Systematic technology transfer: A case study in assistive technology

This paper presents the methodology and findings of a study currently underway at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer (T² RERC). The program is federally funded to transfer needed technologies and products into the marketplace for persons with disabilities or Assistive Technology (A/T) marketplace. The study is a research effort to validate an innovative approach to technology transfer through its application to the field of A/T. It focuses on the feasibility, effectiveness and efficiency of the model processes as well as a description of how they work. Stakeholder involvement is fundamental to the model. The operating model is judged against the proposed model, rather than against an external model. Design validity is improved by providing a causal chain of Carriers that link intermediate outcomes to final outcome. Quantitative and qualitative data generate case studies that report on the validated model version. Findings include outcomes (transferred technologies and devices), their time to success/failure and effort expended in the transfer at the current stage of the program. We also include examples of the Carriers used, the Barriers encountered and the Best Practices established.