Developing Assistive Technologies (DM-GY 7053, OT-GE 2900, ITPG-GT 2446)

This multi-disciplinary course allows students from a variety of backgrounds to work together to learn about and develop assistive technology. Partnering with outside organizations, students will work in teams to identify a clinical need relevant to a certain clinical site or client population, and learn the process of developing an idea and following that through to the development of a prototype product.

Fall 2023 Projects

Actual image of jessica using the setup and typing with her feet

Toe Tap Text

We are working with Jessica Cox who was born with no arms due to a rare congenital limb difference  to make a more ergonomic typing stand. She currently types with her toes and can type 25 words per minute. She demonstrated how she types with her toes on the home keys and the rest of her fingers gliding over the keyboard. This helped to understand her typing methodology and how we can design to best fit her needs. We discussed two focus areas: 1) Back and neck strain and pain caused by having to look down at the keyboard as she types. 2) Exploring alternative versions of a computer mouse as the current versions are not optimized for users that operate a computer mouse with their feet.

Final Video
apple watch on a retractable cord pinned to a person's shirt

FOOT WATCH

We are working with Jessica Cox to figure out a way to make it more convenient way for her to pay for things at the store. Jessica was born without arms and has great foot dexterity. She uses her legs, foot and toes to do everything. When currently paying, she either uses her IPhone 8 to tap and pay or taps with her credit card. 

Final Video
Larissa is seated in a black wheelchair with her arms in the center. She is wearing all black. She has a bright smile. Her partner Shayna embraces her from behind also wearing all black and wearing a bright smile.

Symphony Solutions

This semester the team worked on regaining motion of Larissa’s left arm with is affected by multiple sclerosis. We researched soft robotics and exoskeletons as devices to amplify movement left in her arm. Ultimately we decided to go the route of rehabilitation which included providing exercises recommended by an OT and designing an overhead sling that would be able to reduce the weight of Larissa’s arm in order to allow her to regain mobility. 

Final Video
Bright white room with large mat on the floor, wall projector, and bubble tube. This is a prodcut image for the company snoozelin.

Make a Space

Our groups project is to create a multisensory room for adults with intellectual and developmental disability in a Heartshare day center. Our goal is to incorporate elements that cater to visual, sound, touch, and smell. Soft adjustable lighting such as LED color changing lights will be installed with soothing music. This multisensory room will be adaptable to accommodate various preferences and needs, making it a versatile and soothing space for adults to relax, explore, and unwind. 

Final Video
Luv Michael employees smiling with granola bars lying on a table in front of them.

Learners United

Our project focuses on developing a curriculum based on the ServSafe food safety manual, tailored for adults with autism working at Luv Michael bakery. This curriculum will be designed at a preschool to kindergarten grade level and will incorporate visual elements, such as videos or board games, to facilitate effective learning. Our approach involves visiting the bakery location and engaging directly with the individuals for whom we are creating this curriculum. This collaborative process aims to identify the most effective ways to support Diane and ensure that our educational materials are both accessible and beneficial to the bakery staff with autism.

Final Video
Granola bag prototype

Luv Kitchen

Our project focused on making gadgets that could help autistic adults working at Luv Michael’s bakery, based on their difficulties at work. Diane, who oversees operations, talked about the following five items/tools/gadgets we might be able to help with: Sealing mailer that won’t seal securely because of inconsistent pressure; Sealing Granola Bags that are difficult to open and won’t stand on their own; Tying a knot for the gift packages; Stamp which applies uniformly with little pressure; Two people needed to sweep and push dust into dust pan.

Final Video

Fall 2022 Projects

THE COZY BLEATS

The Cozy Bleats is collaborating with Goats of Anarchy to redesign cribs for disabled goats. Our objective is to develop 1) a crib frame and 2) a waste-filtration mesh that prevents the development of pressure sores and skin infections, such as urine scalds.

Final Video

THE RIGHT FOOT FOR CHEWIE

Jessica was born with no arms due to a rare congenital limb difference. Jessica describes herself as a “do-er;” she’s an airline pilot, a motivational speaker, and a taekwondo blackbelt. Despite her many accomplishments, Jessica is still faced with day to day challenges. Currently, she and her husband, Patrick, are looking for solutions to a few problems: 1) picking up after Chewie, their dog, while on walks and 2) easily opening and closing Chewie’s saddle bag in order to have quick access to some of Jessica’s needed items (i.e. an extendable straw or a portable dressing hook).

Final Video

ENVISION

This semester, worked with The Seeing Eye to help guide dog users respond to changes in their neighborhoods. With the addition of roundabouts, bike lanes, and other traffic control measures, the infrastructure of many cities in the United States has become less uniform. As a result, blind guide dog users are also beginning to carry canes to communicate with others sharing the road. For our work with The Seeing Eye, we examined how the guide dog harness can be redesigned so that blind users can carry and access their canes more easily.

Final Video

Fall 2021 Projects

Student's arm in an inflatable tube with wires attached to it. Wonder Women
Understanding current state of compression garments to treat Lymphedema, and brainstorming future technology opportunities.
Final Video
line drawing with a phone and a speech bubble. Attribution: Customer Service by Maxim Basinski from NounProject.com The UXer Diaries: Access Shopper
Evaluating the accessibility of customer service and online shopping for individuals who cannot talk on the phone. 
Final Video
Tammy mat with a greenish-yellow felt front and a buckled strap. The Legs Guardians: Tammy Mat
The Tammy Mat is a piece of fabric in the shape of a cat’s face with a buckle that wrap’s around the wearer’s waist. It was designed for Milagros (our community partner) so she can wear on her lap to protect her from Tammy’s (her cat) claws. 
Final Video
Hand next to a long black rod with cuffs to fit over the wrist. Autoblade Clan 
Design a tool that assists Jose (our community partner) while driving. The final device has two straps, a pointer, and a bendable splint that attaches to his wrist to make it easy to access buttons. 
Final Video
Three screenshots of a call with instacart using relay services The UXer Diaries: Access Shopper
Accessibility assessment of online shopping services and customer support. 
Final Video

Fall 2020 Projects

Cup-tain America
A secure and accessible cupholder wheelchair attachment. 
Adaptive Force
Video game controller device that connects to Microsoft Adaptive Controller. 
YSJ (P)roductions
A stand bar tool, furniture attachment, for assistance standing up. 
MASS Manual
An instruction manual for buying and using electronic devices. 
Air Force One
A Manual for several Speech-to-Text operating systems. 

Fall 2019 Projects

Patient data chart used to track pre-linguistic behaviors in children. DLDA
Prevention and Treatment of Developmental Language Disorders App
A grid of nine objects, which increase comfort during CPAP Machine usage. Marilyn’s Mask
Redesigning a ventilation mask fit to reach desired/needed O2 levels at night
An ad for a medical wheelchair, including size, condition, description, and name of donor.   Reuse App
Network to connect, giveaway, and access free, donated assistive technology
 Hand interacting with grey, cloth-bound sensory sphere next to responsive, purple LED light. Sensory Board
Interactive tool for relaxation in the NYU Dentistry multisensory room
F-zero, valued at 104.7, translated as a mid-sized pink dot inside of a circle with dashed, pink stroke.  Visual-Acoustic Biofeedback App for Voice Feminization
An app that helps train and adjust vocal frequencies. 
Hand gripping a six-headed toothbrush with an adapted, U-shaped handle. Gripez Brush
Assistive toothbrush for individuals with limited hand dexterity, strength or endurance
An infographic titled Mobility, split into two columns: Do's and Dont's. Guidelines for an Accessible Ability Project Space

 

Fall 2018 Projects

Six image grid shows the process of creation, from CNC machine to painting wood finish. Sharifa’s Workstation (NYU Login Required)
Custom workstation that allows for supported elbows and wrists while using laptop and having meals in bed, while eliminating need for heat-producing blankets as props.
An Arduino facilitating connection, between the movie selector and an Apple TV, with blue arrows. Benjamin’s Video Access Project (NYU Login Required)
Movie player that does not require fine motor skills to control. 
Three icons to select from, representing different times of the day. Rusk Rehabilitation Compliance (NYU Login Required)
Application to help patients with a neurological injury (Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson’s Disease) keep track of their home exercise/activities program that they are provided with in therapy.

Fall 2017 Projects

Child standing on balancing board near a screen displaying a target object. Rock and Roll Balance Game (NYU Login Required)
Device that can aid children with hearing impairments in improving balance.
A walkie-talkie with exposed circuit board and wiring. Toktalkie (NYU Login Required)
Walkie talkie designed for toddlers with hearing loss. 
 A mat split into four sections with a speaker at each corner and a person walking toward one corner. Sound Squared (NYU Login Required)
Game for students to identify the source of different sounds. 

Fall 2016 Projects

A screen with nine icons that each correspond to an area of the body that may exhibit pain. ICU Communication (NYU Login Required)
Application designed to help patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) who are mechanically ventilated communicate with their hands.
Three speaker like devices with a colored LED light on top. Striviright Visuals and Sounds (NYU Login Required)
Toy designed for children under five years who have recently undergone cochlear implantation surgery and are beginning to acquire auditory skills.
A screen instructing the user to drag the bird icon down to a position on the black line.  Talk Birdy: (2) (NYU Login Required)
An application design for academic research, crowdsourcing, and as a supplemental learning tool for disordered speech production.  

Fall 2015 Projects

Colorful, farm animal themed puzzle with built-in haptic vibration, LED lights, speakers, and magnets.   Animal World Sensory Board (NYU Login Required)
Interactive toys designed for children with auditory processing disorders that explore multiple sensory stimuli. 
A large green mat and smaller black mat embellished with silver conductive material, wired to a Makey Makey.   Developing Assistive Touch (NYU Login Required)
Interactive mat designed to improve motor planning skills and functional hand use for girls with Rett Syndrome. 
Entry Page screen shows rectangular blocks for saved project canvases. Clear Canvas (NYU Login Required)
Diagramming tool for visually-impaired users to design the layout of a room. 
A person drilling pieces of plywood to a four-wheeled dolly. Recov-A-Chair (NYU Login Required)
Device intended to help wheelchair users recover their seats should they ever fall out. 
"Start" app's tutorial page shows space for wave module and gives instruction on how to make it move.  “Start” Biofeedback Application (2) (NYU Login Required)
Implement fully functional skeleton of the app Tutorial section in reveal.js.
"Manage Samples" screen with mouse hovering over the green Create button, and a table of existing samples. Talk Birdy(1) (NYU Login Required)
Application designed for speech researchers to rate the quality of speech in short samples using Mechanical Turk. 
Touchscreen keyboard displays keys in alphabetical order, divides each column of keys by color-coding. Tools for Abey (NYU Login Required)
Custom panels within Mac OS X Switch Control to provide a new way for Abey to access a computer.

Fall 2014 Projects

Start page includes a teal start button and the name of the game with a little red monkey.  Monkey Vine Game (NYU Login Required)
Game designed for children (age 7-12) with mild learning disabilities to improve the “updating” executive function. 
Silhouette of child reaching toward one of two gradient filled circles. Sensory Steps (NYU Login Required)
Game that detects physical movement to be used in physical and occupational therapy to help children maintain balance.