Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8
Providing Innovative Engineering
Solutions Between Academia
and Industry
Brian E. Lewis and Yoky Matsuoka
Abstract
Academic research is an invaluable development engine for creating
assistive technology. Commercial enterprises are critical for making academ-
ically developed technology available to individuals provided that there are
sucient numbers of people with substantially similar technology needs. Un-
fortunately, there is little incentive for academic research organizations to
optimize user interface, fit, finish, or function attributes associated with the
assistive technology that they develop. The rate at which technology is be-
ing created that could be used to help people with disabilities is staggering.
However, disturbingly little of that technology is being harnessed to provide
actual benefit to the disabled community because the adaptation of that tech-
nology is viewed as too customized or the market size too small to justify
commercialization. In this paper, the authors focus on the use of uniquely
created non-profit organizations, such as YokyWorks Foundation, to bridge
the gap between academic research and traditional commercial enterprises.
8.1 The Niche Between Academic and Commercial
Approaches
There are many people with disabilities who could participate more fully in
life, achieve more of their potential, and live more satisfying lives through
technological assistance. Consider, for example, a college student with a C6
spinal cord injury who could not control his hands and fingers [
5
]. He had a
brilliant mind, but his injury prevented him from writing, typing, grabbing
