IdeaLab@RIT focuses on access technology

‌

Dana Wolcott

IdeaLab coaches included Amos Scully, CIAS Foundations associate professor, who worked with students Dan Grinthal, industrial design; Parth Shah, mechanical engineering; Felipe Freire, material sciences; and Marcus Eisendorf, industrial design.

The Access Technology IdeaLab@RIT is a brainstorming marathon—run on sheer adrenalin. And the most recent one was no exception.

Several teams of Rochester Institute of Technology students and their coaches had a common goal—to work on problem-solving solutions for several local agencies serving individuals with physical and developmental disabilities.

According to Dana Wolcott, Innovation Coach at RIT’s Simone Center for Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship, it was an eye-opening experience for more than 40 students to focus on the unique problems faced by Al Sigl Community of Agencies; Heritage Christian Services; Mary Cariola Children’s Center; SportsNet, a program of Rochester Rehabilitation; and the Arc of Monroe County.

Here’s how they met some of the challenges with solutions:

• Difficulty for those living independently to keep track of their schedules: An icon for adding or scheduling items with audible and visual feedback reminders;
• Personal safety location-based or contextual prompts: Smartphone app with automatic reminders, Bluetooth earpiece for prompts in private, or a wristband with icon prompts;
• Alarms for Power Wheelchair Soccer athletes when coming in contact with another player: RFID technology embedded in the wheelchair, or an overhead video to record the action—both with audible warning systems;
• A device to attach to an adaptive golf cart to assist user: Add an assist lever to the front of the cart for golfers to pivot back from golfing position to driving position;
• Helping individuals who lack fine and/or gross motor skills to access communication and other daily living skills: Trainable gesture sensor, RFID systems, or wireless switches;
• A footplate on wheelchairs for those with severe extensor tone to help eliminate excessive pressure: A board across both foot rests with options for additional support, or a complete redesign with additional robustness and ease of pivoting.

The IdeaLab@RIT began as a pilot program in April 2013—when students worked on solutions to solve medical-related problems faced by Rochester Regional Health System. According to Richard DeMartino, the Albert J. Simone Endowed Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and director of the Simone Center, several of the past student entrepreneurial projects have advanced into real solutions and services.

“We are excited to work in partnership with local agencies who help countless individuals in our community,” said DeMartino. “Our students have the unique opportunity to focus on real-life challenges that can make a difference in the lives of children and adults with special needs.”

IdeaLab is a collaborative multidisciplinary effort within all of the RIT colleges—mechanical engineering, gaming, psychology, electrical engineering, industrial design and business. After a project is conceptualized and in prototype form, students continue to work on it the following semester in the next stage called IdeaMake—where it can be tested for functionality to see if it’s a viable business.

“That’s when the business plan, marketing and distribution channels come into play,” said DeMartino. “The goal is to turn the student ideas into commercialized opportunities.”