Inclusive and Barrier-Free Designs for Rehabilitation Engineering

Toshiaki Tanaka, Ph.D., Physical Therapist(P.T.), Ergonomist) is Senior Program Advisor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) and the Institute of Gerontology (IOG), The University of Tokyo. He received his M.A. in Physical Therapy from New York University (1992) and Ph.D. in Engineering from Hokkaido University (1998). Dr. Tanaka has devoted his career to developing assistive and rehabilitative technologies that enhance mobility, balance, and daily living activities for older adults and people with disabilities. His research integrates kinesiology, rehabilitation science, ergonomics, and assistive engineering, leading to innovations such as wheelchair alert systems, telerehabilitation platforms, and multisensory balance training devices. He previously served as Professor at The University of Tokyo and Sapporo City University, and as a visiting researcher at MIT and EHESS (France–Japan Foundation).