It’s always a blast to see what sort of technologies at Carnegie Mellon University and its Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT) are in the pipeline just raring for a little commercialization. Especially when technologies can help improve a person’s mobility and comfort.
QoLT is a unique partnership between Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh that brings together a cross-disciplinary team of technologists, clinicians, industry partners, end users, and other stakeholders to create revolutionary technologies that will improve and sustain the quality of life for all people.
Its motto is “Intelligent Systems for Everyone.”
QoLT often works with students to build business plans to integrate its technologies into products. Three groups of students provided presentations on products/devices using QoLT technology.
eSeat is looking to embed sensors in office chairs that would alert users to bad posture and then adjust the chair to alleviate poor ergonomics.
Chair Lift has a working prototype of a chair that helps users go from a seated to a standing position independently and safely. Think of the quintessential IKEA chair with rad actuators for lifting and sensors and air bladders that address user discomfort.
Rehab Coach is looking to help those 27 million Americans with knee osteoarthritis perform proper physical therapy exercises. The device ensures that exercises are done properly and provides feedback.
Check out a podcast with Emily Friedrich, a CMU student, with the Lift Chair project. We also talked with QoLT Acting Director Dan Siewiorek about the Center and how it commercializes life-assisting technologies.