assistive technology Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Neuromechanics & Mobility Lab

Spring 2024 CREATE Research Showcase

Katie Landwehr HuskyADAPT, News, Presentation July 20, 2024August 12, 2024Accessibility, assistive technology, DIY Assistive Technology, inclusive design

The Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) hosted a Research Showcase and Community Day 2024 on May 20th. These events brought industry and community partners — leaders working and living in the disability and accessibility space — together with faculty and student researchers. Co-sponsored by HuskyADAPT. CREATE’s mission is to make technology accessible and to make the world accessible through technology.

Steele Lab members, Alexandra (Sasha), Mia, Kate, and Alisha, presented posters at the CREATE Research Showcase to highlight design, development & research of technology to support individuals with disabilities.

Mia, Kate, and Alisha presented a poster on “The Switch Kit: bridging the gap in therapeutic toys for children with medical complexities“. This research involved the creation and evaluation of a therapeutic toy named the “Switch Kit,” designed for young children with medical complexities. The kit allows family members and clinicians to customize switches tailored to the unique needs of each child.

Alexandra presented a poster on “Camera-Based Interface for Hand Function Assessment”. Currently, hand function assessment (e.g., joint range of motion) in a clinical setting is done with low-resolution tools and oftentimes in a subjective manner that is time-consuming. With a camera-based interface, we wanted to improve the speed of collecting information about patient’s hand function, improve repeatability and objectivity, and enhance result presentation for both patients and clinicians.

Switch Kit Workshop at Kindering Redmond

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach May 21, 2024May 21, 2024Adaptive Switch, assistive technology, DIY Assistive Technology, Early Intervention, Pediatric

Steele Lab members, Mia Hoffman, and Katie Landwehr led a “Switch Kit” Workshop at Kindering in Redmond, WA.

The workshop aimed to teach Pediatric Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Educators how to use a new system we have designed with local families and clinicians for inclusive play options in early intervention. The Kindering Team also got to try a variety of adaptive switches Mia, Kate, and Alisha made. Stay tuned for more on this project.

A woman standing next to a table with toys and a projector screen. The slide says "Co-designing a Switch Kit for Digital Play"

People of different backgrounds gathered around a table, interacting with toys and an iPad.

Engineering Discovery Days 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach May 16, 2024May 21, 2024assistive technology, Electromyography, EMG, Exoskeleton, Orthoses

The University of Washington College of Engineering re-launched Engineering Discovery Days this spring. Discovery Days has been a signature outreach event for over 100 years, providing fun and enriching hands-on experiences for students, teachers, and families from across the state. Discovery Days is also an opportunity for our community of UW Engineering students, staff, and faculty to share their passion for engineering with the next generation of innovators.

The UW Biomechanics Faculty put together an exhibit titled “Biomechanics Assemble! From Exoskeletons to Cytoskeletons” with the goal of demonstrating how we study movement and forces in humans and cells at UW.

Two people stand outside, one with a robotic leg, holding a sign reading, "The Human Body: The Ultimate Machine." Both wear "Engineering" shirts. Trees and an event tent are in the background.

A person wearing an exoskeleton suit stands facing a small group of people in a room with various individuals and equipment.

Two people engaged in a discussion while one is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand.

Two people fist bumping. One person is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand.

A person in a lab wearing an exoskeleton, ready to teach students about biomechanics research.

A woman instructing a child how to use a 3D printed prosthetic hand to pick up a small bottle

A group of students standing around while one is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand

The Steele Lab along with the Ingraham Lab hosted two booths. Each booth featured hand-on activities and games for students to engage with.

The first booth features an ensemble of exoskeletons and assistive devices, including the Biomotum Spark and 3D printed prosthetic hands.

The second booth featured two games for students to engage with, including “Myodino” using Delsys EMG sensors, and “UltraLeap Ring Sorting” VR game using the UltraLeap hand tracking technology.

In this lab, we think the human body is “The Ultimate Machine” and we were so excited to share HOW we study the human body at Discovery Days 2024.

A woman showing a young student how to play the game "MyoDino" by activating forearm muscles

A man placing an EMG sensor on the forearm of a young student

A small group of people standing around watching a student play MyoDino on a laptop

A small group of students standing around looking at a laptop as a woman explains how to play the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"

A small group of students standing a laptop while a student plays the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"

A small group of students standing a laptop while a person wearing an exoskeleton plays the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"

National Biomechanics Day 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach April 12, 2024Adaptive Switch, assistive technology, Biomechanics, DIY Assistive Technology, Electromyography

Last week the Steele Lab celebrated National Biomechanics Day (NBD) on April 3, 2024 at the VA Puget Sound. Mia Hoffman, Sasha Portnova, and Katie Landwehr, alongside fellow Biomechanics researchers with the Ingraham Lab, and Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) hosted over 75 students from a local high school.

A group of five people posing for a photo

NBD is a world-wide celebration of Biomechanics in its many forms for high school students and teachers. Steele Lab PhD student Mia Hoffman, and Ingraham Lab PhD student Annika Pfister were recently awarded a $1000 grant from the American Society of Biomechanics and National Biomechanics Day to host an outreach event for high school students focused on disability biomechanics.

Mia and Katie hosted a station on “Switch-Adapted Toys & Accessible Design”