Affiliate faculty lab member Dr. Merry Lynn Morris, leads advancement in Rolling Dance Chair Project. This project
investigates innovative assistive mobility technologies for dancers with physical disabilities. Between 2021-2025, Dr. Merry Lynn Morris has collaborated with an engineering partner to complete a second prototype, as well as conducted choreographic and artistic research with professional dancers who suffer from spinal cord injuries using both patented devices.
This research was recently presented at the 2025 IADMS Annual Conference, where Dr. Merry Lynn Morris led a panel on maximizing performance with assistive devices. Related recognition for this ongoing project includes invitations as a panelist for “Tech in Arts” as part of Invention-Con, organized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2022) and election to Senior Membership in the National Academy of Inventors (2022). This work has previously garnered five U.S. patents, an NPR feature, and invitations from the Smithsonian, underscoring its national and interdisciplinary impact.