Development Projects
From smart phone apps to a smart bathroom laboratory, TechSAge development projects are engineering technology-powered solutions to support the health, participation, and safety of people aging with disabilities.
D1. SmartBathroom Testbed
SmartBathroom is a state-of-the-art bathroom laboratory designed to explore how features like grab bars, toilets, and tubs can be adjusted to support individuals aging with disability, whose support needs can change over time. The bathroom features mechanically adjustable fixtures and an array of sensors that can measure walking performance (speed, balance, stability), location of feet and hands, and forces applied to the bathroom surfaces.
D2. Monitoring and Managing Falls
Falls among wheelchair users can cause significant physical and psychological challenges, and current detection devices often fall short. We’re advancing WheelSafe, a wearable device designed to accurately detect falls from a wheelchair, and developing tools to assess fall circumstances and visualize fall history, aiming to create an integrated system to monitor and manage falls.
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D3. Design of Soft Robotic Shower Head (SoRoSH)
Imagine a world where the simple act of showering is no longer a challenge for older adults with mobility issues. Our latest innovation, the soft robotic hand-held shower (SoRoSH), promises to revolutionize personal care with its flexible design, aiming to make safe, independent bathing a reality and reduce the need for assisted living.
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D4. Developing a Wayfinding Support Robot
Many people with vision impairment experience challenges with wayfinding, or navigating spaces, which can make it difficult to fully participate in the community. We’re developing WayBot – an assistive mobile robot that provides guidance to users aging with vision impairment to help them learn new spaces through navigation and orientation support.
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D5. Innovation Incubator
The Innovation Incubator supports the development of innovative seed grant projects to support people aging with disability. Current initiatives include: a customizable music-based app for stroke survivors; a mobile app for assessing fall risk in older adults with multiple sclerosis; and the DigiHand system for providing real-time feedback in hand rehabilitation.
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