Human factors
Designing products and systems to fit human bodies and cognitive ability
The basic goal of orthotic management is to improve toe clearance during swing and provide stability during stance, but new technologies—from energy-storing composites to functional electrical stimulation—do much more. By Jeremy
… READ MOREPectus excavatum surgery was the most painful experience of my life, but the self-confidence I gained made it worth it. Playing in the surf. Porto Covo, Portugal. Wikimedia Commons Tears rushed down my face as I looked at my
… READ MOREI was a fanatical tennis player for decades until my increasingly painful arthritic knees forced me to stop playing. The knees were replaced two years later, but by then, I had filled in my life with other activities, including a
… READ MOREPedro tests a self-powered, ‘rowing’ wheelchair that lets him paddle to move forward and backward. Watching, from left, are his sister and mother, Shriners surgeon Gloria Gogola, Rice Professor Ann Saterbak and Shriners
… READ MOREAfter taking a look at the Jet Blade hydroplaning watercraft last week, we were alerted to another senior design project from Calvin College, Michigan. A different group of students has designed and prototyped a device they’re
… READ MOREIt’s a happy coincidence that Diane Covington lives just a few miles from a New Balance store, for two reasons. The brand’s sporty and comfortable styles are perfectly suited for Covington’s life on the go. And they come in
… READ MOREA study put people on autopilot by electrically stimulating their thigh muscles. Sure, you can get directions by looking at a map on your phone or listening to turn-by-turn navigation. But what if you could just walk from point A to
… READ MOREFitness exercises are very important to keep your heart healthy. It can be as simple as walking a bit further or faster than normal. Swimming is an excellent all-round exercise for people with arthritis. The water supports your
… READ MOREBreakthrough optical technology from product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants has led to the creation of a new generation of wearable technology. XelfleX is a novel type of ‘smart’ textile that turns garments into
… READ MOREThe key premise of the survey was that hospital efforts to use medical devices to lower medical errors may actually lead to medical errors when those devices are not “seamlessly connected.” In other words, the devices need to be
… READ MOREFor people who are almost entirely unable to walk, a powerful heavy-duty electric wheelchair is sometimes necessary. For folks who simply have limited mobility, however, often all that’s needed is a little something to lessen
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