AT Lab Making Others' Lives Easier
By Bangerter, Ranae; Utah Statesman Online,Publication Date: September 17, 2007
Article features two projects at Utah State University's Assistive Technology (AT) Lab, where students work together to create devices to aid persons with disabilities in Utah and several surrounding states. Citizens themselves bring requests to the lab, which responds with new technologies. (1) An oven rack is being designed for a woman with impaired balance which makes her unable to transfer food to and from the oven. Its design resembles a forklift with a square base and four wheels. An electric motor at the base raises and lowers a shaft on which a tray is mounted. A dish to be baked is placed on the tray which is lowered until level with the oven rack; a handle incorporated into the design is used to push the dish into the oven and also to retrieve it. (2) A chair was developed to enable a 7-year-old girl, who is losing her ability to walk, to participate in hiking with her family. It resembles a rickshaw, with two handles in front to pull it, a bucket seat, and two bike tires as wheels. The chair has built-in shocks and suspension for a smooth ride.
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