In my current research, I develop assistive technology devices for people with disabilities. I teach a projects course in the spring, BMME 220, in which students design and construct devices for individuals in the Chapel Hill area. They work with a local therapist to develop a device that meets the needs of their clients. At the end of the semester, the device is donated to the therapists.
Therapists use conventional pop beads to promote eye-hand coordination and muscle development.
However, children quickly become bored with the task of connecting the beads to form a chain. We designed and built a circuit that fits inside the beads so that they light up, play a song, and vibrate when connected or disconnected. Vest-mounted communication device. We have incorporated a communication device into a vest so that a boy with cerebral palsy always has the device with him. The teacher or parent can record four different messages, and he plays them back by pulling on the appropriate cord that hangs from the vest.