REU Site: Quality of Life Technology

这个为期10周的夏季REU现场项目是生活质量技术(QOLT)工程研究中心(ERC)的一部分。QOLT ERC的愿景是通过智能设备和系统改变因衰老或残疾而功能减退的人的生活。该项目是卡内基梅隆大学(CMU)和匹兹堡大学(PIT)之间独特的合作伙伴关系，整合了CMU在智能系统设计、实施和技术转让方面的优势，以及匹兹堡在健康科学和老龄化研究方面的优势。该项目的主要目标是将本科生从依赖的人转变为独立的思考者，让他们有成就感并接触潜在的最终用户，并提供旨在通过系统工程努力解决现实世界问题的项目经验。参与者将参与QOLT的跨学科研究，以了解如何将功能(生理、物理、社交和认知)与帮助和与人互动的智能设备和系统的设计联系起来。本科生的教育体验将通过实地考察QOLT试验床和研讨会来加强。再培训的努力将针对来自研究机会有限的机构的学生、少数族裔和残疾学生。参与者将进行对人们生活有直接影响的领先研究。这一计划有可能增加为研究生学习和职业生涯做好充分准备的本科生数量。

This 10-week summer REU Site program is part of the Quality of Life Technology (QoLT) Engineering Research Center (ERC). The vision of the QoLT ERC is to transform the lives of people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability through intelligent devices and systems. The QoLT ERC is a unique partnership between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), integrating CMU's strength in the design, implementation, and technology transfer of intelligent systems, and Pittsburgh's strength in health sciences and aging research.The primary objectives of the QoLT REU program are to transform undergraduate students from dependent to independent thinkers, give them a sense of accomplishment and exposure to potential end-users, and provide experience on projects designed to address real-world problems with systems-level engineering efforts. Participants will be engaged in cross-disciplinary research in QoLT to gain an understanding of how to relate functions (physiological, physical, social and cognitive) to the design of intelligent devices and systems that aid and interact with people. The undergraduate students' educational experience will be enhanced by field trips to QoLT testbeds and seminars.Recruitment efforts will be targeted to students who come from institutions with limited research opportunities, minorities and students with disabilities. The participants will conduct leading research that has direct effects on peoples' lives. This program has the potential to increase the number of undergraduates who are well-prepared for graduate studies and professional careers in QoLT.