GARDE: EQuaLS: Enhancing Quality of Life of Students through senior designs

PI: Peixoto, Nathalia L.和Ikonomidou， VasilikiProposal Number: 1132496这个GARDE:EQuaLS每年提出两个高级设计项目，由乔治梅森大学电气工程或生物工程专业的学生在五年的课程中开发。本提案的目的是在多学科环境中向工程专业的学生介绍并开发以用户为中心的设计的最佳实践。高级设计项目的目标围绕着提高乔治梅森大学残疾学生的生活质量，这些学生在残疾服务办公室注册。我们从这个项目中收获了两个好处，一是吸引了我们的工程专业学生，二是提高了他们对其他同学需求的认识。另一方面，社署可能会对工程感兴趣，因为他们会参与设计过程的所有阶段。我们提出的项目示例包括会说话的衣服颜色阅读器，第二代语音控制轮椅和自我感知定位手杖。“朋友平等，提高同伴的生活质量”：这是我们高级工程项目的灵感来源。为期一年的高级设计经验为一组学生提供了一个机会，让他们专注于一个SwD（用户）的一个需求，与用户一起解决这个需求，提出工程解决方案，详细设计一个或两个解决方案，并制造它们。学生们面临着以用户为中心的设计，这是工程教育中的一个挑战，与此同时，他们将swd视为朋友和同伴，而不是疏远他们的人。利益相关者（主管、行政代表和感兴趣的家庭成员）将被简要介绍设计的主要步骤，并从各方收集评估，以提供反馈和支持学生的项目。形成性评估将用于开发向工程学生团队教授以用户为中心的设计的最佳实践。在第二学期，对原型进行测试和调整。最终产品在学期结束前交付，以便获得用户数据。其中一些项目将导致专利披露，但所有这些项目都将为设计师和用户双方带来终身的贡献。更广泛的影响当我们描述工程如何帮助社会时，我们听到的第一个词是“迷人”。设计改变生活的酷玩意的吸引力吸引了儿童和成年人。我们会继续与社会各界接触，并扩大已取得成功的宣传计划：(1)设计有趣的工程徽章，以吸引女童子军；（二）电视、广播采访；(3)在“工程周”（2月）、在高中和小学的“职业日”（整个学年）以及每年在GMU举行的辅助技术倡议博览会期间进行演讲。这些倡议已经由私人机构发起。在这里，我们建议让高年级设计专业的学生通过一个或多个这样的项目向社区做报告。向孩子展示做工程意味着什么，这种成就感是无与伦比的：我们坚信这种培训将提高学生的学习能力，他们对社会的看法，以及他们对社区服务的参与。

PI: Peixoto, Nathalia L. and Ikonomidou, VasilikiProposal Number: 1132496This GARDE:EQuaLS proposes two senior design projects per year to be developed at George Mason University by Electrical Engineering or Bioengineering students over the course of five years. The objective of this proposal is to introduce engineering students to, and develop best practices for, user-centered design in a multidisciplinary environment. The objectives of the senior design projects revolve around enhancing the quality of life of students with physical disabilities (SwD) who are enrolled in George Mason University and are registered with the Office of Disabilities Services. Two benefits we reap from this project are to engage our engineering students and to raise their awareness of the needs their fellow students have. On the other hand, SwD may become interested in engineering, as they will take part in all phases of the design process. Examples of projects we propose include a talking color reader for clothes, a second generation voice controlled wheelchair, and a self-aware positioning cane.Intellectual Merit"Friends and equals: enhancing the quality of life of your peer": this is the inspiration for our senior engineering projects. The year-long senior design experience provides the opportunity for a group of students to focus on one need of one SwD (the user), to address that need along with the user, to propose engineering solutions, to design one or two of those solutions in detail, and to manufacture them. Students face user-centered design, a challenge in engineering education, and at the same time approach SwDs as a friend and peer, not as someone remote to them. Stakeholders (supervisors, administrative representatives and interested family members) will be briefed on the major steps of the design and assessments will be gathered from all parties to provide feedback and support the students in their project. Formative assessment will be used to develop best practices in approaching teaching usercentered design to engineering student teams. During the second semester the prototypes are tested and adjustments made. The final product is delivered before the end of the semester so user data can be acquired. Some of the projects will lead to patent disclosures, but all of them will lead to life-long contributions to the two sides: to the designers and to the users.Broader Impact"Fascinating" is the first word we hear when describing how engineering helps society. The appeal of designing cool gadgets that transform one's life captivates children and adults. We will continue our engagement with the community and expand already successful dissemination initiatives: (1) a fun-gineering badge designed to entice girl scouts; (2) TV and radio interviews; (3) presentations during "engineering week" (February), during "career day" (throughout the school year) to high schools and elementary schools, and during the Assistive Technology Initiative Fair held yearly at GMU. These initiatives have already been initiated by the PIs. Here we propose to engage the senior design students in presentations to the community through one or more of those programs. The feeling of accomplishment when showing a child what it means to do engineering is unmatched: we strongly believe this training will enhance students' learning, their perspective on society, and their participation in community outreach.