Date: Thursday, February 7, 2013
Category: Conference News
For the second year in a row, the Center for the Translation of Rehabilitation Engineering Advances and Technology (TREAT) is partnering with RESNA to offer an award, “Technology Most Likely to Become Commercially Available,” to one of five finalists in the annual RESNA Student Design Competition. The award comes with a $500 cash prize to the winning team and an invitation for one team member to spend 3 weeks at the TREAT facilities in Lebanon, NH working with TREAT staff and resources to further develop the winning design and move it towards commercialization.
For over 30 years, the RESNA Student Design Competition (SDC) has showcased creative and innovative assistive technology designs that help people with disabilities function more independently. Student teams represent a wide variety of disciplines including mechanical, electrical and biomedical engineering; computer information science; architecture; and physical and occupational therapy. Entries are judged on originality, quality of design, and usefulness to persons with disabilities. Click here to view past submissions and competition information. SDC winners have frequently moved on to become leaders in the field of assistive technology.
Student teams must register their intent to submit by April 19, 2013. The final submission deadline is April 26, 2013. Up to ten semi-finalist teams win an all-expense paid trip for two team members to the RESNA Annual Conference, which is in Bellevue, WA from June 22- June 24, 2013. At the conference, students have the opportunity to present their designs, meet with developers, and network with assistive technology professionals. Up to five finalists are announced at the conference; every member of the finalist teams receives a free annual membership to RESNA (a $150 value), which enables them to continue to network actively with other professionals and participate in RESNA events. TREAT will select one of the finalists to receive the “Technology Most Likely to Become Commercially Available” award.