Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its fifteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly online discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; virtual tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; and a Virtual Assistive Technology Faire.

Attend upcoming Zoom class sessions - Although official enrollment is required for Stanford students to receive academic credit, all the Zoom class sessions will be open to the community. You need not be a Stanford student to attend, there is no signup required, and there is no charge. The first lecture will be on Tuesday, January 12th. Zoom connection information will be posted in future newsletter issues.

Request for additional student project suggestions - Project suggestions are continuing to be solicited.

You are strongly encouraged to submit project suggestions for students to pursue. Send descriptions of identified challenges that would be appropriate to be addressed by a student with limited fabrication resources who is not living on campus. Please do this as soon as possible so I'll have adequate time to consider all submissions, edit approved entries, and post them. The deadline is Tuesday, December 15th. If your project is accepted, you can "pitch" it to the class on Thursday, January 14h. If a student selects it, you will then have the opportunity to offer him/her your advice, direction, and expertise in person, by phone, and/or by email. For more information refer to the Call for Projects Suggestions webpage.

This course relies on community involvement,
so please suggest a project based upon an identified problem or challenge.

You are invited to participate in the Virtual Assistive Technology Faire - This ninth annual course event is scheduled for Thursday, February 25th and will provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of assistive technology devices and learn about available services. Users of assistive technology products as well as small companies and agencies serving individuals with disabilities and older adults are encouraged to join in on this virtual event. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage for more information and contact me to register. Each vendor will have 5 to 10 minutes of unopposed Zoom time to display, demonstrate, and discuss their assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the Faire.

Here is the line up and slides from last year's Faire.

Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility for people with visual impairements.

Leaders from OrCam, Waymo, Amazon, Microsoft, and technologists Glen Gordon, the original architect of JAWS, and Bryan Bashin, CEO of Lighthouse will be speaking at the event. Listen to these visionaries discuss the future of accessibility technology and ask them questions during the Q&A sessions.

All proceeds from the event will go to The Vista Center, a 75-year-old non-profit dedicated to helping Silicon Valley's visually impaired population. The event will be held in partnership with TechCrunch and Verizon Media.