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Design, Technology , and Engineering benefitting individuals
with disabilities and older adults in the local community |
Newsletter - February 13,
2026 |
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Perspectives is the newsletter of the
Stanford course, Perspectives in Assistive Technology.
Week 7 Class Sessions
This newsletter issue describes Week 7's
class sessions.
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Perspectives in Assistive
Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its
nineteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of
assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults.
It consists of semi-weekly in-person discussions; lectures by
notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; a
tour of an accessible inclusive playground; student project
presentations and demonstrations; and an Assistive Technology Faire.
Students pursue team-based projects that address real challenges faced by
people with disabilities and older adults living in the local community. Check
out the course
website. |
Week 7
Course News
Participating
Exhibitors - There are 11 confirmed exhibitors for the
Assistive Technology Faire.
Community
Attendance - Community members are most welcome to attend class
sessions on campus, enrollment is not required. There will not be a Zoom
participation option this year. |
Week 7 Class
Sessions
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Tuesday, February 17th at 4:30pm
PST
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Issues of Human
Interface Design Gary M. Berke, MS, CP,
FAAOP Stanford Medical
Center |
Abstract: Gary will present challenges of human
interface design, using prosthetic limbs as the springboard for
discussion.
Biosketch: Gary M. Berke is a prosthetist
and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in
Stanford's Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery as well as the previous owner of
Berke Prosthetics and Orthotics
in San Mateo. He was also the Chief Clinical Officer for
Medical Creations in Denver, a start up in
the prosthetic space. He is also now a consultant for Hanger Clinic. He has
worked and lectured both nationally and internationally on prosthetic care and
has authored multiple publications. He has a keen interest in investigating
cost effective technologies that enhance the lives of those who use prostheses
and orthoses daily. |
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Thursday, February 19th at 4:30pm
PST
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Assistive Technology
Faire |
Confirmed 2026 Exhibitor
Participants:
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Tikkun Olam Makers
TOM at
Stanford - TOM Community Managers - Lucy Caroline Hiller & Temple Dahla
Landry Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) is a
Stanford student club whose members design and build personalized prototype
devices that address everyday challenges experienced by individuals with
disabilities and older adults. Rooted in the value of Tikkun Olam - repairing
the world - TOM turns empathy into action and ensures that no one is left
behind by the lack of an assistive technology device. |
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PocketDot PocketDot, Inc. - Divya Adil & David
Madey PocketDot is a Braille display
that provides visually impaired and blind individuals with private and
convenient access to texting, web browsing, and othe textual communication with
teir mobile phones. |
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Silicon Valley Independent Living Center
SVILC Assistive
Technology Specialist - Joe Escalante Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) is a
cross-disability, intergenerational, and multicultural disability justice
organization that creates fully inclusive communities that value the dignity,
equality, freedom and worth of every human being. SVILC maintains a
lending
library of assistive technology so consumers may borrow a device free of
charge and try it before buying it, use it to compare similar devices, or to
use while a personal device is being repaired. |
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BeeLine Reader BeeLine Reader, Inc - Nick
Lum "BeeLine Reader is a
software tool that improves reading ability by displaying text using a color
gradient that wraps from the end of one line to the beginning of the next. (Example) This gradient pulls the
readers eyes through the text, making reading easier. This approach is
especially helpful for readers with dyslexia, ADHD, and various vision
impairments. Thanks to the
Schwab Learning
Center, BeeLine Readers tools are available for
free to all Stanford
students." |
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Jeeves Harmony Robotics - Sandeep
Dutta "Jeeves is an assistive robot
that carries up to 80 lbs. with ease, autonomously navigates the user's home -
including scheduled trips to specific spots - follows the user around through
gesture-driven operation, features a touchscreen-responsive controller, and
offers many more capabilities. This everyday helper transports belongings -
including laundry, groceries, and dishes - helps locate items at home, serves
as a mobile storage unit, learns and adapts to the user's routine movements,
and offers much more. Jeeves supports a more self-sufficient and independent
lifestyle for individuals with special needs, wheelchair users, older adults,
and many others. In care facilities, Jeeves facilitates round-the-clock
resident monitoring and assists with the transport of food and essential care
items to residents." |
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Stretch 3 Mobile Manipulator Robot Hello Robot, Inc. - Vy
Nguyen, Occupational Therapist "Hello
Robots Stretch 3 is an
inclusive mobile robot empowering people of all ages and abilities to live
independently and thrive in daily life. Our open-source model ensures we build
a robot for good in collaboration with a global community of researchers and
industry partners. Hello Robot has been co-designing Stretch 3 with
persons living with severe motor impairments as they use the robot to enable
their functional independence and performance in their everyday activities
while reducing caregiving demands. With Stretch 3, individuals can
interact with their environment, such as turning on light switches, opening
doors, picking up items from surfaces or off the ground, self-feeding,
socializing with friends and family, and even visit museums. Operating the
robot is made accessible by having the individual use their assistive input
devices to interact with a web-based interface launched on either their
computer, tablet, or mobile device." |
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EchoVision Smart Glasses AGIGA - Huasong Cao, Andy Pan, Stanley
Cao EchoVision by AGIGA is a purpose-built
wearable designed to foster independence for the blind and visually impaired by
transforming visual data into real-time audio. By moving beyond the handheld
phone, users can engage with their surroundings hands-free to perform daily
tasks like reading printed materials, identifying people, and navigating public
transit. The device provides continuous environmental awareness through its
"Live AI" mode and, for more complex situations, offers a seamless connection
to human-in-the-loop services for immediate remote assistance. |
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Brava Smart Oven Brava Home, Inc. - Travis Rea, VP Sales &
Marketing and Zac Selmon, Head of Product
"Brava's Smart Oven enables safe, independent
cooking with a fast, light-based technology. With new and evolving features
designed specifically for assistive technology users, Brava is ideal for the
blind/low vision, intellectual and developmental disability and/or limited
mobility communities. It simplifies meal prep with automated features, guided
recipes, and a comprehensive mobile app. Continuous software updates enhance
functionality and accessibility, ensuring Brava meets diverse needs and
constantly improves the cooking experience for individuals seeking culinary
self-reliance." |
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MO/GO Skip - Claire Stewart
"Skip is a small start up company developing
powered wearable technology they call movewear, dedicated to enhancing human
movement and accessibility. With a focus on innovation and real-world impact,
Skip aims to transform how people interact with their environments through
advanced technology. Their first product, MO/GO, is one part robot, one part
technical pants - a motor-powered movement assist exoskeleton embedded in
lightweight hiking pants. Think of it as an e-bike for hiking: enabling users
to tackle elevation like never before by providing a boost to the leg muscles
on the way up and supporting the knees on the way down." |
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Lotus Ring Lotus - Dhaval Patel (Founder and
CEO) For people with disabilities,
Lotus' wearable ring controls objects pointing. With Lotus, control anything a
wall switch controls, like lights and fans - and even the TV - from wherever
you are in the room. Unlike Alexa, there is no rewiring, no apps, and no
internet. |
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Yahoo! Yahoo Inclusive Design -
Betty Troy, MS, CPACC - Inclusive Designer / Accessibility Specilaist / UX
Researcher "At Yahoo, we believe
digital experiences should be accessible, usable, and enjoyable for everyone.
Thats why we incorporate feedback from people with a wide range of access
needs, including users of screen readers, magnification tools, refreshable
Braille displays, switches, and those with cognitive accessibility needs.
Partnering with real users helps us learn, innovate, and ensure our products
are both inclusive and delightful to use. Visit Yahoos table to explore
our products hands-on. Try navigating the Yahoo Homepage using your voice, switches,
or a screen reader. Browse articles in the Yahoo News app with screen
magnification, or compose an email on Yahoo Mail using a Braille
keyboard.." |
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Upcoming In-person Class Sessions
Please contact me with your ideas, questions, comments,
and project suggestions - or just to say hello. Please continue to stay safe
& healthy.
Dave Jaffe - Course Instructor
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Dave. |
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