ABOUT THE PROJECTThe Early Intervention and Mechanical Engineering project at Tennessee Tech University provides creatively engineered products to children with special needs and their families while offering “real-world” design experience to engineering students.ON THE WEBTo learn more about the project, visit http://eime.wikidot.com.FOR HELPIf you are a family in need and are interested in more information on how to get involved with this project, contact Stephen Canfield at scanfield@tntech.edu.
OTHER PROJECTSChattanooga native Ashley Jaeger and her team designed a work desk, mouthpiece holder and mouse stand to enable a woman with limited mobility to operate a computer with a mouthpiece, using only slight neck movements.With her original setup, the woman couldn’t use her keyboard’s shift or control keys and move the joystick-style mouse at the same time. Her mouthpiece holder was unstable and uncomfortably high, and her workspace had to be carefully reset whenever her table was moved.The group of four students built a new table that raises and lowers easily and is supported by jack stands and powered by gas shocks.
At Tennessee Tech University, some students learn about engineering while giving back to the community.
As part of the junior-level Dynamics of Machinery course, engineering students modify common, everyday items to give more independence to special-needs children and young adults in the upper Cumberland region.
Students are placed in the role of practicing engineer with the job of designing, developing, building and delivering an assistive technology device, said Stephen Canfield, a professor of mechanical engineering who guides students on the projects.