The campus will remain closed until 12 noon Thursday, 02/13/25. Students should log into Canvas for specific class information from their instructors. Please contact event organizers for information on specific activities. Normal operations will resume at 12pm on Thursday.

Wearable Technology
Innovation Center

Lawrence Technological University Unveils Michigan’s First Wearable Technology Innovation Center to Drive Cutting-Edge Solutions in Health, Safety, and Productivity

Lawrence Technological University is establishing Michigan’s first Wearable Technology Innovation Center (WTIC). Through the planning and establishment of WTIC, innovators will access resources provided to design, research, develop, manufacture and commercialize their technologies and products, as well as establish and scale their companies. These new consumer products will combine artificial intelligence, big data analytics, robotic sensing, mobile networking, tracking and navigation into assistive devices that augment the human body.

WTIC will encompass a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovation center, and regional economic development engine. It will coalesce innovative companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, manufacturing firms, industry leaders, university researchers, and workforce development stakeholders to foster the development and production of wearable technology solutions in the areas of:

  • Elder Care
  • Worker Safety and Protection
  • Youth Recreation and Athletic Safety
  • Human Productivity

Over 30 Leading Industry Partners and more than 20 Innovative University Faculty and Staff have joined together in collaboration to structure and launch the Wearable Technology Innovation Center through a two-year planning process. WTIC will:

  • Promote Open Collaboration for Human Enhancement through Use-Inspired Research and Results
  • Expand Economic Prosperity and Opportunities and support Global Health and Wellness, Safety, and Productivity.
  • Coalesce key stakeholders including regional partners, industry, and community members in a collaborative culture that embodies OPEN Innovation.
  • Create collaboration opportunities and the resources to ideate, design, research, develop, manufacture and commercialize their technologies and products as well as establish and scale their companies in the area of wearable technology.
  • Provide workforce training while expanding economic prosperity, opportunities and support global health/wellness, safety and productivity.

» Collaborating for Human Enhancement

The goal of the Wearable Technology Innovation Center (WTIC) is to collaborate with technical experts, designers, users, educators and industry to develop the frameworks for the mechanical, electrical and control systems that are necessary for the next generation of wearable technology consumer products.

Wearable technology promises new devices that combine artificial intelligence, robotic sensing, control and feedback, mobile networking, tracking and navigation into an assistive device that augments the human body for tasks like gait and activities of daily living. Technology revolutions have automated many aspects of mechanical labor and human cognitive tasks, leading to improvements in safety, health and well-being for humanity. Industry 4.0 promises autonomous robots/vehicles that target to reduce the repetitive/mundane tasks that people do while improving productivity. Wearable technology systems are another application of these technologies that will allow development of human-computer-interface devices for a variety of at home or workplace tasks. One example is a whole-body fitness tracker, like an advanced “Fitbit”, that would provide athletes with real time biomechanics tracking for sports performance training and injury prevention.

Projects
  • Functional movement screening for athletes
  • Wearable robotic assistant for pedestrians
  • An Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury prevention brace hinge
  • Eye tracking equipment grant to support behavioral research
  • Effect of posture on lower extremity biomechanics during jump landing
  • Automatically adjusting air cell cushion to reduce the risk of pressure sores in wheelchair users
  • Tackling driver fatigue
  • Using Myo EMG to predict gestures in Morra
  • Advanced haptics for automation and control systems
  • Knee injury prevention wearable sensors
  • Wearable glove to implement “sense” in a prosthetic arm
  • Quantitative method for long-term comfort assessment of automotive seating
  • Smart sensors for sports performance tracking in hockey and basketball

» Resources

  • Entrepreneurial-minded educational materials developed for a range of disciplines
  • Engineering student capstone and graduate design projects
  • Electronics supplies for wearable technology prototyping
  • Centropolis Accelerator workshops and proof of concept development
  • STEAM outreach programs
  • Computer aided design and fabrication facilities
  • Biomedical Engineering laboratories

For more detailed list of equipment and facilities visit ltu.edu/engineering/experimental-biomechanics-lab

» Working Groups

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is establishing Michigan’s first Wearable Technology Innovation Center (WTIC).

WTIC will encompass a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovation center, and regional economic development engine. It will coalesce innovative companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, manufacturing firms, industry leaders, university researchers, and workforce development stakeholders to foster the development and production of wearable technology solutions.

The following Working Groups have been established with over 30 Industry and Community Partners and over 18 LTU Faculty & Staff as part of a two-year planning and development phase to fully launch the Center.

Our faculty lives to teach. The collaboration between a university and a student is precious and it starts with the faculty. We’re here to provide an environment that breed’s curiosity, dreaming, excellence and a desire to share your knowledge. Solving real-world problems and impacting community with compassion and best practices is the person we expect you be when you leave here. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Body copy and bullets

Body copy and bullets

Body copy and bullets

Body copy and bullets

Body copy and bullets

Body copy and bullets

» Partners and Collaborators

» Document Viewer

Use Your Cell Phone as a Document Camera in Zoom

  • What you will need to have and do
  • Download the mobile Zoom app (either App Store or Google Play)
  • Have your phone plugged in
  • Set up video stand phone holder

From Computer

Log in and start your Zoom session with participants

From Phone

  • Start the Zoom session on your phone app (suggest setting your phone to “Do not disturb” since your phone screen will be seen in Zoom)
  • Type in the Meeting ID and Join
  • Do not use phone audio option to avoid feedback
  • Select “share content” and “screen” to share your cell phone’s screen in your Zoom session
  • Select “start broadcast” from Zoom app. The home screen of your cell phone is now being shared with your participants.

To use your cell phone as a makeshift document camera

  • Open (swipe to switch apps) and select the camera app on your phone
  • Start in photo mode and aim the camera at whatever materials you would like to share
  • This is where you will have to position what you want to share to get the best view – but you will see ‘how you are doing’ in the main Zoom session.