By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing
Students at the OB体育官网 are dedicating their summer to tackling the multifaceted challenges faced by older adults, particularly those with disabilities from conditions such as Parkinson鈥檚 disease and stroke. It鈥檚 part of the Tech for Aging Summer Hackathon, a new, seven-week program hosted by USF鈥檚 Center for Innovation, Technology and Aging (CITA), which was established last year with $1 million in seed funding through USF鈥檚 Collaborative Research Excellence And Translational Efforts (CREATE) award.
鈥淭his is how USF meets the moment. By investing in ambitious ideas and the people behind them, we are advancing solutions to some of society鈥檚 greatest challenges.鈥� 鈥� USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra
Since its launch in July 2024, the center has brought together experts from across seven USF colleges to reimagine how technology can improve care for people living with age-related conditions, such as Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias. To inspire students, the Tech for Aging Summer Hackathon provides them the opportunity to collaborate with the CITA researchers to solve real problems through hands-on opportunities.
The program culminates with a showcase of prototypes, presentations and awards. Twelve teams of students will compete on projects, including the development of artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze hearing data and to control an intelligent robotic dog to help older adults at home.
鈥淚鈥檝e never worked with robots like this before,鈥� said Rice Pham, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering. 鈥淪ome of the devices we鈥檙e working on could help carry oxygen tanks for people who are oxygen dependent. That would really improve their mobility. I have elders back home and something like this would be a game-changer for them.鈥�
According to , professor of computer science and engineering and director of the CITA, the goal of the summer program is to identify talented students for long-term collaboration and explore promising, high-impact projects.
Pham testing the robotic dog
鈥淭he CREATE grant from USF鈥檚 Office of the Provost allowed us to build this foundation,鈥� Sun said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a strategic investment not just in faculty research, but in students, innovation and in USF鈥檚 ability to lead in a critical field.鈥�
The hope is to build a pipeline of researchers and innovators equipped to improve the quality of life for millions of older adults and their families.
Pham, who plans to pursue a doctorate in machine learning, is particularly drawn to the efficiency of the technologies being developed. 鈥淚 like the idea of building smart devices that are not just helpful but energy efficient, too.鈥�
The growing rate of Alzheimer鈥檚 and dementia cases presents a challenge to the U.S. and global health care systems.revealed one in six people are ages 65 and over. Globally, the number of people affected by dementias is expected to nearly triple from 55 million to 153 million by 2050, according to .
Sun in his robotics lab | Photo by: Torie Doll, University Communications and Marketing
鈥淲e use AI and robots to help with potential interventions, and we are creating assistive technology for caregivers because caring for people with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias is really stressful,鈥� Sun said. 鈥淲e are trying to mitigate their stress and make it easier.鈥�
The Tech for Aging Summer Hackathon is just one piece of the CITA鈥檚 year-round efforts. The center also holds town halls and events during the academic year to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
鈥淭his is how USF meets the moment,鈥� said USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra, who launched the CREATE award program in 2023 to elevate the university鈥檚 research enterprise. 鈥淏y investing in ambitious ideas and the people behind them, we are advancing solutions to some of society鈥檚 greatest challenges.鈥�