Wheelchair Design in Developing Countries

Readings

LEC #	TOPICS	READINGS
1	Introduction to wheelchairs in developing countries Review potential projects
2	Wheelchair/Trike relay race around campus	“Wheelchair Standards Organizing Committee Formed.” Whirlwind Wheelchairs International. Press Release, September 27, 2005. Information Package on Wheelchairs. International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2005. Winter, Amos G., V. “Assessment of Wheelchair Technology in Tanzania.” International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering 2, no. 1 (Fall 2006): 60-77. (PDF)
3	2008 summer fellow presentations on last year’s projects Guest speaker: Alison Hynd, MIT Public Service Center, on summer fellowships	Wheelchair sections in Werner, David. “Nothing About Us Without Us: Developing Innovative Technologies For, By, and With Disabled Persons.” (PDF - 4.0MB) (Courtesy of David Werner.) 2.007 lecture notes on design process (PDF) (Courtesy of Alex Slocum. Used with permission.)
4	Designing wheelchairs for the developing world Deterministic design process	Watch videos of wheelchair workshops
5	Guest Speaker: Joost Bonsen on developmental entrepreneurship	Dolan, Robert J. “Note on Marketing Strategy.” Cambridge MA: Harvard Business School, 2000. Product No. 9-598-061.
6	Guest speakers: Abdullah Munish and Fatuma Acan
7	Strategy presentations	Independence through Mobility: A Guide to the Manufacture of the ATI-Hotchkiss Wheelchair (PDF - 1.6MB). Note: You are not required to read the whole document, but skim to see what info may be useful for your project.
8	Guest speaker: Amy Smith and Amy Banzaert - Appropriate technology, idea to product, successfully implementing technologies
9	Discussion of different appropriate and inappropriate technologies Wheelchair role-play “Power of Persons with Disabilities, Advocacy and the Challenges” Guest talk by Maryan Amaral, Aero Inc. Results from Tanzanian Wheelchair Foundation Study
10	Wheelchair Biomechanics/Ergonomics and design for human use	Selections from Mayall, J. K, and G. Desharnais. Positioning in a Wheelchair. 2nd ed. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated, 1995. ISBN: 9781556422515.
11	Power output test up ramp in basement
12	Manufacturing processes and strategies	Smillie, Ian. Mastering the Machine Revisited: Poverty, Aid and Technology. Bourton-on-Dunsmore, UK: ITDG Publishing, 2000. ISBN: 9781853395079.
13	Product design and critique of existing wheelchair designs
14	Material science/mechanics of materials/welding with Mike Tarkanian	Winter, Amos, and Ralf Hotchkiss. “Mechanical Principles of Wheelchair Design.” (PDF - 2.2MB)
15	Material science/mechanics of materials/welding with Mike Tarkanian
16	Watch “Murderball” in class	Murderball. Directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. 2005
17	Finish “Murderball” and watch parts of “Emanuel’s Gift”	Emmanuel’s Gift. Directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern. 2005.
18	Guest speaker: Ralf Hotchkiss, on his career and designing wheelchairs
19	Material properties and performance
20	Guest Speaker: Prof. David Gordon Wilson on human-powered machines Review wheelchair designs and how they contribute to body image
21	Guest Speaker: Rory McCarthy on handcycle design and racing
22	Project work
23	Project work (cont.)
24	Project work (cont.)
25	Project work (cont.)
26	Project work (cont.)
27	Final presentation session