Principal Investigator

Merry Lynn Morris, Faculty

University of South Florida's College of Arts
Education: MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) 1998 – Florida State University, BA (Bachelors of Arts) 1996 -University of South Florida, LMT -Licensed (sports) massage t
Degree: MFA (Masters of Fine Arts), Doctoral program to begin 2012
Born in: Orlando, Florida

My Qualifications

Extensive movement expertise and experience in dance field, MFA in dance performance/choreography, Active in dance medicine/science field – member and presenter at the International Association of ...
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Previous SciFlies Projects

None

Awards

Thatcher Hoffman Smith Award, “Creativity in Motion”, Irma Dobkin Universal Design Grant (for design of inclusive programming and design conception of chair project), Veteran’s Reintegration Gr ...
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Links

· http://rdc.arts.usf.edu

Photos

Videos

Passion/Philosophy

Human Movement Studies including function/expression/communication relationships, Arts and Disability, Dance Medicine/Dance Science

Books I'm Reading

Body Movement: Coping with the Environment (Irmgard Bartenieff, Dori Lewis), Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief (Francis Collins), Making Connections: Total Body Integration Through Bartenieff Fundamentals (Peggy Hackney)

Wheelchair Design Reborn to Express Dancer’s Moves

Why? The “Dance/Mobility Chair Project” at the University of South Florida is not “spinning wheels.” The effort to redesign a wheelchair that provides enough mobility for users to dance is rolling along nicely. But, the project needs a little more funding to continue testing and developing a unique prototype wheelchair that offers users the ability to dance, and may offer future users a whole ...
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Ultimate Goal The project, initiated by Merry Lynn Morris, MFA, a faculty member in the University of South Florida’s College of Arts, had the full and supportive collaboration of the USF College of Engineering Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics and the USF School of Physical Therapy. Early funding was internal to USF and has continued with small donations and a partnership with Custom Mobility ...
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Ultimate Goal

The project, initiated by Merry Lynn Morris, MFA, a faculty member in the University of South Florida’s College of Arts, had the full and supportive collaboration of the USF College of Engineering Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics and the USF School of Physical Therapy. Early funding was internal to USF and has continued with small donations and a partnership with Custom Mobility, Inc. The project seeks to change negative stigmas associated with disability, “through re-conceptualizing wheelchair design as an instrument of human expression” said Ms. Morris The concept included making a wheelchair that could be utilized on stage and in interaction with other dancers. “It was a creative challenge,” said Ms. Morris. “having an aesthetic, human, and expression-oriented focus, not just a functional one.” However, functional aspects were not ignored, and that’s where the engineers came in to consider materials, sensory control options, versatility, tight turning radius, improved balance and enough speed capability to be able to support choreographic movement invention. They also considered ease of transport, seating options and movement possibilities – goals determined by Morris. Onboard are multidirectional wireless capabilities and body connectivity control that frees the user’s arms and hands. The patented prototype chair allows the user to move the chair by simply leaning the torso. The original chair was tested by a focus group of individuals both with and without disability. The unique chair caught media attention and was the focus of stories on CNN and PBS. Further research will include testing the prototype with a variety of populations. The benefits may go well beyond expression through dance. “The research performed thus far has suggested that the chair may have benefits in terms of energy efficiency and core conditioning, as well as freedom of expression,” explains Ms. Morris. “It will have implications for use in rehabilitation and for improving the daily mobility needs of general users because it integrates multiple movement options not currently available in commercial power chairs.”