The AsTeRICS Academy for cross-cultural education in assistive technologies

Abstract

The AsTeRICS Academy is an ongoing project of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien which focuses on development and application of novel educational strategies in the sectors of electronic engineering and information technologies, targeting very heterogeneous groups of learners in an international context. The applied methods include hands-on workshops and practical design challenges using the Assistive Technology Rapid Integration and Construction Set (AsTeRICS) which offers a set of building blocks for the efficient graphical creation of tailored solutions for people with special needs. In a 10-day summer school, participants create working assistive solutions which can directly be applied with end-users. Students of the UAS expand their knowledge in hardware and software engineering by extending this existing framework.