University Involvement at San Jose State University
Special Need Children Center Foundation (SNCCF), a non-profit organization based in East Bay to serve the children with special needs, has established a collaborative project with 4 graduate students of engineering at San Jose State University (SJSU) to develop an innovative device to assist children who are wheelchair bound. The project was initially introduced by Tina He and Alex Baklashov, two graduate students at SJSU, who had met with Zia Oboodiyat the founder and president of SNCCF.
This project represents the power of possibility that can become a reality when heart, intelligence, innovation, and a sense of community service come together for the benefit of the needy, in this case children with special needs.
Chris Chu, a key member of the design team, describes the project as a win-win-win project. We are designing a user-friendly component kit that includes a proximity sensor, an emergency light system, and a heart rate/pulse rate monitor. The device will be designed to adapt to each individual’s needs by enabling the use of extra features. The team will design the device to be durable and easy to use.
Wilson Vu, an Electrical Engineering graduate student, describes the project as a socially conscious project. We are doing this project because the end product will assist a child to have a higher quality of life.
Tai Nguyen can’t help himself and with a great deal of enthusiasm expresses his feelings about how proud he is to be part of a team whose objectives are to become a productive member of his society and help those who are physically less fortunate to have a better life.
Pictured above: Chris Chu, Wilson Vu, Tai Nguyen, Ivan Moon, Alex Baklashov, and Zia Oboodiyat
Ivan Moon explains they spent the last semester to design the project and they have done so with future needs in mind. The design is expandable and will have USB interface(s) so that it can be integrated with many other devices. Ivan expands his explanation about how they plan to test and incorporate the final product to Zia’s sons’s wheelchair and he can’t wait to see the smile on his face.
Today Alex is acting as the advisor and mentor the team and there are indications that Tina will come back to become a permanent member of the SNCCF organization. This is our pilot project Zia explains. Upon completion of this project we will initiate an effort to develop a collaborative effort with other universities and further our relationship with SJSU college of engineering. SNCCF is planning to raise funds and build a center for special need children.
Interested individuals who wish to participate in SNCCF mission or need help from SNCCF are welcome to contact SNCCF at www.snccf.org or call Zia Oboodiyat at 510-792-7566
Pictured above: Chris Chu, Wilson Vu, Tai Nguyen, Ivan Moon, Alex Baklashov, and Greg Harms
The team will update their status every two weeks to show the project’s progress.
