Become the world leader in exploring and creating quality of life technologies
Establish our approach as an enduring technical discipline
Create significant social and economic impact that is felt locally, nationally and globally
We share common goals with the Americans with Disability Act and Older Americans Act.
For The Greater Good
The Quality of Life Technology (QoLT) Center was created to transform the lives of people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability. The number and percentages of people in need of QoLT increase every year. About 60 million Americans have a disability that affects one or more of their major life activities. Perceptive, cognitive and musculoskeletal diseases that impair motor skills dramatically increase with age.
At the QoLT Center, we develop new systems to deal with all aspects of human living to restore and enhance natural human perception, cognition, and motor skills.
A Matter of Economic and Societal Needs
QoLT systems enable people to be gainfully employed to help build a stronger economy and expand diversity in the workforce. QoLT also enables older adults to live independently longer, avoiding the expense of assisted living or nursing home care. QoLT thus delays or reduces the need for managed care, personal financial burdens associated with sustained health issues, and their economic impact on society. For example, a one-month delay in nursing home admissions could save $1.12 billion dollars annually.
The Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh Connection
Carnegie Mellon and The University of Pittsburgh have a rich history together through their complimentary research and education programs, joint interdisciplinary programs, and track records of establishing new disciplines like Robotics (CMU) and Rehabilitation Science and Technology (Pitt). Their main campuses are located in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh less than a mile apart. This proximity allows faculty and students from both universities to work together quite easily and intermingle in the same neighborhoods.
Both universities have ties to a number of other organizations, healthcare centers, and research centers that afford access to additional expertise, new perspectives, and connections to end users.The Pittsburgh region is the second oldest county in the United States and there are active user groups of people with disabilities and older adults.
