The IMPACT Center's IMPACTech Podcast
About the Podcast
The IMPACT Center's ImpacTech Podcast, with host Dr. Mary Goldberg. Join us as we delve into the stories of rehabilitation engineers, assistive technology companies, and entrepreneurs moving toward technology transfer. What does it take to get an assistive technology to market? What is happening across the country and around the world? Listen to their journeys and hear about some really neat assistive technologies that are helping to improve people's daily lives.
Most Recent Episodes
In Part 2 of our crossover episode with Assistive Technology Update, we continue our engaging conversation with Brandon Biggs, creator of Audiom, and IMPACT mentor John McInerney. Picking up where we left off, Brandon dives deeper into what Audiom can—and cannot—do, offering an honest look at the capabilities and current limitations of this innovative audio-based map viewer for blind and visually impaired users. Co-hosted by Dr. Mary Goldberg and Josh Anderson, this episode continues to explore the intersection of user experience, accessibility, and innovation in blindness technology, with thoughtful insights from both Brandon and John on the evolving landscape of assistive tech.
In this (Part 1) special crossover episode of ImpacTech and Assistive Technology Update, we’re thrilled to bring you a dynamic conversation with Brandon Biggs, creator of Audiom—an innovative audio-based map viewer designed for blind and visually impaired users—and John McInerney, an IMPACT mentor and expert in engineering and accessibility. Hosted by Dr. Mary Goldberg and Josh Anderson, this episode dives into the unique challenges of accessible mapping, the future of blindness tech, and the journey of taking research-backed products like Audiom to market. Along the way, we explore how differing perspectives shape the design and user experience of assistive technologies. Join us as we uncover insights, innovation, and the collaborative spirit that drives the development of groundbreaking assistive technology.
In "Success for Steadiwear," we'll explore how the Steady 3 is changing lives, the challenges of scaling a business in the assistive technology field, and Emile's vision for the future of Steadiwear.
Join us as we chat with guest Emile Maamary, co-founder and CMO of Steadiwear, Inc., a company dedicated to stabilizing hand tremors through advanced assistive technology. An IMPACT Center training program alumni, his story is one of perseverance and ingenuity as he navigated the challenges of product development, regulatory hurdles, and market introduction to bring the Steadi Three device to users Worldwide today.
In this episode, Leah Marmo, Director of the Inglis Impact Accelerator at the Inglis Innovation Center, shares her inspiring journey from rural Pennsylvania to leading innovation in assistive technology. She discusses the challenges and successes of guiding startups focused on accessible housing, assistive tech, and healthcare. Leah's unique career path and her commitment to fostering an inclusive ecosystem are highlighted, along with success stories from the accelerator program.
The ImpacTech podcast features Rose Morris, founder and CEO of Abrams Nation, an assistive technology company that revolutionized the landscape of autism care by manufacturing an FDA-registered autism bed. Rose's inspiring journey showcases the power of innovation and compassion, as she created a life-changing product to keep her son Abram safe and secure. Through personal stories and insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship, this episode highlights the profound impact Abrams Nation has had on families needing specialized solutions for their children with special needs.
On today's episode prepare to be inspired as we explore the innovative world of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology companies. We're joined by the visionaries shaping the future of mobility and accessibility, Todd Hargroder and Troy Tesmer, co-founders of Soul Mobility, Inc, winners of the 2023 RESNA IMPACT Award, and the brilliant minds behind the revolutionary PowerFlex technology - an extraordinary high tech assistive technology example. This podcast was created thanks in part to funding provided by the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Guest hosts Drs. Michelle Zorrilla and Julie Faieta bring you a unique episode recorded live on the exhibit hall floor at the 2023 RESNA Annual Conference - which was swimming with high tech assistive technology examples. We present a lineup of remarkable rehabilitation engineers and innovators who are shaping the future of assistive technology and assistive technology companies. From veterans' support to home accessibility, each of these stories is a testament to the power of innovation and the dedication to improving lives. We couldn’t do this podcast without the support of the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Prepare to have your mind expanded, and your creativity ignited as we delve into the realm of design mastery. Our guest Julie Gulick, President and CEO of Bally Design, a design consultancy firm nestled in Pittsburgh, PA, will take us on an unforgettable journey through the realms of product, industrial, and user experience design. We would like to thank the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) for their support of this podcast and all the IMPACT Center efforts.
On today's episode, we continue our chat with Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, but this time we focus on her role as Director of the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and the institute's vision moving forward. We discuss what does and hopes to do through this role to support rehabilitation engineers and assistive technology companies.
Looking for an inspirational story of disability, access, and heart? Then look no further than our latest episode with Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt. Director of the National Institute of Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an elite wheelchair racer, a Paralympic ambassador, public speaker, disability advocate, and former assistant professor at Vanderbilt University. She not only works with rehabilitation engineers and assistive technology companies, but also has personally used many high tech assistive technology examples.