Barking up the right tree
Students at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences are gaining hands-on experience with assistive technologies, including smart home suites and robotics. The program aims to improve autonomy for older adults and individuals with disabilities through innovative design.
Why it matters
The integration of robotics and 3D printing into rehabilitation education demonstrates how emerging technology can directly improve quality of life for vulnerable populations.
A College of Rehabilitation Sciences' lab at Health Sciences Centre gave two students a futuristic perspective of what in-home care will look like in the coming years through working on projects that utilize smart home technology, emerging mobility devices and robot dogs.
The college's Technology for Assisted Living (TAL) lab was founded in 2022 and includes, as part of its facilities, the smart suite - a model apartment equipped with user-friendly assistive technology and flexible equipment. It is designed as a training area to enhance autonomy and well-being for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Seth Broder, 20, a third-year Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management interested in biomedical engineering, was on a 15-week term with the lab and will continue on a part-time/casual basis.
So far, his work included updating the lab's social media accounts and conducting background research on robotics and assistive devices.
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