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

Special Issue on Student Project Suggestions

Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course starting its ninth season in early January 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; and an assistive technology faire.

How do student projects fit into the course structure? - Projects are a key course activity as they provide an excellent opportunity for students to address problems faced by individuals with disabilities and older adults. In doing so, students acquire or practice skills that they will use thoughout their future professionals careers including working in teams, interacting with the local community, solving problems, understanding the engineering design / development process, employing course knowledge in a practical context, practicing fabrication techniques, developing critical thinking skills, and enhancing presentation and report writing abilities.

Where do suggestions for student projects come from? - The process begins with a solicitation (that's the purpose of this newsletter issue) to the local community (that's you!) to identify problems experienced by an individual (friend or family member) with a disability or an older adult, or those who interact with them including teachers, health care professionals, and other family members or neighbors.

What are the benefits of suggesting a student project? - Project suggestors have the opportunity to get involved in the course beyond attending lectures, work with a team of bright Stanford students, participate in the training of new engineers and designers, and influence the design and development of a prototype device that addresses a specific disability or aging problem.

What are the considerations for a student project suggestion? - The student project suggestion must meet the following broad requirements:

• Deliverable: A project suggestion must involve the design and fabrication of a device (or development of software) to address a problem experienced by older adults, individuals with a disability, or those who care for them.

• Creativity: In pursuit of their projects, student teams are required to fully understand the problem, identify the need, brainstorm concepts, choose a design (or designs), and fabricate, test, and report on their creative solution.

• Originality: Student teams' designs should not be a copy of an existing commercial product or a physical representation of another's design concept.

• Feasibility: The project's aim and specifications should be realistic. Project solutions that can only be achieved by violating the laws of physics or that presume the existence of an anti-gravity machine are examples of infeasible project ideas.

• Suitability: A project suggestion involving advertising, engaging in market or data analysis, performing surveys, creating websites, compiling databases, or pursuing long-term studies is not suitable as team project.

• Overlap: A project suggestion must focus on real needs that are inadequately addressed by commercial products and could include diagnostic and rehabilitation therapy equipment as well as personal devices. A project solution that assists family members or health care professionals in caring for individuals with disabilities and older adults is also welcome.

• Scale and Complexity: A project solution must be of appropriate scale and complexity to be completed (design, fabrication, and testing of a prototype) in one academic quarter (8 weeks).

• Size: A project solution must be of an appropriate physical scale - the prototype should fit on a desktop. There is insufficient space on campus to work on cars or other large items.

• Work location: A majority of the project fabrication effort should occur on campus rather than in the residence of the older adult or person with a disability.

• Expertise: A project suggestion must be compatible with the skill level and expertise of students in the course. They typically have mechanical engineering backgrounds, although some may have product design, electrical engineering, computer hardware, or software experience.

• Cost: Estimated parts and fabrication costs must be modest, no more than a few hundred dollars.

• Proprietary: The project solution must not require access to or modification of proprietary software, such as adding functions to a cellphone.

• Participation: An older adult, a person with a disability, a family member of a person with a disability, or a health care professional should be available to work with the student project team to further illustrate the problem, offer advice during the quarter, and test the prototypes.

• Risk: The project solution must not pose a risk of harm to the user or student team. The device must also be minimally invasive.

• Damage or Modification: Project work must not damage or alter any Stanford or private property. Examples of prohibited activities include drilling into walls or rewiring the installed infrastructure.

• Duplication: The project suggestion should not be a duplication of a candidate project already described in the current candidate project list.

• Support: A candidate project supported by a monetary gift to the course will be given preference. See Call for Project Support.

How should a student project suggestion be described?- Compose (text format is ok) and email the project suggestion for review. Note that both the problem and features of a solution should be highlighted, but not how a device should appear, be built, or solve the problem - those are tasks for the student team. To best convey a project suggestion, use the current candidate project list as a guide and format the project description into these short paragraphs:

1. Name: - suggest a simple, short , descriptive phrase to refer to the project

2. Background: - overview the suggestor's organization and / or give a general description of the population addressed by the project suggestion

3. Problem: - briefly and concisely describe the problem, including the people who experience it
        (The Everyday Usefulness of the Problem Statement by Alan Nicol is a well-written reference article.)

4. Aim: - describe what the proposed solution should do, but not how it should do it

5. Design Criteria: - list the desirable operational features and characteristics of the proposed solution

6. Other: - include additional information that will illuminate the problem and facilitate a solution, such as photographs, short videos, a list available resources, weblinks, and general design suggestions

7. Contact Information: - provide suggestor's name, company (if applicable), email address, and phone number (optional).

What happens to submitted project suggestions? - Once the emailed project suggestion is received, it will be read, reviewed, and considered. Approved project suggestions will be accepted as candidate student projects and will be posted on the course website as well as disseminated to students as a handout on the first day of class. Project suggestors will have the opportunity to "pitch" their candidate project on the second day of class. (Here is information on the "pitch" process.) If a student team chooses to work on the candidate project, its suggestor will provide advice, direction, and expertise in person, or by phone, and/or email during the quarter and will be invited to the Student Team Project Final Presentations and Project Demonstrations.

What is the deadline for submission of project suggestions? - Please submit project suggestions to me as soon as possible so I have time to consider all submissions, edit approved entries, and post them - not later than December 1st.

How can the community help support the course and student projects? - Funding in any amount for the course and student projects is always welcome. Monetary gifts support approved project expenses, administrative costs, honoraria for guest lecturers, and the end-of-term celebration. Refer to the Course and Project Support webpage for more information.

Who should be contacted to answer questions or to provide additional information? - Please feel free to contact me anytime during the project suggestion process.

Dave

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.