Collaborative Design for Assistive Technology

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The presentation will describe the projects that have come from the Developing Assistive Technology class, a combined effort with the graduate students of the Occupational Therapy department and the artists, technologist and designers of the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University. As artists and therapists work together and explore the field of assistive technology design, new products both spirited and therapeutic are created. Several projects will be highlighted to explain the process and end results of the collaboration. One project illustrates the possibility of using new technology to engage a child in open-ended play that doubles as therapy. Another project will describe designing for the limitations of the users while incorporating their existing skills; a wheelchair DJ music system was developed for an eighteen year old boy with cerebral palsy who has an interest in hip-hop culture. The projects from the Developing Assistive Technology class realistically support that multidisciplinary collaboration between designers and therapists is worthwhile. The new products and experiences that are created bring an aesthetic and playfulness that is needed and welcomed in the medical world. Slideshows and videos will be displayed for several projects during the presentation.

Stream: Science, Technology, Environment and the Humanities

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

John Schimmel is currently a resident researcher and adjunct instructor at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU working with assistive technology. His personal work includes self expression tools for people with disabilities, playful physical objects connected to the Internet, tools for public performance broadcasting and innovative web applications. Schimmel has a degree in Information Science and Technology from Drexel University and a master's degree from ITP at NYU.