Introduction. This year, the project will refine the system, add other life-threatening waveforms to its database, and will refine the communication system with the cardiac center.

Abstract. Specialized cardiac centers are few and not easily accessible to everyone. Many patients are lost while enroute to these centers. Still many more simply pass away because they are a considerable distance (or time) away from these centers. The main purpose of this project, therefore, is to make use of technology to bring cardiac patients as close as about FIVE minutes away from cardiac specialists, wherever in the world they happen to be.

Project Scope. An ECG is constructed using an instrument amplifier to amplify small electrical signals from the heart. The acquired ECG signal is then digitized and passed on to a Personal Computer that filters, analyzes the signals, stores the waveforms in memory, and watches out for
life-threatening waveforms. The detection of predefined life-threatening waveforms activates the SMS messaging system that transmits the tentative analysis to the cardiac center for a professional analysis by the cardiac specialist on duty. At the same time, the coded ECG data is sent to the database which reconstructs the waveforms for further review and validation by the specialist. The system is integrated with other medical data acquisition devices, to give the specialist a clear picture of the health status of a patient. The 3-lead would eventually be upgraded into a 12-lead ECG machine.
         

Introduction. The disabled are oftentimes left behind in the development of technological applications. The focus for this project is to provide the blind with the capability to write and edit files using inexpensive personal computers and open-source software. In this way, the blind could become productive, enhance his or her feeling of self worth, and eventually assume leadership roles in the community.

Abstract. The braille system reads the text displayed on the monitor and presents the characters to the blind using a specially designed dynamic braille display for the blind's fingers to scan. Indicators are provided so that the position of the characters with respect to the whole file is given for the blind's fingers to scan. The dynamic braille display takes the place of the monitor. As with the non-blind, the keyboard is also the way that the blind communicates with the computer for instructions, editing and saving, and navigation within the computer. Access to the internet will be provided by text-based browsers within the Linux operating system. The project is constructed such that associations for the blind could avail of x486 and lower pentium computers to open new corridors for the blind.

Project Scope. At the end of this year, the students would be in a position to present the blind with a tool that will allow them to write a book and edit its contents using the inexpensive low-end personal computer. A utility will also be provided so a blind person could surf the internet to take advantage of the vast amount of knowledge found there. The "dream" is for the blind to be in a position to take on leadership responsibilities in the community.

Introduction. Many communities, especially in far-flung areas, suffer from the lack of medical specialists that will detect the onset of preventable diseases. The remote pathology research project aims to bring a pathological samples to a pathologist through the innovative use of technology.

Abstract. A 3-D platform is constructed with the movement of its x-y-z axes remotely controlled by the pathologist, or by a technican in-situ. In a remote microscopy application, for example, the control system automatically scans the sample-slide to determine the boundaries of suspicious masses. Once determined, it will take pictures of the areas concerned and will transmit them to the diagnostic center where they will be stitch together to form a complete whole. The pathologist at the center will analyze the pictures, and where necessary, give instructions to the technician at the remote location to reload certain slides. Once reloaded, he may opt to view the images themselves at "real-time".

Project Scope. (1) The remote device will automatically scan the samples at low lens power in order to form a bird's eye view. (2) Then it will zoom in to take pictures of suspicious areas. (3) Then it will transmit the information gathered to the diagnostic center. (4) The system at the diagnostic center will stitch the images together so that the pathologist could perform a diagnosis of the sample. (5) The system will be implemented using inexpensive hardware. The software will be developed within the project.

Resource Person. Assistance is provided in the design and implementation of the control system and of the data acquisition aspects of the project.

Resource Person. Assistance is provided in the automated control of the waveforms of the high voltage system, and in the real-time acquisition of the artificial muscle's feedback parameters.

Resource Person. Assistance is provided in the design, commissioning, and production of the control circuit and of the whole unit.

Details on the HEV are found at its own dedicated pages.