Dr. Max Ortiz-Catalan (LinkedIn, Google Scholar, website) shares his journey from electronics engineering to becoming a leading expert in neuroprosthetics. He discusses the challenges of medical device regulation across the world, the advancements in control mechanisms for prosthetics, and the role of machine learning in decoding user intentions. The conversation also touches on cultural perspectives regarding prosthetic acceptance and the importance of neuroplasticity in enhancing sensory feedback for users. Max discusses the complexities of neural interfaces and sensory feedback in prosthetics, the challenges of treating phantom limb pain, and his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

A few important links:

• The charitable foundation, Remedi Ukraine, supports individuals severely affected by war, such as students who lost their families and are in need of support to continue their education. LEARN MORE
• The Center for Complex Endoprosthesis, Osseointegration, and Bionics (CCEOB), along with Tytanovi, are charitable foundations devoted to the rehabilitation of people with limb loss. Located in Kyiv, Ukraine, they provide functional (prosthetics), psychological, and pain rehabilitation to those injured by war. LEARN MORE
• Prometei Pain Rehabilitation Center is charitable foundation dedicated to treat patients with neuropathic pain, in articular, phantom limb pain (PLP). LEARN MORE
• Theoretical framework for pain research: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00748/full
• WIRED documentary on neuroprostheses: https://youtu.be/Ipw_2A2T_wg?si=8ASkmco4Eaa39a9n

In this conversation, Dr. Mark Hasegawa-Johnson (LinkedIn, Google Scholar), professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois, and Clarion Mendez (LinkedIn), a professor of Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois, discuss the Speech Accessibility Project, which aims to improve speech recognition technology for individuals with speech impairments. They explore the evolution of speech recognition, the variability of speech impairments, the role of clinicians, the recording process, collaborations with tech giants, data privacy challenges, and the diverse populations involved in the project. They emphasize the importance of communication in daily life and express excitement about the future of speech recognition technology.

Useful links from the episode:

• Contribute to the Speech Accessibility Project: https://saa.beckman.illinois.edu/

• Participate in the challenge competition: https://eval.ai/web/challenges/challenge-page/2362/overview

This episode was powered by:

• Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

Dr. Susanna Engdahl (Google Scholar, LinkedIn) shares her journey from a physics background to becoming a researcher in upper-limb prosthetics. She emphasizes the importance of user perspectives in prosthetic design and the need for a balanced approach to technology and patient care. She also highlights her post-PhD work in advocacy and the development of new prosthetic control systems, such as sonomyography. Susannah emphasizes the importance of considering user performance, device reliability, and the need for participatory design in research.

This episode was powered by:

• Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

In this conversation, Dr. Rory Cooper (LinkedIn, Google Scholar) shares his journey into rehabilitation engineering, discussing the evolution of wheelchair design, to which he contributed a tremendous amount, the importance of designing with people with disabilities, and the challenges of accessibility in assistive technology. At the University of Pittsburgh, he heads the Human Engineering Research Laboratory. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based solutions and the impact of societal changes on the perception of disabilities. The discussion also touches on his experiences in the Paralympics as both an athlete and a sports scientist. The conversation also touches on the significance of community and personal achievements in sports, culminating in a discussion about future trends in assistive technology and the importance of communication in advancing the field. He also shared where he stores all his medals :)

This episode was powered by:

• Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

In this conversation, Sasha and Anni Kern, Staff of Community & Outreach at ETH Zurich, discuss the CYBATHLON, an event that promotes the development of assistive technology through friendly competition. Anni shares insights on the event's evolution, the importance of user-centered design, and the various disciplines involved in the competition. They also explore the impact of CYBATHLON on accessibility and inclusion, as well as future innovations in assistive technology, particularly in the realm of brain-computer interfaces.

The CYBATHLON competition will take place on Oct 25-27 in Zurich, Switzerland. It can also be streamed live here.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

Drew Redepenning (University of Pittsburgh profile) is a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident physician, biomedical engineer, and certified assistive technology specialist, with a passion for adaptive gaming. In this episode, we discuss the evolution and importance of adaptive gaming, the challenges of funding and accessibility, and the creation of Gaming Readapted, a resource for adaptive gaming equipment. Drew shares insights on evaluating adaptive controllers, the growing field of adaptive e-sports, and the role of assistive technology specialists. You can find other useful resources on adaptive gaming here.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

HuskyADAPT is a student organization at the University of Washington that supports accessible design and inclusive play technology. It started as a toy adaptation club and grew into a larger organization that focuses on universal design and includes design teams that work on projects that address specific needs of individuals with disabilities with the goal to create usable and workable solutions. The organization also hosts toy adaptation events with partners like Microsoft and Google. The adapted toys are donated to individuals and organizations in the community. The main aim of HuskyADAPT to make play accessible for all children and promote inclusive design.

Useful resources:

• Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Electronic Learning Activity Table
• "Let's Adapt for Everyone!" book
• SWITCHED Adapted Toys Youtube Channel
• "Affordable Adaptations" book
• Switch adapted toys shop on Etsy
• AdaptedDesign3D on Etsy
• HuskyADAPT adaptable toy list
• RePlay for Kids - toy adapting organizations near you

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This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

In this episode, Dr. Megan O'Brien (LinkedIn, Google Scholar, personal webpage) discusses her journey to becoming an Associate Director at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, her work in wearable technology for improving and tracking movement in people with disabilities, and the role of neuroeconomics in movement research. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities of using wearable technology in rehab engineering, focusing on data accuracy, privacy concerns, and the role of AI.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00