Computer science PhD student James Arnold wants to improve rehabilitation and day-to-day independence for stroke survivors, people living with ALS, and others with limited shoulder mobility. Arnold develops wearable assistive robots that could be used at home or in clinics to provide gentle physical support and real-time feedback during movement. Looking ahead, James hopes wearable assistive devices will become commonplace, helping people move with greater confidence, comfort, and independence in everyday life. In this episode of “What’s on My Bench?”, James offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tools and objects that shape his research, from the technology that powers wearable assistive robots to sentimental items that remind him of life outside the lab.
“What’s on My Bench?” is a series from Harvard's Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences that takes a closer look at the tools and objects PhD and master’s students rely on in their scientific research. A lab bench is the heart of every lab, where experiments are performed and discoveries are made. In this series, students share their most treasured and essential items that help them in their scientific journeys.
