Universities to Develop Assistive Technologies
From: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 07/18/2006
By: David Templeton

The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University will use a
five-year, $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a
research center focused on developing technologies to help the elderly and
people with disabilities. The Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research
Center will work to develop technologies that can improve the quality of life
of older people and those with disabilities, help them live longer and more
independently, and allow them to start or keep working. Organizers of the new
research center demonstrated examples of the kinds of technologies they hope
to develop. The examples included a robotic walker, a bar code reader to help
visually impaired persons shop, and an "eWatch" that monitors the wearer's
health while keeping track of his or her location. Jared Cohon, president of
Carnegie Mellon, said the new research center is also expected to attract
start-up companies with an interest in similar assistive technologies. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06199/706633-85.stm

Links:
Carnegie Mellon, Pitt receive $15 million from NSF to found center to improve
  quality of life
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/cmu-cmp071406.php
http://www.plsg.com/content.aspx?id=27667ca9-4e6d-4d41-b693-505ca4b6f937

To enable the disabled
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_462283.html

Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center
http://www.qolt.org/