Contributor(s)

Roger Gassert, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Swiss national contact person of AAATE

Description

Developing assistive technologies presents unique and multifaceted challenges beyond those of conventional technology development. It requires a deep understanding of users’ specific needs, the context in which a technology will be used, and the ability to design flexible, user-centered solutions that adapt to evolving requirements over time.

The Assistive Technology Challenge (ATC; https://relab.ethz.ch/education/assistive-
technology-challenge.html) is a hands-on, challenge-based course that introduces students from Health Sciences and Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich to the interdisciplinary field of assistive technology. Through this course, students develop technical, social, and methodological competencies while engaging in a real-world co-design process.

In teams of four, students — with and without engineering backgrounds — collaborate closely with a person with a physical disability (the challenger), who defines a specific, real-world challenge they face in daily life. Working together with the challenger (and caregivers where appropriate), each team designs, prototypes, and evaluates a personalized technical solution aimed at addressing that challenge. The goal is to deliver a functional and meaningful solution that the challenger can keep and use beyond the course.

The ATC offers students an exceptional learning opportunity to:

• Apply engineering and project management tools in a human-centered design process.
• Gain experience with inclusive design and interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Contribute to a project with tangible, immediate social impact.

By addressing real needs with real users, students not only advance their technical andcollaborative skills, but also develop a deeper understanding of empathy, responsibility, andthe societal relevance of engineering — preparing them to create more inclusivetechnologies in their future careers.

Presenter(s)

Roger Gassert