The people with needs were aged eight to 80.

The problem-causing conditions ranged from cerebral palsy to severe arthritis.

And the innovative devices to improve daily living were mind-bogglingly various.

Students Ashley Conway and Cassandra Paolillo, part of the Dracut High School team, watch as their young client Jarod tries out a modified keyboard with the help of his dad.

At the third annual Assistive Technology Design Fair (ATDF) on May 21, more than 100 high school students in 22 teams shared their engineering solutions to problems, competing only for their own sense of pride and accomplishment.

"his program has expanded unbelievably,” says Douglas Prime, director Design Camp for the College of Engineering and organizer of the fair. “Teachers and students really appreciate the opportunity to work hands-on, building a prototype and helping someone from their community.”

The ATDF is a spin-off of UMass Lowell’s Assistive Technology program, directed by Donn Clark, electrical and computer engineering professor, assisted by Alan Rux, technical support associate for the department. The program supervises college seniors in their capstone design projects.

But college seniors have completed lots of engineering courses. Taking the program to the high school level was a bold move.

Working with a teacher-adviser, each team of four to six students had to find an actual client whose life would be improved with an assistive device. The teams brainstormed alternative solutions, worked within a budget, developed a presentation and built a working prototype to demonstrate at the design fair.

Tyngsboro students Andrew Clark, Joe Polin and Mitch Kendall, along with teammate Tim Langlois, modified a VCR for use in special education class at the elementary school.

"he ATDF may be unique in the whole country,” says Prime. “The quality of work is outstanding that these young people are doing. I’m always surprised at what they can accomplish."

Tyco Electronics was the lead sponsor of the 2005 program, along with Lowell affiliate M/A-COM. Engineers from M/A-COM volunteered their time to help with on-site design reviews for the participating teams. 3M also gave substantial support.

Jon Rendell of Westford Academy was one of the students who worked on wheelchair modifications to make it easier for an attendant to push the chair through snow.

All the teams showed their work in poster sessions set up in Cumnock Hall. Six project teams were selected to give full presentations of their work: one each from Greater Lawrence Technical, Tyngsboro, Dracut, Fitchburg, Hanover and Westford Academy high schools.

Speakers at the event included Dean John Ting, Francis College of Engineering; Donn Clark, director, UML Assistive Technology program; and Amy Mulkern, head of human resources, Tyco Electronics. Keynote speaker, Dr. Eli Peli of Harvard Medical School, is an electrical engineering and optometrist who specializes in electrical image processing. His team has developed a host of assistive technology devices for people with low vision, including head-mounted displays, electronic displays for low-vision reading and fiber optic magnifiers.