percent of people who are older than 74 years have limitations due to one or more chronic conditions. The most frequently occurring conditions of elderly (2002-2003) were: hypertension (51%), diagnosed arthritis (48%), all types of heart disease (31%), any cancer (21%), diabetes (16.0%), and sinusitis (14%). In addition 22 million over the age of 65 reported physical difficulties including 14 million with difficulty walking ¼ mile and 11.5 million with difficulty climbing 10 steps while 1.7 to 2.3 million used wheeled mobility devices and 6.1 million use assistive devices such as canes, crutches, or walkers.

More background statistics

1. Flat House Project

Problem: Most housing in the US has one or more steps that must be negotiated for various activities of daily living. In order for seniors to remain in their current housing (as they desire), they must be able to negotiate steps or the steps must be eliminated. (Other than elevators and stair climbers, no product is known to currently meet this need.)

Aim: The aim of this project is to explore and design a solution that can be retrofitted to current housing for the outdoor step problem (entering and leaving a house), the indoor one step up or down on a single floor, and the multi-step problem of stairs.

Design Criteria: The design must be aesthetically pleasing, easy and safe to use, quiet in operation, conserve space, and economical. (Tradeoffs may be necessary in terms of economics, quiet operation, or space conservation but not in aesthetics, ease of use, or safety.)

2. Shower / Bathtub / Sink / Toilet Cleaning Project

Problem: In order for seniors to remain in their current housing (as they desire), they must be able to independently maintain the cleanliness of their house, including its shower, bathtub, sink, and toilet. While there are numerous cleaning products on the market, none adequately addresses the problem. [What are some of their limitations?]

Aim: The aim of this project is to explore and design a solution for the shower / bathtub / sink / toilet cleaning problem for a senior who experiences some or all of the disabilities listed.

Design Criteria: The design(s) must be economical, aesthetically pleasing, easy and safe to use while performing the cleaning task. The design will depend on the user's abilities.

Project Contact:
Jack W. Moorman - CEO
LeVaunt, LLC
jack.moorman -at- gmail.com
Link:
Healthy@Home 2.0 (April 2011)

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Accessible Restaurant Menu Project

Problem: People who have low vision, are blind, have trouble reading, or cannot read may have trouble ordering food off of restaurant menus. Many restaurants have neither Braille menus nor menus accessible online. Often the Braille menus that restaurants do have are out-of-date with either the food items or prices. Those restaurants that have online menus often employ PDF files, which are not accessible by most electronic Braille note taking devices.

Aim: Create an accessible database of restaurant menus that can be accessed via a website or a mobile application.

Project Contact:
Nicole B. Torcolini

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Piano Pedal Project

Problem: Zack is a student at Menlo Atherton High School who enjoys playing his Yamaha electronic keyboard. However, due to his paralysis, he cannot operate the foot pedal, so the sound isn't right.

Aim: Explore designs that would enable Zack to operate the sustain foot pedal.

Design Criteria: The solution should be intuitive and easy to use and should not physically damage the keyboard.

Project Contact:
Zack Wentz
zackwentz -at- gmail.com
Links:
Is there anything I can do? - Menlo Park Almanac - 04/01/2009 - page 7
Family blog
Paralyzed pianist needs alternative sustain pedal for P-80 digital piano
Advantage to the handicapped

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Rain Protector Project

Problem: Aubrie is a Stanford student who uses a scooter to get around campus. She has trouble with the physical effort of holding an umbrella.

Aim: Explore solutions to provide rain protection for her.

Design Criteria: The design must be easy to deploy and retract, requiring low effort.

Project Contact:
Aubrie Lee
aubrie -at- stanford.edu
Links:

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Projects suggested by Benetech

Background: Benetech is a technology nonprofit organization which serves humanity by developing software solutions for unmet needs in the areas of Human Rights, the Environment, and Literacy.

1. Image Analysis and Classification

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a mechanism to analyze and classify images from textbooks so that they can be more efficiently described for students who have print disabilities.

Problem: Given the very visual content of textbooks today, students with print disabilities (such as visual impairments, cognitive or motor disabilities) are at a significant disadvantage if they cannot access the information content of the graphical elements of a textbook. This work is part of a broader program (DIAGRAM Center) to dramatically change the way image and graphic content for accessible instructional materials (AIM) is produced and accessed.

Aim: The goal is to develop an application which can analyze graphical images and determine what types of image they are (photographs, drawings, charts, etc.) and further categorize them so that a human describer can focus on the task of creating the image descriptions.

Design Criteria: The application should be able to process graphic files in several formats (jpg, gif, and png being the most common in eBooks in the EPUB or DAISY formats) and provide a probability estimate regarding the image type. For certain types, like charts, the application should be able to further categorize the image as a line, bar, pie chart, etc. This functionality may be integrated as an enhancement into Poet, an existing image description open source software tool that Benetech has developed. The use of, or creation of, open source software is a core tenet for Benetech's development ideology.

2. Image Sampler and Finder

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a mechanism to compare images in a repository so that they can be more efficiently described for students who have print disabilities.

Problem: Given the very visual content of textbooks today, students with print disabilities (such as visual impairments, cognitive or motor disabilities) are at a significant disadvantage if they cannot access the information content of the graphical elements of a textbook. This work is part of a broader program (DIAGRAM Center) to dramatically change the way image and graphic content for accessible instructional materials (AIM) is produced and accessed.

Aim: The goal is to develop a tool that automates the comparison of an image that needs to be described with other images in the repository and find similar images. With these proposed matches people annotating the images can repurpose the text, thus expediting the image description process.

Design Criteria: Using open source code (or creating code for that purpose), the tool needs to be able to compare images contained within a specific version of a title against images in the repository. The repository may contain previous versions of the same title, or similar titles (such as another state's textbook on the same subject). Time allowing, a UI would be required to display the new image and the proposed images, and allow the end user to view the image descriptions of the proposed images, and compose the image description of the new image based on prior descriptions of comparable images.

3. PDF to RTF Conversion

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a mechanism to convert course materials from non-accessible PDF into an accessible file format.

Problem: Many curriculum materials for post-secondary education are available in PDF files, but this format is not accessible to the print-disabled.

Aim: The goal is to analyze/debug an existing, open-source conversion tool that would convert these PDF files into RTF, from which Benetech's Bookshare system then would be able to convert the files to DAISY format. Once the materials are defined in DAISY, then Bookshare members can have access to these materials on any of their AT devices. As a proof-of-concept for this project, the materials from the Perspectives in Assistive Technology course could be converted and made available through Bookshare.

Design Criteria: Benetech has been given a conversion tool by a European organization for the blind and print disabled that works well, but not consistently. The project would entail taking this conversion software and debugging it, so that it can be used to generate quality RTF files, including any images.

4. Graphing Calculator that Produces SVGs for Use as Tactile Images

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a mechanism to dynamically describe and generate images using mathematical graphing functions.

Problem: Graphing Calculators exist that dynamically create images, but in order to move to the next level of being able to offer readers tactile images, the calculators must be able to produce SVG files, which can then be used to render tactile Images.

Aim: One of the initiatives of the DIAGRAM Center is to be able to offer accessible images that can be described dynamically by text-to-speech (TTS) software or printed as a tactile graphic, based on the function and parameters that are fed to an open source graphing calculator module. Through the use of a dynamic template, minimal or no human intervention is required to describe the graphed function.

Design Criteria: The use of, or creation of, open source software is a core tenet for Benetech's development ideology. Based on an initial cursory analysis, we believe this work could be an extension to the graph.tk open source software or similar software. We would like these tools to be web-based, ideally using only HTML5 and JavaScript, so they can be easily integrated into Poet - an open source software image description tool an open source software image description tool.

5. Making Route66 More "Switch Friendly"

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a plan for integrating the Route66 reading tool with switching mechanisms. Route 66 Literacy is a flexible, dynamic, web-based instructional program that provides literacy instruction to adolescent and beginning adult readers.

Problem: Many members of the primary audience for the Route 66 Literacy program have disabilities that require access to switches. The current Route66 interface is not optimized for use with switches.

Aim: The goal is to identify areas and functions within Route66 where switches could be introduced to enable readers to take advantage of movements to control the flow and usage of this reading tool.

Design Criteria: The use of, or creation of, open source software is a core tenet for Benetech's development ideology. Route66 is currently an open source software application.

6. Making the Bookshare Android Reader More "Switch Friendly"

Overview: This project is in the Literacy area and involves developing a plan for integrating the Bookshare Android reading tool with switching mechanisms.

Problem: Many members of the Bookshare community have disabilities that require access to switches. The current Bookshare for Android interface is not optimized for use with switches.

Aim: The goal is to identify areas and functions within the Bookshare for Android where switches could be introduced to enable readers to take advantage of movements to control the flow and usage of this reading tool.

Design Criteria: The use of, or creation of, open source software is a core tenet for Benetech's development ideology. Though the software for the Bookshare web site is not open source, we have an open web services API and various related applications are open source, such as our Android Bookshare Reader.

Project Contact:
Gerardo Capiel
gerardoc -at- benetech.org
Links:
Benetech
DIAGRAM Center
SocialCoding4Good

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Projects suggested by Sunrise of Palo Alto

  1. Medication administration to residents: Medications come in small packages prepared for the week and are given at a specific time. Assistance would be needed in giving these medications and ensuring residents are taking them.

  2. Guidance for residents with cognitive impairments: There is a need to escort residents to the dining room, around the community, to exercise classes, or to the front desk when they scheduled to be picked up.

  3. Safety monitoring of residents with cognitive impairments: There is a need to prevent residents from wandering into unsafe areas of the facility such as the stairwells, the pool, or the street.

  4. Showering assistance for residents at risk for falls: For residents who shower independently, there is a need to detect a fall so that emergency treatment could be administered quickly.

  5. Fall detection: Prompt notification is needed for a resident who falls and is unable to use their emergency pendent (or is not wearing one) and is unable to reach a phone or emergency pull cord.

  6. Grocery shopping assistance: Some residents who are new to the facility may need to be directed to the nearby grocery store.

Project Contact:
Jan Clements - Executive Director
paloalto.ed -at- sunriseseniorliving.com
Link:
Sunrise of Palo Alto

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Project suggested by Eskaton

Prospective design innovations to support the aging experience

Smart Phone App for Caregivers - Develop a smart phone application to help caregivers by providing a checklist of individual's daily activities, medication schedule, doctor's appointments, mobility and health monitoring, etc.

Project Contact:
Stuart Greenbaum - VP, Public Relations & Branding
Eskaton
stuart.greenbaum -at- eskaton.org
Links:
Nearby Eskaton facilities:
Eskaton Lodge Brentwood
The Parkview in Pleasanton

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Educational Activities for Children with Disabilities

Background: Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) creates hands-on activity kits which 9,000 educators use to help nearly 1 million students master important concepts in school and after school each year.

A large percentage of the students these educators serve have disabilities (physical, mental, or emotional). RAFT is particularly popular with these educators because our hands-on activities often seem to "open up" disabled students and get them excited about learning and participating.

Problem: Special education teachers report that they often wish there were more activities focused on children with disabilities.

Aim: Investigate and develop new educational activities appropriate for children with disabilities. This may include mechanical and/or computer software solutions that will provide interactive access for these learners.

Design Criteria: The design must be appropriate for the intellectual and disability level of the students; must be very low cost; safe to use; easy to store, setup, explain, use, and ship; and must fit into the students' educational plan.

Other: Access to teachers and students will be provided.

Project Contact:
Greg Brown - Director of Education and Membership
Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT)
greg -at- raft.net

Links:

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Sirott Speech Feedback Project

Problem: Patients with Parkinson’s Disease typically have weakness and reduced neural drive to the muscles of speech and voice. They have problems in sensory perception, making it difficult for them to easily monitor or self-correct vocal parameters or respiratory effort as they speak. They may also lack the ability to generate sufficient physical effort to produce normal conversational vocal volume and variation in pitch.

Aim: Design an unobtrusive, affordable, programmable portable device that provides feedback of speech volume, speech pitch, and respiratory effort. The device would offer users the internal cueing required to monitor their speech output and correct vocal parameters as they speak, improving their communication skills and quality of life.

Design Criteria: The device should be able to process real-time speech and display its volume and pitch speech parameters in a variety of ways: a visual display (lights, or colored bars, or digital readout), an auditory display (beeps or spoken verbal cues), or a sensory/kinesthetic display (vibro-tactile transducer). The device should indicate when the spoken volume is too soft or too loud (given the ambient sound level in the room) and when the pitch is too low. The choice of feedback type and threshold parameters must be programmable.

Suggestions: A small external sensor placed on the skin above the user's diaphragm can detect respiratory muscle effort while a vibro-tactile transducer could provide feedback to the wearer. The device could produce "background noise" which would cause the speaker to increase his/her vocal volume.

Simplified Sirott Speech Feedback Project

Aim: Design a voice-activated feedback device that provides a means of maintaining a proper speaking volume.

Design Criteria: The device should consist of a laryngeal microphone system and companion hardware / software that would be able to distinguish between voice and noise from the microphone. (Voice waveforms have a wide range of variation in amplitude, but noise waveforms are more stable.) The device should introduce a masking noise in the speaker's ear when his/her vocal volume drops below a programmed level. The speaker will then automatically increase vocal volume in order to hear his/her own voice over the masking noise.

Suggestions: The masking noise might consist of regular white noise, Edinburgh Masker, or typical background noise found in a restaurant environment. The device could be developed around an iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc. An additional desirable feature would be the ability to read respiratory muscle action potentials from a biofeedback belt worn around the ribs/abs. When the speaker's respiratory effort is below a threshold, the device would produce an audio signal or vibration cue.

Project Contact:
Tracey J. Baldwin, MA, CCC-SLP
Voice and Swallow Specialist
Kaiser Permanente / Oakland
Head and Neck Surgery
tracey.baldwin -at- nsmtp.kp.org
Links:
Respiration Sensor SA9311M
Laryngeal microphone
Edinburgh Masker
KayPentax Computerized Speech Lab, Model 4150B
KayPentax Ambulatory Phonation Monitor, Model 3200
Stens Biofeedback Effortless Respiration Sensor
Larry Sirott, MD
PD Active
Dance for PD

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Project employing NeuroSky's MindSet brain-computer interface

Background: NeuroSky's MindSet is a headset that senses and interprets EEG brainwaves and is able to determine the wearer's level of attention and meditation as well as detect when the wearer blinks. This information can be used to control a videogame or provide an interface to operate physical devices.

Aim: Explore an application for a person with a disability using the MindSet brain-computer interface product. Examples include the control of household appliances (lights, TV, music system), operation of Bluetooth devices (iPhone), construction of an on-screen keyboard, and design of a communication system for non-vocal users with limited manipulation skills.

Design Criteria: The device should be appropriate for the user's abilities and be simple to configure and use.

Project Contact:
Tansy Brook
Neurosky BCI Technologies
tansy -at- neurosky.com
Links:
Neurosky
MindSet

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Projects suggested by Berke Prosthetics / Orthotics

Aid for donning compression stockings

Background: Graduated compression stockings are used to support the leg's venous and lymphatic systems. The maximum compression is at the foot and ankle and gradually decreases up the calf.

Problem: Many individuals who use these stockings are obese, elderly, or have some other type of physical disability (such as arthritis) which makes it difficult for them to put on their own stockings. Those who have trouble bending over, who don't have the strength to pull the compression stocking up over their foot and leg, as well as those who don't want to rely on others would benefit from an effective, easy-to-use aid.

Aim: Explore designs for a simple device that will assist these individuals in rolling on or pulling up their compression stockings.

Design Criteria: While there are several aids on the market, most are still too difficult for many individuals to use, resulting in frustration and refusal to use the stockings. Commercial devices include those made from PVC tubing or wire cages - others consist of nylon slippers for open-toe stockings.

Suggestions: Perhaps some type of roller system could help these individuals don their stockings.

Links:
Compression Stocking Aids
What Health - Compression Stocking Application Aids

Toileting and/or showering aid for a bilateral upper extremity amputee

Background: The loss of both hands due to trauma or birth defect is classified as a 95% disability, often requiring complete attendant care for feeding, bathing, toileting, and other activities of daily living.

Problem: Prostheses are wonderful devices for providing a level of independence with eating, mobility, and self care - but cannot be used for toileting or showering due positioning, sanitation, and comfort issues. The problem for those with limb loss is how to clean up after using the restroom. How does one wash their hair, shave, or scrub one's body if their prostheses can't be used?

Aim: Design an assistive device that provides increased independence for a male user with a bilateral traumatic trans-radial (below the elbow) amputation. The device should also work for those with various levels of bilateral upper extremity amputation.

Design Criteria: This device could either attach to the body or the environment and should be stable, washable, replaceable, waterproof, relatively inexpensive, and reliable. It must provide improved independence in its application and use.

Links:
Toileting Aids
Rehabilitation without Prostheses: Functional Skills Training
Toileting self-care methods for bilateral high level upper limb amputees
Project Contact:
Gary M. Berke, MS, CP, FAAOP
Adjunct Clinical Instructor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Stanford University
gmberke -at- stanford.edu

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Visual Balance Project for veterans with traumatic brain injury

Aim: Explore designs for a device to monitor and improve balance (perhaps using virtual reality techniques).

Project Contact:
Debbie Pitsch
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Polytrauma Assistive Technology Laboratory
debbie.pitsch -at- va.gov
Links:

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Projects with veterans with spinal cord injury

1. Problems and needs expressed at SCI Peer Support Group Meeting

Manipulating objects:
  • picking up dropped items, especially from under tables or chairs
  • reaching items high on shelves
  • carrying items such as groceries
  • retrieving mail from mailbox
  • BBQ implements
  • handling a bank card at an ATM
Accessing the real-world:
  • opening doors
  • opening a 2-liter bottle
  • preparing food and cooking tasks, including making sandwiches and heating soup
  • controlling appliances such as the TV, telephone, electric bed, music system, nurse call, etc.
  • transferring to / from wheelchair to bed / shower
  • tele-visiting / tele-working with family/co-workers at home/office during hospital stay
  • selecting groceries remotely for delivery
  • design for an arm ergometer that would allow users to strap themselves in
  • a joystick design that would accommodate a variety of shaft geometries
  • a cup holder that can fit on any wheelchair
Recreational activities:
  • operating a PS3 game controller for a gamer who has use of one hand
  • engaging in gardening tasks
Caregiver (family, nurse, and therapist) assistance
Project Contact:
Deane F. Denney
Palo Alto VA Health Care System
Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support Group
deanedenney -at- gmail.com

2. Fishing rod, wheelchair brackets, accessible digital camera, lap tray system

  • A device to operate a fishing rod for a user without use of upper extremity - to reel the line in/out, lock the reel, etc (new for 2012)
  • A bracket design for new power wheelchairs that would allow use of an overhead sling system
  • A bracket system for power wheelchairs that would work with a mobile arm support system
  • A device that would allow a high level quadriplegia (C4) to use a digital camera. It need not be able to adjust position of camera, but it should include a feature to snap a photo for users with diminished hand function.
  • A lap tray system that is compatible with the new wheelchair designs
Project Contact:
Janet Weis
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
janet.weis -at- va.gov
Links:

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Low Cost Transfer Device

Problem: Wheelchair users have difficulty getting into and out of their wheelchairs to use the toilet or get into their bed in their home, at work, and while traveling.

Aim: Explore designs for a low cost transfer device for a wheelchair user.

Design Criteria:

  • Able to lift and move the user from bed to chair to toilet or bed and back
  • Free standing for ease of installation in any room of the house or portable for use when traveling
  • Manual operation for simplicity, reliability, and low cost
  • Can be operated by those with limited strength
  • Independent use without assistance
  • Stable for safety, providing confidence for use
  • Strong and durable
  • Easy to maintain and clean
  • A portable unit must fit into a carry-on suitcase
Project Contacts:
Chris Bayne & Michael Bayne
Rotamobility
chris -at- rotamobility.com  &  michael -at- rotamobility.com

Mark Felling
Broadened Horizons GimpGear
mark -at- broadenedhorizons.com
Links:

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Projects for persons recovering from stroke

Standing Straight Project

Problem: Persons recovering from stroke (CVA) often have a significant shift in their perceived center of gravity. This causes them to shift their weight to their unaffected side, with their head and / or trunk at a 20 degree angle, even though they think they are sitting or standing straight. This has a significant negative effect on the tone of their affected limbs, causing them to become more spastic.

Aim: The goal of this project is to develop a dynamic device that would aid the person to realize their true center thus enabling better rehabilitation of their limbs.

Other: A similar device could be used for people recovering from back injury that would alert them when they bend at the back rather than keeping it straight during lifting.

Sock Donning Aid

Problem: Most sock donning aids require two hands to put the sock on the aid. These aids are used by people who have hemiplegia and also have a limited range of motion of their hips and / or knees, making crossing their legs so that the ankle rests on the intact leg (in order to don the sock) impossible.

Aim: Explore a new design for a sock donning aid that can be used with one hand.

Other: Most of these individuals forgo putting on socks altogether, but still some people would really benefit, for cardiovascular reasons, in wearing support socks / hose.

Project Contact:
Debbie Kenney
kenney5 -at- comcast.net
Links:

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Other project ideas

  1. Accessible interfaces for commonly-used devices:
    iPods / iPads / mp3 players
    Cellphones
    Remote controls

  2. Online multi-site tele-videogames for seniors

  3. Revisit projects listed in NSF guide:
    Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities

  4. Student-defined projects:
    Interview, observe, and discuss assistive technology needs with an individual with a disability. Address their need to participate in the following areas by designing a device that either facilitates using usual tools or creates a new tool.

    Creative Expression - writing, painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography, music, etc

    Activities of Daily Living - cooking, dressing, cleaning, housework, yard work, employment, education, shopping, commuting, etc

    Sports and Exercise - walking, running, indoor and outdoor sports, etc

    Leisure Activities and Hobbies - collecting, model making, crafts, board games & videogames, etc

Project Coach:
David L. Jaffe, MS

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Updated 09/27/2012

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