Accessibility: Take part in the challenge!
ETH Zurich aims to make its infrastructure – i.e. its buildings and services – as accessible as possible. Accessibility and inclusion are also important topics in education and research. ETH members with disabilities can now get involved in the development of assistive technologies.
At ETH Zurich, the entire infrastructure is being made more accessible. This includes, for example, a website that is as accessible as possible, accessible teaching materials and library media, and barrier-free buildings. In addition to such infrastructural adjustments, education and research also make a major contribution to accessibility. For instance, Roger Gassert, professor of rehabilitation technology at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), is researching assistive technologies.
This refers to technologies that support people with sensory or sensorimotor impairments in their everyday lives. Examples include exoskeletons for arms, legs and the body, and self-stabilising wheelchairs. Devices are also being developed that scan brain activity and recognise it as movement intentions. A robot – such as an exoskeleton – then executes these movements.
New technologies simplify everyday life
ETH students and staff now have the opportunity to challenge Roger Gassert and his team: for the ‘Assistive Technology Challenge’, they are looking for people with sensory or sensorimotor impairments who would like to overcome one or more obstacles in their everyday lives – in their studies, at work or in their leisure time. Over the course of a semester, a group of ETH students will work with these ‘challengers’ to analyse the problem and develop a new technology.
?Assistive Challenge?
For visually impaired challenger Daniele, for example, it has become much easier to enjoy his hobby: he likes to drive remote-controlled cars and can now navigate the car much better thanks to auditory feedback developed as part of a challenge.
Ready for the challenge?
Roger Gassert and laboratory manager Jessica Gantenbein welcome new ‘challengers’: ‘We look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to exchange ideas and cooperate with us! We are open to any challenges and try to learn from each other to develop a suitable solution that simplifies everyday life.’
Interested ETH members can contact Jessica Gantenbein directly at Jessica Gantenbein.
Accessibility in education and research
- In education, the topic of accessibility is represented in the Rehabilitation and Inclusion (D-HEST) degree programme and through the Architecture and Care (D-ARCH) professorship, among others.
- The ETH Competence Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Science (RESC) pursues a holistic approach to rehabilitation to better meet the needs of patients and people with physical disabilities.
Accessibility
Accessibility affects us all: every day, everyone faces barriers of varying degrees. ETH Zurich aims to minimise these barriers or, ideally, remove them completely. The university should be designed according to the principle of ‘design for all’ so that everyone has largely unrestricted access to its buildings and services.
Further information on advice, services, events and news can be found on the new Accessibility website.
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