| The executive director and
administrative associates of the Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT),
an Engineering Research Center funded by the NSF, held the 1st Annual Quality
of Life Technology Summit in the fall of 2007. The Center is a partnership
between Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
The summit brought together
more than 75 industry professionals, clinicians, and government officials.
The attendees represented 17 technology provider companies and 21 support
provider companies. The QoLT organized the gathering together with
the Pennsylvania Association for Non-Profit Homes for the Aging, the Pennsylvania
Homecare Association, the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, and the
Hiram G. Andrews Center, a state-sponsored facility in Johnstown, Pa. that
provides services to the disabled throughout the state. Pennsylvania
Deputy Secretary of Aging and Public Welfare Michael Hall and state senator
Rob Wonderling gave opening and keynote addresses on policy reform related
to assistive technologies.
Participants in the summit
developed an outline for a QoLT market assessment document, created needs
and technology opportunity statements, and established stronger relationships
among quality-of-life technology developers and users. As a result
of the summit, General Motors joined the Industry/Practitioner Advisory
Board (IPAB) of the QoLT Center.
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