TERRE HAUTE —
Daniel Wilson is like any other 8-year-old — curious, fun-loving and is a fan of dinosaurs. However, a longitudinal deficiency from birth severely limits the use of his right arm. This made it hard for him to swing a bat, ride a bike or swing across the monkey bars on his school playground.
Most of these things are now possible through a specially designed prosthetic device by recent Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology biomedical engineering graduates Mark Calhoun and Jacob Price.
They used state-of-the-art computer-aided design and engineering software (developed by Siemens) to create the device that utilizes seven subsystems to make Daniel’s life easier.
Siemens learned about the project and contacted two renowned filmmakers to make a mini-documentary for the global company’s “answers” campaign about real people being impacted by Siemens technology. It has become an Internet sensation, attracting viewers from throughout the world since its release last month.
View the video at www.siemens.com/entry/cc/en.
“Daniel is an awesome kid, the Wilsons are an awesome family and I could not be more grateful with being given this opportunity,” says Price, a Terre Haute native who has started his engineering career in Indianapolis.
“I’ll never forget seeing Daniel engaging in the meetings, seeing the pictures of him wearing his prosthetic weeks after we delivered it, and watching him use it to pick up toys and scratch his mom’s back,” Price said. “There’s no better feeling than that of making a difference in someone’s life.”
Calhoun, now a biomedical engineering graduate school at Ohio State University, adds: “Taking the prosthetic from the drawing board to fruition was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. Through all the highs and lows of a tough project like this one, you find something out about yourself. I found that I truly enjoyed overcoming adversity in order to create something truly special.”
He continues, “There were a few times during the process where it seemed like there just wasn’t enough time to finish it. On a Friday evening, one of our last few days to work on the project, we made one final push and got it finished. It wasn’t until we arrived at Daniel’s house a couple days later when we realized what we had just done. We had gone beyond all expectations and created something to truly improve someone’s quality of life. I believe that’s something truly special, and I take a tremendous amount of pride in that.”
Daniel has given the prosthesis an affectionate nickname, “Pinchy,” because of its two finger-like extensions that he uses to grasp objects. He cherishes the device, not wanting to break it, says his mother, Emily.
“The impact that this project has had on Daniel’s life can’t really be described in words,” she says. “The relationship that blossomed with Jacob, Mark and our whole family has affected us all. Daniel loves Mark and Jacob, and really looks up to them. Daniel is so proud that he was able to be involved in every aspect of the design process. I think that really helped boost his self-confidence. I hope that from this experience Daniel will grow up and do something like this for someone else.”
The device was one of 12 biomedical engineering senior-year capstone projects completed in 2011-12, under the supervision of professors Kay C Dee, Ph.D, Glen Livesay, Ph.D., and Renee Rogge, Ph.D. Other devices constructed included a custom-design walker for a kindergarten student, a vest-like device that corrects proprioception dysfunction and severely-slouched shoulders for children, a lightweight brace that corrects ankle pronation and an insole device that measures and redistributes the stresses on an athlete’s foot.
“Real projects for real clients help our students make real connections to what they can do with engineering,” states Livesay. “The team that worked with Daniel really exemplifies what we’re striving for in design: creative solutions and lots of hard work that enable our students to have a strong, positive impact on the lives of people in our community.”
Dee adds, “Design projects let our students use all of the skills in their ‘toolbox’: professionalism, creativity, technical knowledge, interpersonal communication skills, independent time management skills, hands-on building and technical documentation skills. These are incredible learning opportunities for our students.”
Siemens PLM Software provided Rose-Hulman a $27.8 million in-kind software grant last year to provide students with the latest advanced hands-on training tools to lead the next generation of engineers for innovative, high-tech careers. The software is being used by students to develop cutting-edge technology in classrooms, laboratories and advanced transportation competition teams.
“At Rose-Hulman, students work with the latest software and simulation programs from Siemens PLM Software to create a lot of exciting projects,” states Bill Boswell, senior director of partner strategy for Siemens PLM Software.
Schools
Rose students design device to help Rockville boy
- Schools
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Bruce’s History Lessons: Morse’s telegraph and its impact as a ‘game changer’
This week (May 24) in 1844, Professor Samuel F.B. Morse sat in the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., surrounded by members of Congress, who had come to witness history.
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High schoolers attend automotive, welding skills competitions
Area high school students put their skills to the test at the annual Automotive Skills and Welding Skills competitions on April 18 at Ivy Tech Community College—Wabash Valley.
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Riverton Parke presents concert, music awards
The Riverton Parke Jr.-Sr. High School Music Department presented its annual Spring Concert on May 13 in the school gymnasium.
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Turkey Run senior awards and honors
Turkey Run High School seniors were honored at an awards program May 13. Scholarships and departmental and activity awards were presented.
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South earns national yearbook design honor
The Terre Haute South yearbook, Uaxactun, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 11 celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage.
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Vincennes University Dean’s List
The Vincennes University Dean’s List for Spring 2013 includes students from the Vincennes campus, Jasper campus, Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, military bases, and other extended sites.
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4 more honored as Four Star Schools
In addition to the three Vigo County schools (Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Dixie Bee Elementary and Fayette Elementary schools) that were announced earlier, four more Wabash Valley schools were recognized as Indiana Four Star Schools.
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Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
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Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
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South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
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Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
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Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
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Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
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Parks offering summer day camp
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer day camp.
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State recognizes counties for improving college success
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers recognized 26 Indiana counties for working to increase the percentage of Hoosiers with education beyond high school. The counties are members of Indiana’s College Success Coalition, a statewide network focused on improving college access and success.
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College Challenge program earns accreditation
Indiana State University’s College Challenge program for high school students has earned initial accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
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ISP offers youth an up close look at law enforcement
Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seem to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics. For more than 40 years the Indiana State Police have been giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.
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Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 16, 2013
Alyssa A. Barnes of Clinton graduated from Purdue University on Sunday.
She has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in psychology. -
Woodrow Wilson students collect funds for animals
The leadership team from Woodrow Wilson Middle School sponsored a week of giving to collect funds and supplies for the Terre Haute Humane shelter.
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Riverton Parke academic bowl team finishes strong
The Riverton Parke English academic bowl team finished as runner-up at the state finals competition on May 4 at Purdue University, and the social studies team swept through all of its last eight questions without a miss to finish third in the contest.
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Turkey Run High School names top 2013 students
Kaleigh Basan has been named valedictorian and Jeff Woods and Kendall Davies are co-salutatorians for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2013.
Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. May 25 with 36 students receiving their diplomas. -
Bruce’s history lessons: Spring Cleaning 2013
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”
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Moats gets ISU Rankin Award
Indiana State University has honored Katelynn Moats of Terre Haute with the Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of the university.
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Turkey Run to honor seniors
Turkey Run High School will hold its senior awards and recognition program at 7 p.m. Monday in the ELC room. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
The program for freshmen to juniors will be held at 1:32 p.m. May 16 in the high school gymnasium. -
Honey Creek math club earns gold status
Honey Creek Middle School has received Gold Level Status as a participant of the 2013 MATHCOUNTS Club.
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Riverton Parke students bring home art awards
Students from 15 schools in west central Indiana competed in the 34th annual d’Arlier Trust Spring Art Show on April 19-25 in Veedersburg. Four Riverton Parke High School students won a total of nine awards in six of the show’s 20 categories.
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Parke Adult Tutoring Service awards mini-grant
The Parke Adult Tutoring Service has awarded a mini-grant of $270 to Riverton Parke English teacher Mike Lunsford to purchase reading materials for his students.
- Vigo County School Corp. Honor Roll — Middle School, Second Grading Period
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