News
Getting Soaked for the ALS Association!
The University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Accessible SmartTech Research Group joined in the recent CEO Soak event in Pittsburgh hosted by the The The ALS Association. Dr. Ding got thoroughly drenched at the PPG fountain for a great cause!
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Wireless Innovation Hackathon for Accessibility
Join us October 3-5 for an impact-driven event that brings together interdisciplinary student teams from Pittsburgh-area universities to prototype wireless tech solutions that promote independence and participation of individuals with disabilities.
Who Can Join?
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New Papers Alert!
We are constantly busy at the Accessible SmartTech Research Group! Here are papers that have been published since the last newsletter. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like more information.
Lastly, a very special thanks to all of the people who…
Scientists Like Me
On Saturday, June 20th, our own Dr. Lindsey Morris OTD, OTR/L participated in an event at the Carnegie Science Center called "Scientists Like Me”, which spotlights Autistic, Neurodiverse, and Disabled STEM professionals. Representation is crucial for encouraging young people to…
AppXcelerate 2025 Teams!
The Inclusive App Accelerator proudly announced the selection of three impactful projects as winners of its’ inaugural AppXcelerate Project. This project is a five-year annual initiative dedicated to empowering Persons with Disabilities…
Join us at the RESNA Conference!
RESNA is holding its annual conference in conjunction with RehabWeek 2025 in Chicago, Illinois on May 12-16 and we will be there!
For those that will be there, we hope you will join Dr. Dan Ding on Tuesday May 13th from 11:15 am - 12:15 pm (Colorado Hall) for her presentation of “…
Empower SCI Training
Clinicians and SmartTech professionals from the SmartTech for Paralysis Care program held a two-day EmpowerSCI training to help equip clinicians and rehab professionals with the practical knowledge and confidence to integrate mainstream smart technology into care. Day 1 sessions focused…
the Smart Home DEMO Station
The Smart Home Demo Station is a portable setup designed to educate and train our study participants on how to use various smart home technologies, such as smart video doorbells, locks, thermostats, smart bulbs, window controls, and other smart home devices. It provides hands-on…
SmartTech Tips at the Pennsylvania Tech Summit
On Thursday March 13th, Dr. Gina Novarrio joined a panel of experts from across the state at the Pennsylvania Technology Summit sponsored by the Temple University Institute on Disabilities. Novarrio, along with Jeff Ruffing (INGLIS) and Jack Fried (UPMC/…
Join us at the International Seating Symposium!
For those attending the International Seating Symposium 2025 in Pittsburgh, we will be presenting two short courses on Thursday March 20th.
"Smart Technology, Smarter Resources: Enhancing Accessibility through AT Database Websites" featuring on our upcoming LiveSmartly and Voice…
SmartTech at ATIA 2025
Researchers from the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh presented two papers at the annual Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference in Orlando, Florida.
On Friday January 31st, Dan Ding and Lindsey Morris…
ALS Association Visit
On Friday January 24th, representatives from the ALS Association visited our offices to meet Stretch, the new accessible robot from HelloRobot, that we are collaborating on testing.
We have teamed up with Hello Robot, a leading innovator in robots…
New partnership with Hello Robot and the ALS Association to advance practical robotic assistance for people living with ALS
Researchers in the University of Pittsburgh Accessible SmartTech Research Group have teamed up with Hello Robot, a leading innovator in robots that assist people, and the ALS Association to advance the development of Stretch: a…
IAA Launches AppXcelerate 2025 to Empower Individuals with Disabilities Through Mobile Technology
The Inclusive App Accelerator (IAA), a groundbreaking initiative funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), today announced AppXcelerate 2025, a new program to support the development of innovative mobile applications…
@ the 2024 ACRM Conference
L-R: The Accessible SmartTech Research Group was very busy at the ACRM Conference this year, but took a moment to get the team together. Shown L-R: Zijian Huang, Paola Esquivel, Julie Faieta, Gina Novario, Mark Zhang, Dan Ding, and Wei DengThe American Congress of Rehabilitation…