WELCOME TO THE FIRST WALS
LECTURE OF 2023.
I'M A TENURE TRACK INVESTIGATOR
IN THE NEUROREHABILITATION
SECTION OF THE CLINICAL CENTER'S
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT.
I'M THRILLED AND HONORED TO
INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER TODAY, DR.
RORY COOPER, WHO HAS PIONEERED
INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR
WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER ASSISTIVE
ROBOTICS AND DEVICES.
DR. COOPER IS AND THIS WILL TAKE
A FEW MINUTES TO SAY, THE
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AND PAST
CHAIR IN DEPARTMENT OF
REHABILITATION SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSOR OF
BIOENGINEERING, PHYSICAL
MEDICINE, REHABILITATION AND
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH.
HE'S ALSO ASSISTANT VICE CHAIR
FOR STEM AT PITTSBURGH INVITED
PROFESSOR AT A UNIVERSITY IN
CHINA.
ADDITIONALLY, PERHAPS MOST
PERTINENT, HE'S FOUNDER AND
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN ENGINEERING
RESEARCH LABORATORIES AT PITT
WHERE HE AND TEAM CREATE TOOLS
TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL.
AS YOU CAN SEE, DR. COOPER USES
A WHEELCHAIR TO MOVE ABOUT.
WHILE SERVING IN THE U.S. ARMY,
IN GERMANY IN 1980, AN ACCIDENT
LEFT HIM WITH A PARALYZING
SPINAL CORD INJURY.
HE WAS ONLY 20 YEARS OLD AT THE
TIME, THIS ACCIDENT CLEARLY HAS
SHAPED DR. COOPER'S LIFE IN WAYS
THAT I CONSIDER POSITIVE BY
VIRTUE OF HIS THEN PUTTING THIS
EXPERIENCE AND HIS INTELLIGENCE
AND CREATIVITY TO WORK IN
HELPING IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
OTHERS.
AFTER HIS MILITARY SERVICE, HE
EARNED A BACHELOR'S AND
MASTER'S, RECEIVED HIS Ph.D.
IN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER
ENGINEERING WITH CONCENTRATION
IN BIOENGINEERING FROM
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA
BARBARA.
WENT ON TO BE ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR AT SACRAMENTO STATE
UNIVERSITY, BEFORE MOVING TO
PITT AS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
WHERE HE FOUNDED THE HUMAN
ENGINEERING RESEARCH LAB AND
ALSO V.A. CENTER.
HE HAS AUTHORED OR CO-AUTHORED
ALMOST 400 PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL
ARTICLES, TWO BOOKS, CO-AUTHOR
OF THE AWARD-WINNING BOOK, CARE
OF THE COMBAT AMPUTEE, 20
PATENTS AWARDED OR PENDING.
FOR A BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF HIS
WORK, DO A YouTube SEARCH OF
COOPER AND NEW CHAIR, THAT'S
PNEU SHORT FOR PNEUMATICS,
POWERED BY COMPRESSED AIR WHICH
BROADENS POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS
FOR USE INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE
ALLOWING CHILDREN TO OPERATE
THIS WHEELCHAIR AT A WATER PARK
WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING
ELECTROCUTED.
DR. COOPER HAS DONE SIMILAR
REHAB WORK WITH INJURED VETERANS
THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STREET AT
WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY
MEDICAL CENTER, MANY OF WHOM I'M
TOLD ARE WATCHING TODAY.
DR. COOPER'S AN ACCOMPLISHED
ATHLETE, PARTICIPANTS IN
NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR
GAMES, WINNING MORE THAN 200
MEDALS IN SPORTS SUCH AS SLALOM,
TRACK, SWIMMING, TABLE TENNIS,
HAND CYCLE.
AS WE NOTED IN OUR ADVERTISEMENT
FOR THIS LECTURE, WE'RE PRETTY
SURE DR. COOPER IS THE ONLY WALS
SPEAKER TO BE FEATURED ON A BOX
OF CHEERIOS FOR HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WE'RE STILL CHECKING WITH DR.
FAUCI'S OFFICE.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
BUT WE PRETTY CONFIDENT.
OTHER HONORS INCLUDE SIGMA CHI
MCGOVERN AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT
TRANSCENDING THE CAREER
HAME NEXT SERVICE TO AMERICAN
SERVICE MEDAL.
ARMY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, AND
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEDAL, LAST
WEEK NAMED TO NATIONAL INVENT
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023.
I COULD CONTINUE BUT NOW I WANT
TO SHARE THE PLEASURE WITH YOU
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD
THROUGHOUT THE DAY OF HEARING
FROM OUR SPEAKER.
THE TITLE IS FORGING A NEW
FUTURE, INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES IN TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING DR.
RORY COOPER.
[APPLAUSE]
>>THANK YOU, THOMAS, FOR
THE GREAT INTRODUCTION AND FOR
LETTING ME BE BACK AT NIH AND
LET ME SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND MILLIONS OF WITH
DISABILITIES ACROSS AMERICA AND
HOPEFULLY I'LL SHARE
CONTRIBUTIONS WE MADE AND HAVE A
LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE
HOPE TO MAKE AND MAYBE SOME
THINGS WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
THIS IS OUR
BROCHURE FROM WHEN WE TURNED 25,
WILL TURN 30 NEXT YEAR, I CAME
TO PITTSBURGH AS -- ACTUALLY
NON-TENURE STREAM POSITION, FOR
THREE YEARS, AND 29 YEARS LATER
I'M STILL THERE.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL CAREER,
BOTH WITH THE V.A. AND
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, AS
WELL AS COLLABORATING IN
BETHESDA.
LET ME SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO.
>>ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE HAS A
DISABILITY THAT IMPAIRS THEIR
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND
TECHNOLOGY HAS POTENTIAL FOR
IMPROVING LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
>>I WAS A SERGEANT IN EUROPE
WHEN I WAS INJURED, CAME HOME
WITH A SPINAL CORD INJURY, HAD
TO USE A WHEELCHAIR.
IT WAS LIKE AN 80-POUND BEHEMOTH
I COULD HARDLY GET IN THE CAR.
I REALIZED THERE WERE TREMENDOUS
NEEDS FOR IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY,
IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT,
IMPROVING PERCEPTIONS OF PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES.
I OPPORTUNITY AROSE TO WORK WITH
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AND
V.A. PITTSBURGH HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, IT WAS NATURAL THAT WE
WOULD START HERL.
>>THE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE
QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH ADVANCED
RESEARCH OR ENGINEERING, GET
PEOPLE MORE INTEGRATED INTO THE
COMMUNITY, TO MAKE THEM MORE
ENDENT THROUGH SOME OF OUR
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE,
WHETHER EDUCATIONAL OR RESEARCH
OR OUTREACH.
SOME OF THE THINGS YOU PROBABLY
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME I WANTED TO
SHARE, THIS PICTURE HERE,
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, MY FIRST
MARATHON, MY HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER.
ONE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY
IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS PICTURE,
THIS IS MY PEER MENTOR,
SOMETHING WE NEED TO USE MORE,
TIM DAVIS, INJURED IN THE TET
OFFENSIVE, A MARINE.
THE OTHER THING, TIM AND I ARE
STILL FRIENDS.
THE V.A. WAS COLLABORATIVE IN
MANAGING ME WITH TIM, MARRIED,
WITH KIDS, WORKED, GAVE ME A
ROLE MODEL TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT
FROM AS WELL.
I LIKE THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST MARATHON BOTH
FOR TIM AND I.
THIS IS ABOUT THE HALFWAY POINT.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT I WON MY
FIRST MARATHON.
TIM WAS MORE OF A BASKETBALL
PLAYER.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN 2019 I GOT TO
EXPERIENCE REHAB ALL OVER AGAIN,
NOT SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND.
I HAD A PRETTY SEVERE ACCIDENT
IN THE MARINE CORPS MARATHON
HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WOUND
UP IN A COMA FOR ABOUT FOUR
DAYS, GOT GREAT CARE BY SOME OF
YOUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE STREET,
AND THEN WENT BACK TO
PITTSBURGH, BACK TO THE V.A.
AND AFTER GOING THROUGH REHAB,
LEARNING THAT PROCESS, WENT TO
ACUTE REHAB, OUTPATIENT REHAB,
BACK FULLY IN THE FIGHT BUT WAS
ALSO SURPRISED HOW MUCH CHANGED,
HOW MUCH HAD NOT CHANGED IN THAT
TIME PERIOD.
AND THEN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT ME THAT YOU MIGHT NOT
KNOW, THIS IS AN ARTICLE IN THE
ENGINEERING TIMES, AND CAME OUT
IN THE 1990s AFTER I HAD DONE
THIS RACE IN SEATTLE, AND I WENT
TO A BURGER KING AFTERWARDS AND
IF YOU SAW THE VIDEO, IN THE
EARLY RACING CHAIRS THE WHEELS
WERE UNDER YOUR ARMPITS, BLOODY,
DIRTY, ROAD DIRT.
THIS GENTLEMAN, THIS REPORTER,
WAS THERE.
AND HE THOUGHT I WAS A HOMELESS
VETERAN.
WE GOT TO TALKING IN LINE.
I'M A PROFESSOR, I HAVE A
Ph.D., I DO RESEARCH.
HE WROTE THIS ARTICLE THAT SAID
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE NOT
CORRECT.
I WOUND UP BUYING HIM LUNCH, AND
WE HAD BREAKFAST TOGETHER.
I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS A REPORTER,
HE NEVER TOLD ME.
THIS ARTICLE CAME OUT.
TWENTY YEARS LATER I'M DOING THE
AIR FORCE MARATHON IN DAYTON,
OHIO, WITH A GROUP OF PARALYZED
VETERANS, PEOPLE FROM THE
WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, I
CROSSED THE FINISH LINE.
THIS GENTLEMAN RUNS UP TO ME AND
SAYS, ARE YOU DR. COOPER?
YES.
HEY, MY SON JUST BEAT YOU IN THE
MARATHON!
OH, THAT'S NICE.
THAT'S GREAT.
OH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN IT
LIKE THAT.
STAY HERE, I WANT TO GET YOU
SOMETHING.
HE WAS AN ENGINEER, AND HE HAD
SEEN THE ARTICLE WHEN IT CAME
OUT.
HIS SON WAS BORN WITH SPINA
BIFIDA.
HE BOUGHT TWO COPIES OF THE
NEWSPAPER, HAD THEM LAMINATED,
HUNG ONE NEXT TO HIS SON'S BED
AND TOOK ONE AND HUNG IT IN HIS
CUBICLE.
HE TOLD ME THAT HIS SON HAD JUST
GRADUATED FROM MICHIGAN,
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,
MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND THAT HE
WAS AN ATHLETE, JUST BECAUSE OF
ME, FOLLOWING MY HISTORY, MY
LIFESTYLE.
IT'S LIKE EINSTEIN SAYS, YOU'RE
ALWAYS AN EXAMPLE EVEN IF A BAD
EXAMPLE.
SO, IT WAS REMARKABLE.
AS A GIFT HE GAVE ME A LAMINATED
COPY OF THE ARTICLE.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY FOR
ME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE
ARTICLE, RATHER THAN WHEN IT
FIRST CAME OUT.
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF
DISABILITY, ONE OF THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEES TO THE PRESIDENT.
I LIKE IT BECAUSE ONE OF THE
THINGS I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO DO IS REALLY ENGAGE WITH
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OLDER
ADULTS, RESEARCH AREAS,
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO BE
MEMBERS OF YOUR RESEARCH TEAM.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE THROUGH MY
SLIDES AND THE VIDEO, THIS
PICTURE OF BRANDON AND JOHN
DUVALL, JOHN IS A -- OOPS,
SORRY.
JOHN IS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE NOW
IN HERL, PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH,
BRANDON IS ONE OF OUR POSTDOCS.
THEY ARE BOTH ENGINEERS.
BRANDON STUDIED ENGINEERING
SCIENCE, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER,
JOHN IS BIOMECHANICAL, HELPS
MAKE THE RESEARCH REAL AS WELL.
WE NEED WAR OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S
LOSS KNOWLEDGE IF WE DON'T BE
MORE INCLUSIVE.
♪
>>I LEFT FEELING WITH --
>>OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS,
ONE OF OUR VETERAN STUDENTS.
♪
>>I GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH, A COMPUTER ENGINEER.
>>I'M GOING TO GO BACK, YOU
DON'T NEED TO SEE THE WHOLE
VIDEO ABOUT LAURA.
ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT,
FINDING OUR VETERANS AND HELPING
GET THEM INTO COLLEGE, WE HAVE
THIS -- IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS
YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT ARE
INTERESTED WE HAVE SEVERAL
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS,
ELEVATE IS FOR VETERAN
COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A VALOR
PROGRAM, WHICH HAS INTRODUCED
PEOPLE INTERESTED IN V.A.
RESEARCH CAREERS, SO 10-WEEK
PAID INTERNSHIPS, NSF-FUNDED
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR
UNDERGRADUATES THAT CAN SPEND
TIME WITH US.
THERE'S A LOT MORE RESEARCH
NEEDED, BUT THE POWER OF
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE
LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES BETTER IS
ESTABLISHED NOW.
I ACTUALLY, WHEN I TALK TO OUR
RESIDENTS, TELL THEM, IT'S ONE
OF THE FEW THINGS A RESIDENT CAN
PRESCRIBE IS PRETTY MUCH
GUARANTEED TO HAVE A POSITIVE
OUTCOME FOR THEIR PATIENTS.
AND SO LET ME MOVE ON.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I STARTED
WORKING ON PROBABLY IN THE LAST
TEN YEARS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OUTSIDE MY NORMAL DOMAIN, IS
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE
ARE NOT AS MANY SCIENTISTS AND
ENGINEERS WITH DISABILITIES IN
OUR FIELD.
AND PART OF THAT LARGELY HAS TO
DO WITH THREE FACTORS.
IT HAS TO DO WITH ACCESSIBILITY
OF LABORATORIES, FIELD EXERCISES
AND COMPUTING RESOURCES.
SO A CIVILITY PROBLEM.
THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE
KNOWLEDGE GAP.
A LOT OF TEACHERS AND SCIENTISTS
DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEIR
PROGRAMS INCLUSIVE FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
THE THIRD PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH
THE WAY THAT WE DO SCIENCE
EDUCATION.
IN MANY HIGH SCHOOLS, MANY
STATES, SCIENCE EDUCATION IS NOT
REQUIRED AFTER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
A LOT OF KIDS WITH DISABILITIES
ARE REDIRECTED INTO OTHER AREAS,
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY THEN TO BECOME
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.
I THINK THAT LEADS TO A LACK OF
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS THAT
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AMERICAN
SOCIETY.
SO, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT
IN BOTH THE MEDICAL SPACE AND
THE ENGINEERING SPACE.
THE NICE THING IS THE NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION STARTED TO
PICK UP ON THIS AND IS AWARDING
GRANTS.
THEY HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED
INCLUDES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED --
TRAINING UNDERREPRESENTED
SCIENTISTS, THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND THE
VETERANS COMMUNITY.
I'M GOING TO TALK NOW MORE ABOUT
OUR ACTUAL RESEARCH.
WE USE THIS PADE PROCESS, WHILE
WE LOOK AT USER INGAUGE.
THROUGH THE PROCESS, BEGINNING
WITH USER IDENTIFICATION, STORY
BOARDING, MOVIES ARE MADE,
GRAPHIC NOVELS, MOCKUP SYSTEMS.
THIS IS -- THESE ARE ALSO A
COUPLE FORMER STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES, JOE WILSON AND IAN
RICE.
WE DO LARGE SCALE SURVEYS AND
THEN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT.
SO, WE ACTUALLY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF COMPLETING ANOTHER
SURVEY OF OVER A THOUSAND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
LOOKING AT RESEARCH PRIORITIES
TO SET OUR PRIORITIES.
THIS IS A SURVEY WE DID THREE
YEARS AGO, THE RESULTS VERY
INTERESTING.
FIVE PRIORITIES PEOPLE CAME UP
WITH.
AND IT REALLY SHOWS A COUPLE
THINGS.
PEOPLE ARE -- END USERS ARE
PRETTY ASTUTE AND CLEVER AT WHAT
THEIR NEEDS ARE.
AND WHAT RESEARCH PRIORITIES
COULD BE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS -- IF YOU
LOOK AT THE CENTER, ONE REALLY
OVERARCHING TEAM WAS
PARTICIPATORY DESIGN AND
RESEARCH, THAT INCLUDED
UNIVERSAL DESIGN, IMPROVING
POLICY AND PRACTICE, REDUCING
COST, COST EFFECTIVENESS.
IMPROVING EDUCATION, DEVELOPING
STANDARDS AND IMPROVING
RELIABILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE
TRANSLATION WITH FOUR TECHNICAL
DOMAINS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED,
SUBCATEGORIES WITHIN THOSE
DOMAINS.
THAT GUIDES OUR RESEARCH.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE PUTTING OUR
EMPHASIS AND OUR RESOURCES.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING WE DID
THIS STUDY, WE FOUND PEOPLE THAT
IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO DEVELOP
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ACTUALLY EXIST
AND BY AND LARGE ARE READY
AVAILABLE.
THAT IDENTIFIED THERE WAS A
KNOWLEDGE GAP.
THAT HOW DO WE DISSEMINATE OUR
RESEARCH AND OF COURSE YOU KNOW
HERE AT NIH AND THOSE LISTENING,
GET FUNDING BY VARIOUS FEDERAL
AGENCIES OR WORK IN THEM, WE
TEND TO FOCUS ON PEER-REVIEWED
PUBLICATIONS WHICH IS NECESSARY
BUT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS
COMMUNICATING TO OUR PEERS, IT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT
WE'RE COMMUNICATING TO THE END
USERS WHICH COULD BE CLINICIANS
OR THE PEOPLE USING THE
TECHNOLOGY OR THE THERAPEUTICS
OR THE THERAPIES THAT WE
DEVELOP.
SO WE STUDY THAT AS WELL, IN
THIS STUDY OF OVER 500 PEOPLE,
WE DID DO K CLUSTER ANALYSIS AND
FOUND IT FILL IN THREE GROUPS.
I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING
THING ABOUT THIS IS PEOPLE DO
RELY HEAVILY ON CLINICIANS AS A
KNOWLEDGE SOURCE, WHERE THEY
SHOULD GET NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND
WHERE SHOULD GET NEW TREATMENTS.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT'S
INTERESTING IS THAT ACTUALLY
MORE OLDER PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON
THE INTERNET AND USING THE
SEARCH ENGINES FOR FINDING
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
SO, WE RECENTLY JUST COMPLETED A
META-ANALYSIS, AND THE
META-ANALYSIS ACTUALLY FOUND OUT
THAT THE -- BROKE DOWN DOMAINS
INTERESTED IN, LIVING IN THE
COMMUNITY, IMPROVING LEISURE AND
TRAVEL, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING,
AND EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
FROM THE META-ANALYSIS CONSUMERS
IDENTIFIED THESE TECHNICAL
DOMAINS, AREAS WHERE THEY WANTED
TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT'S
TRANSPORTATION AND AUTOMOBILE
DRIVING, IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE YOU
HAVE A DIFFICULT OR DON'T HAVE
GOOD ACCESS TO PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION THEN YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO -- PROBLEMS WITH
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE,
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, ACCESS TO
VOTING, TO WORK, WORSHIP.
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND
WHEELCHAIRS, POWER SOURCES,
RECREATION AND LEISURE, AND THEN
PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICES, OR
PERSONAL TRANSFER DEVICES
GETTING FROM ONE SURFACE TO
ANOTHER, AND SMART HOME
TECHNOLOGY WHICH INCLUDES
TELEHEALTH, AND THEN MOBILE
APPLICATIONS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
IT RELATES TO THE RURAL HEALTH
PROBLEM AS WELL, GETTING ACCESS
AND REHABILITATION IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
SO LET ME GO INTO SOME OF OUR
RESEARCH DOMAINS.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A
TEST LABORATORY WHERE WE CAN
DESTROY WHEELCHAIRS AND
TECHNOLOGY, WORKING ON STANDARDS
DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
AND GLOBABLY. -- GLOBALLY, TO
IMPROVE OVERALL QUALITY, WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE FDA, IT RESULTS
IN INTERESTING PRODUCTS.
LET ME SHOW ONE THING THAT
BOTHERS ME.
THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED A CURB
DROP TEST, A MULTI-DROP TEST,
THE TWO FATIGUE TESTS USED IN
WHEELCHAIR TESTING.
THIS REPRESENTS THE EQUIVALENT
CYCLE, THAT A CHAIR MUST PASS TO
MEET FDA STANDARDS.
SO, IF YOU UNDERSTAND
KAPLAN-MEIER CURVES, THESE
SHOULD BE STRAIGHT LINES UNTIL
THEY GET PAST THAT LINE, AND
START TO DECAY.
WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THESE
CHAIRS ARE ON THE MARKET.
THESE ARE ALREADY FDA APPROVED
AND MARKETED DEVICES.
BUT ACCORDING TO OUR OWN
STANDARDS THESE ARE OUR OWN
STANDARDS USED BY THE FDA, NOT
MY OWN STANDARDS, THEY DON'T,
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT IT'S
ONLY REALLY THIS ONE ULTRALIGHT
ALUMINUM FRAME DESIGNS THAT BY
AND LARGE COMPLY AND THE OTHER
ONES BY AND LARGE ACTUALLY FAIL.
WHAT'S ALSO CONCERNING ME AS AN
ENGINEER, THEY FAIL FOR RATHER
BENIGN REASONS, MUNDANE REASONS,
LIKE HEAT EFFECTIVE IN HIGH
STRESS AREA, THE WELD, OR HOLES
DRILLED IN HIGH STRESS AREAS, OR
MATERIALS NOT BEING ANEALED,
THINGS WE LEARN IN SOPHOMORE,
JUNIOR LEVEL OF ENGINEER WE N
EED TO WORK ON.
THIS IS THE OBLIQUE ANGLE
SUSPENSION CASTOR FORK THAT ADDS
SUSPENSION ELEMENTS.
MOST VIBRATION COMES THROUGH THE
CASTERS BECAUSE YOU SPEND TIME
GOING FORWARD, YOU CAN REDUCE
SHOCK AND VIBRATION EXPOSED TO
USER, INCREASE LIFE OF THE
WHEELCHAIR.
YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS FIRST
GETTING INTO THIS, WELL, WHEN I
FIRST WORKED ON THIS AS A
GRADUATE STUDENT, THIS IS THE
SMART WHEEL HERE, MEASURES
FORCES ON THE WHEELCHAIR.
I DIDN'T HAVE ALTRUISTIC
MOTIVATIONS, I WANTED TO WIN A
MEDAL IN THE PARALYMPICS.
WE DEVELOPED THE FIRST VERSION
OF THE SMART WHEELS FOR THE
RACING, AND THE 2021 PARAOLYMPIC
TEAM, THOSE ARE TATIANA
MCFADDEN'S HAND PRINTS ON THE
WHEEL, GLOVE PRINTS, WE USED THE
TEAM IN ILLINOIS TO TRAIN THEM,
OPTIMIZE PROPULSION PATTERNS, IT
HAD THE IMPACT ON DAILY USE.
THIS IS THE -- LET ME JUST SEE.
SO, THIS IS AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE
OF THE MEDIAN NERVE LOOKING
AXIAL DOWN THE NERVE, SOMEWHAT
FLATTENED.
WE HAD PEOPLE PROPEL THE
WHEELCHAIRS IN A FATIGUE TYPE
COURSE, ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF
FAIRLY STRENUOUS WHEELCHAIR
PROPULSION AND LOOKED AT THE
MEDIAN NERVE, MIKE BONINGER DID
THE WORK WITH US, LOOKING AT
ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES.
BACK IN THE 1990s AND EARLY
2000s, 80% OF USERS DEVELOPED
CARPAL TUNNEL WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
MANY REPORTED THAT IT WAS AS
DEVASTATING ON THEIR LIFE AS THE
ORIGINAL INJURY.
SO, AS A RESULT OF THAT WE DID
THIS SMARTWHEEL HELPED US SEE
THAT HAPPENING AND RELATE TO
WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION AND SETUP.
WE FOUND BODY WEIGHT WAS AN
IMPORTANT PREDICTOR, TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE ABOUT MAINTAINING A
HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT, BECAUSE IT
ALSO HARMS YOU NOT ONLY IN
PROPULSION BUT TRANSFERS, THE
OTHER ISSUE WAS ABOUT MOVING
AXLES FORWARD TO TAKE MORE
WEIGHT OFF THE FRONT CASTERS SO
YOU DRIVE MORE ON THE LOWER
FRICTION REAL WHEELS AND REDUCE
THE FORCE, FORCE TIMES DISTANCE,
INCREASE THE ANGLE OR DISTANCE,
LOWER THE FORCE, PUTS LESS
STRAIN ON THE UPPER EXTREMITIES.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE PATENTED AND
DEVELOPED TWO TECHNOLOGIES,
ERGONOMIC PUSH BROOMS.
I USE THEM MYSELF TODAY.
THEY TOOK A PROPULSION FROM
PINCH GRIP, REDUCING STRAIN ON
THE JOINTS, REDUCING AMOUNT OF
GRIPPING FORCE THAT HAD TO BE
APPLIED.
ALSO LOST ENERGY BASICALLY.
WHAT'S REALLY COOL, THEY ARE ON
THE MARKET BY A COMPANY, AND
THEY -- OOPS, SORRY.
AND THEY -- NOW WE SEE THE RATES
OF CARPAL TUNNEL AND ROTATOR
CUFF INJURIES BECAUSE OF BETTER
SETUP AND DESIGN, IS ABOUT 20%.
PROBABLY WON'T GET MUCH LOWER
WITH CHANGES IN THE WHEELCHAIR
BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER ACTIVITIES
SUCH AS TRANSFERS AND OTHER -- A
LOT OF USE OF UPPER EXTREMITIES,
AND THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE
WORKING ON AS WELL.
THOSE PATENTS ARE SET TO EXPIRE,
BUT THERE ARE NOW KNOCKOFF OR
REPLICA PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET
WHICH TO ME SHOWS WE WERE ON THE
RIGHT TRACK BECAUSE ONCE THE
PATENT EXPIRES, IT COMES ON THE
MARKET, IT SHOWS YOU WERE
WORKING ON SOMETHING OF VALUE.
MEYER KAPLAN SURVIVOR CAP
ANALYSIS, THE OTHER THING IS
ROAD SHOCK AND VIBRATION.
WHEELCHAIR USERS EXPERIENCE THE
SAME LEVEL OF RIDE CHOCK AND
VIBRATION AS HELICOPTER PILOTS
AND LONG HAUL TRUCKERS.
AND SO DR. GILMAN KNOWS
HELICOPTER PILOTS HAVE BACK AND
NECK PROBLEMS, BECAUSE OF SHOCK
AND VIBRATION EXPOSURE.
TURNS OUT SO DO WHEELCHAIR
USERS.
SO DR. KOONTZ ON OUR TEAM IS
LOOKING AT IN-WHEEL SUSPENSION
SYSTEMS.
THESE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES,
KIND OF LIKE THE SPAGHETTI SPOKE
DESIGN WHAT I'M USING ON MY
CHAIR ACTUALLY.
A SOFT SPOKE THAT ALLOWS FOR
SOME SUSPENSION.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONES, IT'S
BASICALLY THREE SHOCK ABSORBERS
PLACED IN THE SPOKES, THE OTHER
THIRD DESIGN IS THREE PROSTHETIC
FOOT BLADES.
THIS RESEARCH IS ONGOING BUT
SHOWS -- INDICATES BY WHEN YOU
HAVE ROUGH TERRAIN OR DROPPING
OFF CURBS IT DOES HELP REDUCE
SHOCK AND VIBRATION.
I TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE ERGONOMICS WITH THE
SMARTWHEEL.
THE V.A. AND A NUMBER OF
EUROPEAN COMPANIES PROVIDE -- SO
DOES TRICARE, PROVIDE HAND
CYCLES OF A MEANS OF EXERCISE
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES, LOWER EXTREMITY
DISABILITIES.
BUT NOW AS A NUMBER OF HAND
CYCLE USERS HAVE GROWN, CARPAL
TUNNEL SYNDROME HAS COME BACK.
NOT SO MUCH ROTATOR CUFF
INJURIES, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
BECAUSE OF THE PUSHING/PULLING
MOTION IT'S BETTER FOR MUSCLE
BALANCE.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE HAND
CYCLINGS AS A MEANS OF EXERCISE
BUT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT
INCREASE IN CARPAL TUNNEL
SYNDROME AGAIN.
IT TURNS OUT WE WORKED WITH
SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE,
PRIMARILY UNIVERSITY OF
AMSTERDAM, ALSO A UNIVERSITY IN
THE U.K. TO LOOK AT THE OPTIMAL
ANGLE FOR THE GRIP, HOW DO YOU
REDUCE AMOUNT OF GRIP REQUIRED,
THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES, ALSO HOW
DO YOU IMPROVE GRIP SO YOU GET
LESS GRIPPING FORCES REQUIRED
WHILE HAND CYCLING, THAT
RESULTED IN THIS -- THESE
ERGONOMICS.
WE'RE STILL DOING RESEARCH BUT
STUDIES SHOW IT'S A PRETTY
EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR REDUCING
THE STRAINS ON THE HAND AND
WRIST.
I MENTIONED TRANSFERS IS
IMPORTANT.
THIS IS SOME OF DR. KOONZ'S
WORK, USING GAMING TECHNOLOGY.
SO THE MICROSOFT CONNECT
TECHNOLOGY.
IN ORDER TO EXTEND TRANSFER
TRAINING INTO THE HOME, SHE'S
NOW DOING TRAINING, PEER TO PEER
TRAINING AS WELL, IF I'M GOOD AT
TRANSFERRING IN THE CAR I CAN
SHARE THAT KNOWLEDGE WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE TO HELP LEARN HOW
TO TRANSFER IN THE CAR AS WELL.
AND SO IT'S REALLY NICE BECAUSE
IT'S AN INEXPENSIVE SYSTEM,
SOFTWARE IS READILY AVAILABLE,
AND IT'S REALLY JUST A SIMPLE
APP THAT PEOPLE CAN DOWNLOAD AND
YOU CAN DO PEER-TO-PEER SHARING,
YOU CAN DO EDUCATION, YOU CAN DO
CLINICIAN-TO-CUSTOMER TRAINING
AS WELL.
SO, I'M GOING TO SHIFT GEARS NOW
TO ANOTHER REAL COMMON PROBLEM
AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH LOWER
EXTREMITY PARALYSIS PRESSURE
INJURIES.
THEY COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING,
ESPECIALLY IN LOW-INCOME
COUNTRIES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE
THE SAME ACCESS TO CARE.
WE'VE BEEN -- ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS, WE DO A GREAT JOB IN
THE CLINTON ISSUE TEACHING
IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION OF
INJURIES BUT DON'T DO A GOOD JOB
TEACHING HOW TO PREVENT PRESSURE
INJURIES.
A GOOD FRIEND USED TO WORK HERE
AT NIH, DAVID GRAY, AND ONE OF
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IS
RESEARCHers, WHEN YOU WORK IN
THE LAB YOU LEARN WHAT PEOPLE
CAN DO.
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T LEARN IS WHAT
PEOPLE DO DO.
AND THAT WAS HIS CAN-DO/DO-DO
THEORY, BY THE WAY.
SO THE IDEA IS IF WE CAN PROVIDE
SENSORS UNDER THE SEAT OF THE
WHEELCHAIR, THEN WE CAN --
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
WE CAN MEASURE WHAT THEY DO DO,
WHAT TYPE OF -- DO THEY DO
PRESSURE RELEASE, DO THEY LEAN
FORWARD, LEAN LEFT, DO THEY LEAN
RIGHT, DO THEY SLOUCH AS A WAY
OF PRESSURE RELIEF?
WE DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO
PUSH-UPS ANYMORE, BECAUSE OF THE
STRAIN ON WRIST, ELBOW AND
SHOULDERS, IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN
THAT LONG ENOUGH TO BE EFFECTIVE
PRESSURE RELIEF.
THE IDEA IS TO COACH PEOPLE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE DEVELOPED
THIS TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE TESTED OVER 40 PEOPLE, WE
WERE ABLE TO SEE -- DETERMINE
USING MACHINE LEARNING WHETHER
THEY WERE DOING THE LEFT LEAN,
RIGHT LEAN, FORWARD LEAN.
IT'S PRETTY HARD TO DETERMINE
BACKWARD LEAN BUT WE CAN DO THAT
BY LOOKING NOT ONLY AT CENTER OF
PRESSURE BUT THE TOTAL WEIGHT ON
THE SEAT.
INTERESTING ADVANTAGE, THE
WHEELCHAIR BECOMES A SCALE SO
YOU CAN MEASURE BODY WEIGHT AS
WELL.
SO PEOPLE CAN HELP MAINTAIN BODY
WEIGHT.
NOW THE TRICKY PART, GET PEOPLE
TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR.
THE VIRTUAL SEATING COACH
WAS DEVELOPED BASICALLY IN ORDER
TO MEET THE CLINICAL NEED WE HAD
IDENTIFIED OF PEOPLE GETTING
POWER WHEELCHAIRS WITH POWER
SEAT FUNCTIONS BUT THEIR
CONDITION NOT IMPROVING.
AND SO WE DID A SERIES OF
EXPERIMENTS TO IDENTIFY THE
PEOPLE WOULD USE POWER SEAT
FUNCTIONS AND NOT NECESSARILY AS
INSTRUCTED.
THE IDEA CAN THE VIRTUAL SEATING
COACH TO USE ADVANCES IN
TECHNOLOGY, FIRST ONBOARD
COMPUTING, LATER WITH SMARTPHONE
TECHNOLOGY, TO PROVIDE THAT
COACHING IN REAL TIME,
CONTEXTUALLY AWARE ALL THE TIME,
AVAILABLE TO THE USER, AND
PROVIDE THAT DATA TO THE CLOUD,
SO ALGORITHMS COULD BE IMPROVED
BASED ON WHAT WAS LEARNED AS
WELL AS SHARE THE DATA WITH
CLINICIANS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
THEIR CLINICAL PRACTICE,
EVENTUALLY IMPROVE CLINICAL
PRACTICE GUIDELINES.
ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS THAT WE
USE THE TECHNOLOGY INTERACTING
WITH THE USER TO HELP THE USER
GET THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE
TECHNOLOGY THEY ARE USING.
>>SO, THE SAD THING ABOUT THAT
IS IT WOUND UP ON 50,000
PEOPLE'S CHAIRS, IT WAS GIVEN
OUT FREE, THROUGH THE
MANUFACTURERS, WE WORKED OUT
WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DO
THIS.
BUT WE MISJUDGED HOW SERVICES
ARE PROVIDED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE THERAPIST AND
THE REHAB TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIERS
WOULDN'T SET UP THE -- WOULD
ONLY SET UP THE COACH FOR A
SMALL FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ACTUALLY HAD IT, EVEN WHEN
INSTALLED FREE ON THEIR CHAIR.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PEOPLE THAT
GOT IT, IT REDUCED THEIR --
INCREASED COMPLIANCE BY
FOUR-FOLD.
WHICH SHOULD REDUCE INCIDENCE OF
PRESSURE ULCERS FOUR-FOLD.
THE BAD NEWS, NOT AS MANY PEOPLE
ACTUALLY GOT THE SYSTEM SET UP
FOR THEM, AS WE HOPED TO.
SO WE ARE TAKING A NEW TACK NOW.
WE'RE TAKING THE CLINICIAN AND
SUPPLIER OUT OF IT AND DOING
EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO THE END
USER SO THEY CAN SET UP THE APP
THEMSELVES WHICH I THINK THAT IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MORE OF A
TREND IN REMOTE HEALTH CARE OR
TELEMEDICINE IN THE FUTURE,
WHERE WE HAVE TO EDUCATE END
USERS TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS
IN THEIR OWN CARE AND EVEN MAYBE
ACTIVE MANAGERS OF THEIR OWN
CARE.
PARTIALLY, I THINK THAT'S DUE TO
THE FACT THAT THE CLINICIANS
JUST ARE SO PUSHED FOR TIME NOW,
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY GET TO
SPEND WITH INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS.
ON THE OTHER HAND I THINK SOME
PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THE
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE AND
COACHING WE CAN DO IS JUST NOT
GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ACTIVE
CUSHION TECHNOLOGY AS WELL.
THIS PROJECT WE HAD WITH
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS APPLIED
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THIS WAS AN
INSTRUMENTED BUTTOCKS SYSTEM FOR
HELICOPTER PILOTS, WOUND UP
USING WHEELCHAIR CUSHION TESTING
AS WELL.
THIS IS AN AIR BLADDER -- GO
BACK.
THIS IS AN AIR BLADDER CUSHION,
AND THEN EACH ONE OF THOSE CELLS
CAN BE CONTROLLED BY A VALVE AND
PUMPED, MOVE AIR INTO IT, ADDS
INTERNAL MICROELECTRONIC
MACHINED PRESSURE SENSORS, AND
THEN THAT'S THE INTERNAL
PRESSURING MAP.
THIS IS THE STANDARD OFF THE
SHELF PRESSURE MAPPING SYSTEM.
THEY ARE NOTORIOUSLY NOT VERY
ACCURATE BUT I THINK OUR DATA'S
MUCH BETTER REPRESENTATION AND
MUCH MORE ACCURATE, PRESSURE
SENSORS FOR ENGINEERS IN THE
ROOM, THOSE ARE QUITE ACCURATE,
CONVENIENCE FOR CONTROL.
AND THEN THIS IS WHAT WE DID, WE
TESTED, THIS IS JUST THE CUSHION
INFLATED, PEOPLE SIT ON IT,
THAT'S WHAT THEIR PRESSURE
DISTRIBUTION LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S OBVIOUS, TUBEROSITY.
STANDARD, PASSIVE CUSHIONS, WE
WOULD OFFLOAD TUBEROSITY, THIS
IS AN OFFLOADING ALGORITHM,
DETECT THE ISSUE OF TUBEROSITY.
THIS IS TRANSFERRING THE
PRESSURE TO THE SURROUNDING
SURFACES.
WITH THAT THERE COULD BE A
BETTER WAY, THE GOAL IS HOW DO
YOU MINIMIZE -- MAXIMIZE THE DB
MAXIMIZE DISTRIBUTION OF
PRESSURE ACROSS THE SEATING
SURFACE WHILE MINIMIZING
PRESSURE ON THE ISSUE OF
TUBEROSITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE
REDISTRIBUTED ALGORITHM.
YOU GET RID OF RED AND YELLOW
HIGH PRESSURE AREAS.
OF THE -- THE ACTIVE PART, AS
YOU MOVE IT WILL REDISTRIBUTE S
YOU MOVE.
OTHER ACTIVE CUSHIONS TEND TO GO
THROUGH SOME SORT OF CYCLE OF
APPLIED PRESSURE IN SEGMENTS OF
THE CUSHION.
THIS IS ACTIVELY LOOKING AT YOUR
PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION BASED ON
YOUR BODY AUTONOMICS AND WEIGHT
DISTRIBUTION, TRYING TO
REDISTRIBUTE TO MAXIMIZE
PRESSURE OVER THE ENTIRE
SURFACE, NO MATTER WHAT POSITION
YOU'RE IN.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO DO A CLINICAL
TRIAL FAIRLY SOON TO GET -- HOW
THIS ACTUALLY WORKS.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
GETTING --
SO, I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY
ACCIDENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- MY WIFE IS
A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND
RESEARCHER AT UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH.
YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS SITTING IN
YOUR WHEELCHAIR.
IT'S A GREAT QUESTION CLINICIANS
HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE.
BECAUSE THEY GET PRESSURE
ULCERS, BECAUSE THEY SIT IN THE
CAR FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT
SITTING ON THE CUSHION, THEY SAT
ON THE FLOOR.
PEOPLE SAY I WAS INSTALLING
FLOORBOARDS IN MY HOUSE, SPENT
HOURS ON A HARD FLOOR.
NOT REALIZING THEY ARE NOT
PROTECTED BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN
THE WHEELCHAIR, IT'S YOUR BODY
WE'RE PROTECTING.
THEY DEVELOPED THESE ON THE MOVE
PADS, AND SO IT'S A SIMPLE PAD,
ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED, FORGOT TO
INCLUDE A PICTURE, A WRAPPER ON
A TOILET SEAT.
YOU CAN TRAVEL WITH IT AS WELL.
IT FITS IN THE BACKPACK, IF YOU
GO SHOPPING, GO TO A FRIEND'S
HOUSE, STAYING AT A HOTEL, YOU
WRAP THIS AROUND THE SEAT TO
HAVE A PADDED TOILET SEAT.
ROSIE BROUGHT ONE WITH HER, IT'S
A LITTLE SHOW-AND-TELL.
IT'S INTERESTING, THIS
TECHNOLOGY WAS SO POPULAR IT GOT
LICENSED REALLY QUICKLY.
IT'S REALLY VERY INTERESTING,
ONCE IT GOT IN THE WILD, WHAT
DID PEOPLE DO WITH IT?
THEY USED IT FOR LIKE HAND
CYCLING, NOT ONLY TOILET SEATS,
HAND CYCLE HEAD REST, THIS IS
THE CONSOLE BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S
AND PASSENGER'S SEAT IN A CAR.
IN YOU WERE IN THE PASSENGER'S
SEAT YOU COULD PAD -- YOU HAVE A
PAD ON THE WAY, OR YOU'VE HAD
CLIENTS COME IN, YOU'VE SEEN
THIS IN THE CLINIC, THEY WRAP
LIKE A DISH TOWEL OR POT HOLDER
AROUND THE CUSHION BECAUSE OF
PRESSURE SORES ON THE ELBOW,
USING THEM FOR ARM RESTS.
IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE.
A LITTLE LOW COST DEVICE, ROSIE
CAN PASS IT AROUND.
AND IT'S MADE TO COMPLY TO
UNUSUAL SURFACES.
YOU CAN WASH IT.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
THIS IS DR. DUSIANO'S WORK, ACL,
BRING BACK THE REGIONAL GRANTS
FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAD A GRANT
FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
AND EDUCATION TO ALL THESE
REGIONAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THEN CONNECT THEM WITH
RESOURCES.
AND SO THIS IS THE APP WE
DEVELOPED OUT OF THAT.
WHAT'S NICE, WE COULD GIVE THEM
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO SUPPORT
THEIR OWN STAFF TO PARTICIPATE,
WHICH IS OFTEN A PROBLEM WHEN
YOU TRY TO CHANGE COMMUNITY
HEALTH, THAT NOBODY HAS TIME.
IF YOU COULD BUY A LITTLE BIT OF
A PERSON'S TIME.
WHAT WAS IMPORTANT THAT CAME OUT
OF THE NEXT SLIDE WAS PROVIDING
CAREGIVER SUPPORT.
THESE ARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS, OR
NON-HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
CAREGIVERS.
MILITARY NON-MEDICAL ATTENDANTS,
THEY COULD CONNECT AND EDUCATE
AND CONSUMERS COULD SHARE HOW
THEY COULD TRAIN.
THIS WAS IMPORTANT IN THE
PANDEMIC WHEN SOME PEOPLE --
PEOPLE ON MY STAFF HAD TO MOVE
BACK HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET
ASSISTANCE.
THEN ALSO THEY COULD AT LEAST --
ASSISTANTS COULD COORDINATE,
SOMEBODY ELSE CAME DOWN WITH
COVID, THEY COULD HELP ANOTHER
PERSON FOR A WHILE AND NETWORK
AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.
AND THEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WELL-BEING AND TRAINING FOR THEM
AS WELL.
YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THIS
PROJECT.
WE WORKED ON THE WOUNDED WARRIOR
HOME PROJECT WITH CLARK REALTY
AND MICHAEL GRAVES.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW MICHAEL
GRAVES, THE ARCHITECT LAUREATE
FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR A
WHILE, ALSO HAD A SPINAL CORD
INJURY, A REMARKABLE GUY.
MOST PEOPLE KNOW HIM, HE
DEVELOPED A LOT OF THE HOME AND
KITCHEN GOODS FOR TARGET,
THERE'S A MICHAEL GRAVES LINE,
UNFORTUNATELY HE PASSED AWAY A
FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS FUN
WORKING WITH HIM.
AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ACTUALLY BUILD TWO HOMES, AND
I'LL USE THE GERMAN WORD.
[SPEAKING IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
THAT'S THE GARDEN TO GROW
VEGETABLES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE DoD GAVE US THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THEY BE FULLY
ACCESSIBLE SMART HOMES, AND COST
NO MORE THAN TRADITIONAL
MILITARY HOUSING AND BE ABLE TO
BE RENTED FOR THE SAME BAQ,
BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR QUARTERS.
THAT'S KIND OF TRICKY BECAUSE
YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY DESIGN A
HOME, BUILD IT OUT WITH
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT
ARE GOING TO FIT WITHIN THOSE
CONSTRAINTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUILD
TWO HOMES.
THE FUN THING ABOUT THIS, IF YOU
KNOW, I WAS IN THE ARMY.
SERVICE RIVALRY HERE, THERE HAD
TO BE A MARINE CORPS HOME, AN
ARMY HOME.
ARMY HOME IS A LITTLE NICER.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
DESIGNS, BUT WE HAD MULTIPLE
POINTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS.
ONE OF THE FUN THINGS IF YOU
HELD YOUR I.D. CARD TO THE DOOR,
THERE WAS A READER, LIKE YOUR
PIV CARDS, THERE'S AN RFD
READER, UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH, INVENTED BY A
COLLEAGUE.
THE READER KNOW WHO IS YOU ARE,
IT'S YOUR I.D., YOU CAN OPEN THE
DOOR WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO USE
AS HOME SECURITY TECHNOLOGY TO
DO THAT.
LARGER HALLWAYS, A LOT OF USE OF
LUXURY VINYL TILE WHICH YOU
COULD WALK ON PRETTY WELL, YOU
CAN ROLL ON PRETTY WELL, IT'S
DURABLE.
BUT THE MILITARY HAD SOME FUN
THINGS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE GARAGE
WE HAD A LARGER GARAGE WITH THE
STORAGE ROOM IN THE GARAGE.
GENERAL GILMAN KNOWS WHY WE HAD
THAT DONE.
YOU MOVED EVERY FEW YEARS IN THE
MILITARY, HAVE YOU TO STORE THE
BOXES FOR EVERYTHING.
SO YOU COULD PACK AGAIN IN A FEW
YEARS AND MOVE THEM AGAIN.
THAT WAS ONE THINGS THE MILITARY
NEEDED, A STORE ROOM.
THEN WE HAD A -- BUILT A LITTLE
CLOSET ROOM FOR CHARGING THE
POWER WHEELCHAIR AND PROS THEY
--
PROSTHETIC LIMBS, AN AREA WHERE
THEY COULD DON AND DOFF UPPER
EXTREMITY PRODUCTS, WHICH WORKED
OUT JUST AS WELL FOR BODY ARMOR,
SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO -- COULD
DO THE PICKUP AND TWISTING WITH
BODY ARMOR, KIND OF AN
INTERESTING THING.
A LOT OF THINGS WITH NATURAL
LIGHT, FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING.
WINDOWS WHERE YOU COULD CRANK
THEM FROM SITTING HEIGHT.
IT WAS KIND OF FUN IN THE STUDY.
SOMETHING YOU DON'T NORMALLY
HEAR IN RESEARCH, WE WERE DOING
WORK ON OUR OWN HOME DESIGN, WE
WERE THE GUINEA PIGS, PAID FOR
IT AND TRIED THINGS OUT.
HEY, THIS MIGHT WORK FOR THIS
HOME.
AND THEN SOME OF THAT GOT
INTEGRATED INTO THE HOME.
WE SORT OF UNDERWROTE THE STUDY
A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE WERE
MODELING OUR OWN HOUSE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE REMOTE
I MENTIONED WEIGHT IS ANOTHER
KEY THING.
THIS IS OUR BED SCALE
TECHNOLOGY, FUNDED THROUGH AN
NIH SBIR.
I LIKE THIS PICTURE BECAUSE IT
SHOWS HERL'S CAPABILITY TO BUILD
LARGE NUMBERS OF UNITS AND VERY
HIGH QUALITY FOR SUPPORTING
CLINICAL TRIALS WHICH IS LARGELY
WHY WE GOT STARTED WITH OUR
LARGE ENGINEERING AND
MANUFACTURING TEAM.
AND IT'S ALSO INTERESTING, YOU
COULD LOOK AT SLEEP QUALITY
WHILE PEOPLE ROLL OVER, THINGS
LIKE THAT, HOW MUCH THEY GET IN
AND OUT OF BED AT NIGHT AS WELL.
>>EVEN IN THE KITCHEN, WHERE
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PREPARING
MEALS CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE.
>>THIS IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE
WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN
INJURY.
>>THIS IS THE QUEUING KITCHEN
WITH STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONs
COOKING THINGS LIKE PASTA.
>>THE PROGRAM WILL GIVE ME THE
FIRST INSTRUCTION ON GETTING
STARTED MAKING PASTA.
>>TAKE OUT COOKING POT FROM THE
LIGHTED CABINET.
♪
TAKE OUT PASTA FROM THE
TRANSPARENT CABINET.
FILL THE COOKING POT WITH WATER
FROM THE WATER FAUCET.
TURN THE FAUCET OFF.
PLACE COOKING POT ON THE STOVE.
TURN ON THE STOVE.
>>THIS PROGRAM IS IDEAL FOR
SOMEONE WITH COGNITIVE OR MEMORY
LOSS PROBLEMS.
FOR THOSE WHO NEED MORE HELP,
THERE'S THIS FUTURISTIC DEVICE
CALLED THE KITCHEN BOT, IT CAN
TURN A FAUCET ON AND OFF, OPEN
CABINETS AND DRAWERS, OPERATE
APPLIANCES.
IT'S A SOPHISTICATED INSTRUMENT
THAT MOVES UP, DOWN, AND
SIDEWAYS.
AND CAN BE PROGRAMMED FOR
SPECIFIC OR GROUP OF FUNCTIONS.
>>WE ALSO DO -- YOU CAN SEE WE
HAVE LIGHTED HANDLES, CAN FLASH
THEM, CAN CHANGE COLORS.
WE CAN USE THE SUSPENDED
PARTICLE GLASS, TURN THE GLASS
FROM MILKY TO CLEAR SO PEOPLE
CAN SEE WHERE ITEMS ARE.
WE USE THE KINECT SYSTEM, WE
KNOW WHERE THE PERSON IS, IDLING
IN SPACE, THEY ARE NOT WHERE
THEY ARE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS WE HAVE
RFID READERS, BARCODE READERS SO
WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT ITEMS
YOU'VE GOT, THE RIGHT ITEM, THE
RIGHT AMOUNT.
SOME CHALLENGES IS LIKE HOW DO
YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
APPLE AND AN ORANGE.
THERE'S NO LABEL ON IT.
OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT -- RED
GRAPE AND GREEN GRAPE, THOSE ARE
PRETTY DIFFICULT REAL WORLD
IMAGING CHALLENGES.
ALSO WORKING ON NOW CAREGIVER
ASSISTED TRANSFER, HOW BEST TO
DO TRANSFERS FOR INDIVIDUALS.
AND I'LL DO THAT, FIRST RIGHT
NOW WE'RE STUDYING THOSE
TECHNIQUES BUT WE'RE ALSO
WORKING ON TECHNOLOGIES TO
ASSIST.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOME OF THOSE.
SO THIS IS OUR STRONG ARM,
THAT'S MARK GREENHALL, CAPTAIN
GREENHALL'S SON.
IT'S A ROBOTIC ARM.
WE WERE THE FIRST ONES, NSF
ORIGINALLY FUNDED THIS, AND ONE
OF THEIR CONCERNS WAS WOULD WE
EVER GET IRB APPROVAL TO HAVE A
ROBOT THAT CAN LIFT 250 POUNDS
WORK IN CLOSE PROXIMITY,
ACTUALLY TOUCHING A PERSON.
WE ACTUALLY GOT THE FIRST IRB
APPROVAL FOR THAT.
PITTSBURGH IS PRETTY FAMOUS FOR
BEING -- LETTING YOU TAKE RISKS,
IRB LETTING PEOPLE TAKE RISKS,
OBVIOUSLY CALCULATED RISKS.
THE WHEELCHAIR CAN GO TO THE
LEFT, RIGHT, PARK IN THE BACK
AND NOT BE IN THE WAY, LIFT 250
POUNDS.
THE CAREGIVER DOESN'T HAVE TO DO
LIFTING.
THE ROBOT DOES THE LIFTING,
MOVING FROM ONE SURFACE TO
ANOTHER.
YOU STILL HAVE TO GET THE SLING
UNDER THE PERSON, WORKING ON
INCORPORATING THE CUSHION IN THE
BACK REST INTO THE SLING, SO YOU
CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.
SEVERAL PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING
ON NOW, I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED
ABOUT.
WE TOOK A HOSPITAL BED AND
MODIFIED IT TO BE A ROBOTIC BED.
WE TOOK A POWER WHEELCHAIR,
MODIFIED IT SO THE TWO CAN TALK
TOGETHER TO DO NO-LIFT
TRANSFERS.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS ONE OF OUR
GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO USES A
POWER WHEELCHAIR, JESSICA, WITH
AN ENGINEER, JOSH BROWN, AND SO
THE WHEELCHAIR WORKS IN CONCERT
WITH THE CHAIR, WITH THE BED, TO
POUR THE PERSON INTO BED.
SO THE BACK REST GOT OUT OF THE
WAY, THE BED ACTS AS THE BED
REST DURING THE TRANSFER.
TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S HEELS DURING
TRANSFER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
TEFLON COATED SURFACE, HE'S
DOING IT WITH THAT TABLET.
WE HAVE THE TABLET HARD WIRED.
WE CAN DO IT WITH A PHONE AND
WIRELESS CONNECTION.
BUT WE DON'T WANT THAT
CONNECTION TO BE BROKEN IDEALLY.
IT GIVES, IF TETHERED, YOU KNOW
WHERE IT'S GROWING TO BE RATHER
THAN WALKING AWAY.
AND THEN THERE'S A CONVEYOR ON
THE BELT, THAT CONVEYOR --
THAT'S ANOTHER COUPLE OF
ADVANTAGES, THE PERSON CAN
REPOSITION THEMSELVES IN BED.
THEY SIT UP AND CRUNCH DOWN AT
THE END OF THE BED, CAN USE THAT
TO STRETCH BACK OUT AGAIN.
IT HAS ALL THE BED FUNCTIONS,
YOU CAN RAISE AND LOWER THE BED,
RAISE THE FEET, RAISE THE HEAD.
SO YOU CAN MAINTAIN ALL OF THOSE
FUNCTIONS.
WE ALSO ARE MEASURING THE
CURRENT IN THE ACTUATOR TO GET A
DECENT ESTIMATE OF THE PERSON'S
BODY WEIGHT AS WELL, THAT ALLOWS
US TO LOOK IF PEOPLE ARE MOVING
UP AND DOWN.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS -- WE'RE
CONTROLLING THE TRANSFERS, WE
DID SOME STUDIES OF LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES, MANDATED TO GT
PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF BED EVERY
DAY, YOU WOULD KNOW.
IT'S FASTER, IT TAKES ONE
PERSON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET,
YOU KNOW, AN OVERHEAD LIFT OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT HAS A 600-POUNDS CAPACITY.
I MENTIONED TRANSPORTATION IS A
PRIORITY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK WITH
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE DID A SURVEY, NEED FOR
SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN
PEOPLE GET MOBILITY PERMIT, THEY
STOP DRIVING, REDUCE ACTIVITY.
THE SECOND MOST COMMON, THE MOST
COMMON SOLUTION IS TO ASK OTHER
PEOPLE FOR A RIDE.
THAT PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES.
ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND SUBURBAN
ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION IS NOT READILY
AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE SOME NEW -- WHAT'S
GREAT, THERE ARE SOME MAINSTREAM
TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
NOW, OTHERS COMING OUT THAT CAN
IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, MAKING
IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES TO DRIVE OR DRIVE
LONGER, OLDER ADULTS TO DRIVE
LONGER AND DRIVE SAFER.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON NEW
UNIVERSAL DOCKING SYSTEMS AND AS
NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES COME OUT
THEY HAVE BATTERIES IN THE
CHASSIS, AND SO YOU CAN'T REALLY
DROP THE FLOOR LIKE CURRENTLY
DONE, LOOKING AT NEW DESIGNS,
MODIFYING VEHICLES AND MODIFYING
WHEELCHAIRS SO THAT THESE
VEHICLES WILL BE ACCESSIBLE AND
AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK -- OTHER FUN THINGS WE
FOUND OUT, HOW DO WE EDUCATE
PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS?
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS
ACROSS THE STREET AT CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA HERE, ON
DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL BOARD
GAME TO TEACH OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPISTS AND TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERS AND MAYBE CITY
PLANNERS HOW TO DEVELOP
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, SO THAT
THEY LEARN ABOUT BARRIERS FACED
BY PEOPLE, OLDER ADULTS IN
TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK I'LL SKIP THIS.
♪
MY RESEARCH PROJECT IS FOCUS ON
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND USING
INTERFACE OF THE ASSISTIVE
ROBOTIC ARM.
THE ROBOTIC ARM CAN BE MOUNTED
ON THE WHEELCHAIRS AND THAT CAN
ASSIST WHEELCHAIR USERS OR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO DO
SOME DAILY TASKS, USING THE
CONTROL INTERFACE.
THE REASON WE DEVELOPED THE
INTERFACE IS THAT WE HAVE TESTS
WITH CURRENT ROBOTIC ORIGINAL
INTERFACES, AND A LOT OF USERS
HAVE DIFFICULTY LEARNING THOSE
EITHER SOME -- MEMORIZE THE KEYS
OR MEMORIZE THE COMMAND OR
COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT KEY
STROKES.
♪
SO THE INTERFACE, WE DEVELOPED
KIND OF -- REDUCED FRUSTRATION
SO THEY CAN QUICKLY LEARN HOW TO
CONTROL THE ROBOT AND DO THE
TASK WITHIN TEN MINUTES.
THERE WAS ONE BATTERY.
LOOK AT THE ROBOT, AND HE'S
SO -- HE WAS SO EXCITED.
HE POINTED TO THE ROBOT, SAYING
TO THE CAREGIVER, THAT'S WHAT I
WANT.
>>WE'RE WORKING ON ROBOTS FOR
ALLOWING PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE
WORKPLACE, UP AND DOWN, SWIVEL,
ALLOW PEOPLE TO WORK IN
FULFILLMENT CENTERS.
IT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
WE DEVELOPED THESE, DID A STUDY,
THERE'S OVER 500 USED NOW ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES AT VARIOUS
FULFILLMENT CENTERS.
WHEN YOU ORDER A PACKAGE ONLINE,
YOU MIGHT BE USING OUR
TECHNOLOGY.
THIS IS OUR ME-BOT THAT CAN
CLIMB 8 INCHES.
THIS IS DR. KIM, A FORMER
GRADUATE STUDENT, NOW A
PROFESSOR
CLIMB AN 8-INCH CURB, GO AT HIGH
LEVEL, ALSO IF I SHOW YOU THE
NEXT SLIDE, SINCE I'M RUNNING
OUT OF TIME, IT WILL GO DOWN.
I WONDER IF I CAN -- A COMMON
PROBLEM, THEY ARE GOING DOWN THE
SIDEWALK, SOMEBODY WALKS IN
FRONT OF THEM, TWO WHEELS ON THE
CURB AND TWO WHEELS ON THE
STREET, TIP OVER AND GO TO THE
HOSPITAL.
OR THEY GO OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
THE SAME CHAIR TO CLIMB CURBS,
USE THE SAME FEATURE TO SELF
LEVEL.
LOWER PICTURE, JESSICA RIDING
OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN, UNEVEN
SIDEWALKS, BEING ABLE TO
MAINTAIN POSITION.
WE CAN DO 8 INCHES.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER
VERSION.
WE HAVE A NEWER VERSION USING
ACTUATORS, FORE/AFT AS WELL.
PEOPLE SAY IT'S LIKE RIDING ON A
MAGIC CARPET.
WE'RE WORKING ON ALTERNATIVE
POWER SOURCES, TALKED AT LUNCH
TODAY ABOUT SUPER CAPACITORS AND
OTHERS TYPES OF BATTERIES.
♪
>>BEING IN A POWER WHEELCHAIR
MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT, THEY
RUN ON ELECTRICITY, CONTACT WITH
WATER CAN BE SHOCKING.
HOW DO YOU BUILD A WATER PARK
THAT KIDS CAN ENJOY?
GORDON RUNS THE FIRST ACCESSIBLE
THEME PARK IN SAN ANTONIO.
>>WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A
WHEELCHAIR THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
IT TO GET WET AND STILL MOVE
ABOUT THROUGH USE OF SOMEONE'S
ABILITY TO USE A JOY STICK.
>>HE DISCOVERED THE WORK OF DR.
RORY COOPER, UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF HEALTH,
RENOWNED FOR PATENTS FOR
INDEPENDENCE.
>>THAT'S THE KIND OF
EXPERIENCES WE WANT KIDS TO HAVE
SO THEY GROW UP AND DON'T HAVE
THOSE PRODUCTS.
>>BRANDON, A GRADUATE STUDENT
AT PITT SCHOOL, IS A RESEARCH
STUDYING UNDER RORY COOPER.
TEAM WORKS OUT OF HUMAN
ENGINEERINGS LABORATORIES,
MODELED AND BUILT THE NEW CHAIR,
MAKES A CHALLENGING TRIP TO THE
WATER PARK, WELL, FUN.
>>I LIKE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO
RUN AROUND.
>>IT'S REWARDING TO SEE HOW HE
LIT UP AND THE ENJOYMENT HE GOT
OUT OF GOING THROUGH THE
SPRINKLERS AND THE WATER.
>>HE WANTS TO BE INDEPENDENT.
FRANKLY WE LET HIM GO FOR 30
MINUTES BY HIMSELF, AND THAT'S
WHAT HE WANTS.
>>SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.
HAPPY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE AND HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY
QUESTIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
>>ANYONE HERE IS FREE TO USE
THE MICROPHONES.
THERE'S SEVERAL QUESTIONS
ONLINE.
I'LL TRY TO COMBINE THEM,
THERE'S SEVERAL THEMES.
ONE THEME IS YOU HAVE A PLETHORA
OF USEFUL IDEAS.
CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT HOW YOUR LAB
WORKS, HOW ARE THESE IDEAS
GENERATED, HOW THE PROJECTS
ORIGINATED AND TESTED, YOU GAVE
A HINT ABOUT THAT, THEY ARE NOT
ORIGINATING FROM YOU, I THINK
YOU GET PEOPLE ASKING YOU TO DO
SOMETHING.
>>RIGHT.
OUR IDEAS ARE GENERATED BY ENDS
USERS AND CLINICIANS.
AND WE DO THAT BY SURVEYING THEM
AND DOING FOCUS GROUPS.
WE ALSO WILL TAKE UNSOLICITED
IDEAS, AND THEN CLINICIANS SEE
CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE.
I CALL IT THE AREA UNDER THE
IMPACT CURVE METHOD, FOR
SELECTING WHICH PROJECTS WE WILL
FOCUS ON WORKING ON.
WHAT I MEAN IS IF THERE'S A
LARGE -- IS A SMALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WITH A SMALL IMPACT ON
THEIR LIFE, THAT AREA CAN BE
FAIRLY LARGE, OR A LARGE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE THAT THE IMPACT MIGHT
NOT BE AS GREAT, THAT AREA UNDER
THE CURVE IS ALSO LARGE.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF PROJECTS
WE WOULD LOOK AT.
>>A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR LAB,
PERSONNEL AT YOUR STAFF.
CAN YOU DISCUSS THE SIZE OF YOUR
LAB, HOW DO YOU ACTIVELY RECRUIT
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR DO
THEY FIND YOU?
WE AT THE NHR ARE EAGER TO
IMPROVE DIVERSITY OF STAFF, WHAT
TIPS DO YOU HAVE TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN?
>>GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE ABOUT 70 PEOPLE IN OUR
LAB.
WE'RE ABOUT 28,000 SQUARE FEET.
LOOKING TO GROW TO 35,000 SQUARE
FEET.
AND WE STARTED RECRUITING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES 30 YEARS AGO.
I GUESS THERE'S A COUNTRY SONG,
I WAS COUNTRY BEFORE COUNTRY WAS
COOL.
>>YEAH.
>>BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO
THINGS.
WE ACTIVELY RECRUIT.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
RUN BY ROSIE, STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT TEAM, INCLUDING BOTH
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND
VETERANS.
AND THEY -- WE GET ENGAGED IN
THE COMMUNITY.
WE PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS BY
ORGANIZATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, GO TO NATIONAL
MEETINGS WHERE THEY ARE.
AND THEN WE -- WE PROVIDE HIGH
SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS,
UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS,
COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS, STIPENDS
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS, POSTDOCS
AND EARLY FAMILY.
IT'S GOTTEN EASIER OVER TIME,
PEOPLE KNOW WE'RE A FRIENDLY
PLACE FOR THEM TO WORK.
THE OTHER THING WE'VE DONE IS
OUR FACILITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE.
SO WE HAVE LARGER HALLWAYS, FULL
SPECTRUM LIGHTING.
WE PROVIDE -- WE GO BEYOND
ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE DON'T LOOK AT WHAT ADA
STANDARDS ARE.
WE LEAK AT WHAT PEOPLE -- LOOK
AT WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE
PRODUCTIVE TEAMMATES.
>>SUCH WONDERFUL WORK.
A FEW MONTHS AGO THE "NEW YORK
TIMES" WROTE ABOUT HOW MANY
DOCTORS' OFFICES ARE NOT
ACCESSIBLE, MANY DON'T WANT TO
DEAL WITH THE EXPENSE OF BETTER
ACCESSIBILITY.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN THIS
REGARD?
>>WE ARE TO SOME EXTENT, LIKE
THE BEN ISCHA.
>>THAT'S WHAT GENERATED.
>>A GOOD EXAMPLE, A WIN-WIN FOR
THEM BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY
REDUCES AMOUNT OF STAFF NEEDED
TO GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER
TO HELP WITH TRANSFERS, SHOULD
REDUCE WORKERS' COMPENSATION
COSTS DUE TO INJURIES TO STAFF
FROM HAVING TO PERFORM AWKWARD
TRANSFERS.
SO, LOT OF TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY
EXTENDS WORK OF CLINICIANS,
INSTEAD OF A PERSON COMING TO
THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, MENTIONED
TRANSPORTATION IS A BARRIER FOR
LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, YOU CAN
BRING THE HEALTH CARE TO THE
PERSON, MAYBE DOING MORE
EFFECTIVELY IN HOME SETTINGS.
I THINK THE TREND IN THE FUTURE
WILL BE MORE OUTPATIENT CARE IN
THE HOME SETTING AND HOME AND
COMMUNITY SETTING.
WE'LL HAVE TO DEVELOP
TECHNOLOGIES WHERE WE CAN ASSESS
PROGRESS AND PROVIDE ONGOING
TRAINING IN HOME COMMUNITY
SETTINGS.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO MENTION IS THAT
WE'RE ENGINEERS, P.T.s,
O.T.s, COUNSELORS, PHYSICIANS.
SO DATA SCIENTISTS.
EVEN A COUPLE LAWYERS, ALL
WORKING TOGETHER, LARGER PATENT
LAWYERS.
SO TO TRANSFER OUR KNOWLEDGE
INTO THE CLINICAL SETTING.
AND VICE VERSA.
WE DEVELOPED INTO THE CLINICAL
SETTING, BARRIERS THEY SEE IN
THE CLINICAL SETTING, TRANSFER
TO US.
AND FORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD PRETTY
GOOD INFLUENCE ON UPMC HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM, OUR AFFILIATED
SYSTEM, WITH ADULT CHANGING
TABLES, HIGH-LOW TABLES, ADDING,
YOU KNOW, FAMILY BATHROOMS,
WHICH BENEFIT ACTUALLY LARGER
POPULATIONS THAN YOU MIGHT
THINK.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVEN'T
SYSTEMATICALLY STUDIED BUT
ANECDOTALLY ALMOST EVERYBODY
PREFERS THOSE FACILITIES THAN
THE ONES TYPICALLY PROVIDED.
THERE'S SOME COOL THINGS IN
EUROPE.
I SHOWED YOU THE ROBOTIC ARM,
COVERED BY THE V.A., COVERED BY
MOST GERMAN INSURANCE COMPANIES
NOW.
WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
BUT ALSO EUROPE HAS PASSED A
LAW, FOR EXAMPLE, BATHROOMS HAVE
TO HAVE REAL WALLS AND REAL
STALLS BETWEEN DOORS.
AND THEN THROUGH THAT, THEY CAN
HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM
WITHIN A REGULAR BATHROOM, AND
THEY OF COURSE HAVE FAMILY
BATHROOMS WHICH BENEFIT PEOPLE
WITH CHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE
THAT HAVE OF NEED ASSISTANCE,
NOT JUST PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, SO THAT'S
UNIVERSAL DESIGN TRYING TO WORK
WITH THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
WE'RE FORTUNATE OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM HAS RECOGNIZED THE
BENEFIT, ALSO TO THEIR EMPLOYEE
WORKFORCE, TO THE PEOPLE THEY
PROVIDE CARE TO.
>>LET ME CLOSE WITH MORE OF A
COMMENT, THAT CAME IN EARLY BUT
DOUBLES DOWN ON WHAT YOU JUST
SAID.
SHARING MY THOUGHTS, I FEEL
THERE ARE NO CLEAR BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN HAVING A DISABILITY OR
NOT, AND SHE EXPLAINS A FEW
THINGS.
I THINK YOUR RESEARCH CAN
BENEFIT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF THE
PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF
DISABILITY AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT,
LIKE THE THINGS YOU'RE
DESCRIBING, PEOPLE PREFER SOME
OF THESE CONVENIENCES THAT
YOU'VE CREATED.
>>EXACTLY RIGHT.
I'M OF THE PHILOSOPHY THAT
EVERYBODY DEVELOPS A DISABILITY
AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
>>RIGHT.
>>MAYBE ONLY THE LAST FEW
SECONDS OF LIFE AND SO MAYBE AT
BIRTH, BUT WE ALL HAVE
DISABILITIES.
AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS
UNIVERSAL DESIGN APPROACH, HOW
DO WE MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
>>CLOSING COMMENT?
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
>>SO, THANK YOU, DR. COOPER,
FOR THE TALK AND, YEAH, IF
ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER COMMENTS WE
HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO CHAT IN
LIPSETT AS WELL.
>>THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY, WONDERFUL TO BE
BACK HERE IN PERSON.
[APPLAUSE]