skiis, swimming, biking, para-olympics, special olympics, running etc).

PART 1: Technology Purpose, Function, History and Client Suitability
• Each student should have at 3 different technologies/devices to be briefly addressed and reported on as follows:
1) Who is the technology for (what types of disabilities), and what does it aim to do for them? Be as specific as possible about the disabilities that would be helped, and exercises it provides or activities it enables and/or facilitates. The benefits to the client may be both physical and psychological. Your job in the future may be to try to decide, before recommending to a client, whether the manufacturer’s claims are likely to be valid, or exaggerated!
2) Important: are there any contra-indications for use of the device – certain conditions of a client that make the device either ineffective or even unsafe for use?
3) History of the device:
i. Who invented it (background of inventor), and what inspired them to create?
ii. Was this the first of its kind, or a modification of existing technology?
iii. How long did it take to develop (and possible iterations, or steps along the way: version 1, 2, 3, etc.) – this may or may not be easy information to track down – do your best!
4) Is this device unique? What other devices currently exist, or have been developed in the past, to address the same or similar client needs? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of the new technology by comparison? Usually with the pluses come a few minuses.
5) Do your best to sketch a person using the rehabilitation machine. Briefly explain the function of the machine – how it works. Be neat – draw as though explaining to a colleague how the machine functions. You may wish to refer to the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards in the Reference Section of the syllabus. Briefly explain how the machine works. Pictures and/or links to videos are helpful, too, if available.
6) To the best of your abilities, learn about and perform an Activity Analysis involving possible client(s) and the machine. The directions on the website http://cookingmamasuk.wordpress.com/activity-analysis/ may be helpful, and you will also discover other sources in the library/web. What are the Benefits of using your chosen device, in terms of health, fitness and the way in which this device may contribute to their enjoyment and independence in various activities important to them.
7) Identify the muscles/joints that this machine is intended to exercise, if it is an exercise device.
8) Once again: are there clients that might be harmed through excessive force or motion or repetition from the machine?
9) Do you best to estimate the ease of use of the machine, including difficulty with access, such as getting on and off, or strapping in.
10) Identify any potential dangers for someone with disability or impairment in using the machine. Can it tip over? Pinch a limb?
11) Are there activities that seem normal, and within the range of normal use of the machine, but that might injure someone with a particular type of disability?
12) Find reviews of the technology in User Groups of people with disabilities, or therapists or caregivers (like Amazon-type ratings) might be helpful. And there are always reference librarians and…. yes, your Professor!

13) Call and/or email (and document in your section) at least one company or user or user-group to get some first-hand information about each device/technology. This is scary only the first time – remember, at the worst you get a “sorry I am busy” but usually folks are very happy to help out a student learning to be a great contributor to society.