Prof. Colin Twitchell

Professor Colin Twitchell
Director of the LATDC
cstLM@hampshire.edu 
413-559-5705

Professor Colin Twitchell serves as the Director of the Lemelson Assistive Technology Development Center (LATDC) located at Hampshire College.  He has worked in the field of assistive technology and been involved with entrepreneurial endeavors for over 20 years.  Colin graduated from Hampshire College, where he focused in mechanical design and exercise physiology.  At Hampshire he had his first entrepreneurial experience, starting an on-site, mobile cross country ski equipment sales business. 

His Division III (thesis project) was the design and fabrication of a multi-terrain wheelchair, inspired by his own experiences using wheelchairs.  Colin designed and developed unique assistive technology equipment at the Massachusetts' Adaptive Design Services.  His interest in cycling led to his invention of lighter, faster, wheelchair wheels for disabled athletes active in road racing. 

At the Institute on Applied Technology at the Boston Children's Hospital, Colin created custom assistive technology devices for use by children with disabilities.  In 1993, Colin founded Ergosport, a recreational equipment development company through which he develops and markets universally designed pieces of recreational equipment. 

Throughout his career in the field, Colin has created numerous assistive technology and universally-designed devices, one of which has become part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.  He returned to Hampshire College eight years ago to found the LATDC program and to teach applied design, invention and entrepreneurship utilizing the unique teaching medium of assistive technology. 

Through his work at LATDC, Colin has helped students obtain intellectual property protection, start businesses, and create social enterprises.  In addition to mentoring and advising students about entrepreneurship, Colin has recently taught a course focused on social enterprise creation. 

"LATDC: Connecting humanity, technology, and education"