People who use/need mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, etc)?

Question

Hello Everyone,
I am currently a computer engineering student aiming to improve lives for the disabled through equipment, whether mechanical or powered, and/or software. What is something that you wish was available to you that would make life easier? Software? Certain equipment? Add ons?Currently, I am conducting research on improving the wheelchair, but it has been tough to find research articles that take into consideration the feedback of the actual users.Thank you!

Answer 1

exoskeleton suit that is practical for those of us who are crippled to semi crippled 



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I like the idea fat Albert gave 

"If you are ambitious, robotic “nurse/maids” to help out with basic tasks"

I want to add , this needs to be a real thing not a table that brings you a drink or phone app to order diapers and food or refrigerator that shows what is in there all fluff no real help 





I will tell you,,, it is important not to create "stuff" that is more than a sells gimmick!  it needs to be needed items -- often said helping "stuff" is a insult not a real help to stuff we want 



like I have fallen and cannot get up it has some value but the ads are insulting (women laying on the floor whining) 

or medicare ad free this ad money back yadi yadi ,,, they fail to say in the ad they take you off PPO and on HMO so you loose your freedom and loose your doctor(s)  no specialist 

a lot like the ACA  you lost your plan lost your doctor and freedom to specialist 



at least a software than sorts out the BS from the sales pitch.. on all the jive and bait and switch -- doable but no money in that 



like the crap remote doctor visits ,,,, might as well not bother 



one thing ,,, the remote drug  web sights that do not really work,, CVS caremart for control of the auto refill fails badly and you cannot seem to cancel a drug you no longer need -- OH sure it is on the web page,,, but they keep sending it after you cancel it with redundant email and text request to send it again after you canceled it 



a BIG one medical software SUCKS why do I have to answer the same basic questions over and over and over..... I feel they are spending way to much time on stuff that should be permanent record and thus miss the real needs I am there for 

create a base line static software , that does not require asking me over and over about my family history or if I smoke or drink alcohol 





As a computer tech printer tech business man (I did lots of medical offices) ,,, I can tell you 

keep it simple... the software medical groups use no is too complex promises a load of production  no one really needs thus covers up the real needs 



but because good doctors are not good business people they will always over buy and over estimate value then under use software 



are you trying to make a living or just dedicate your self to poverty to help people ?

Answer 2

a good wheelchair accessible shopping cart, maybe with a single knob in the middle so that it can be pushed with one hand while driving an electric chair with the other.



LIGHTER motorized chairs...right now the lightest breaks down into about 30 pound pieces (4 pieces) and is a pain to use for short trips (i can't use scooter because I can't hold my arms out that long).

Answer 3

I want a usb charger on my power chair. It has batteries. It gets recharged each night. There must be a way to keep my phone charged. It is an essential safety tool.

Answer 4

Powerchairs ought to be able to guide themselves around furniture, people, and other obstacles without touching them, rather than requiring control inputs to do so.  An initial user input should be computed as an intention to travel to a destination in line with the centerline of the chair at the time the input is made...The range-to-destination might be computed on the basis of a sonic measurement of the distance to the first wall or substantial furniture.  Subsequent user steering inputs could be computed as commands to move the destination aim point left or right.  Then

, if the chair encounters an obstacle enroute, it will self-correct around the obstacle and then re-aim for the destination (in the absence of any further inputs from the user).  The avoidance maneuver should include appropriate speed variations simultaneously.



Learning software that automatically changes the gain on powerchair controls as the user becomes more adept with them would also be helpful.There's also a need to be addressed in the walker/rollator department for users who have vestibular problems that cause them to fall backwards or sideways.  In those cases, a walker or rollator does not help.The biggest area where you can help is in defining a user interface for cell phones that's appropriate for people with declining ability to recall lengthy sequences of choices and options, and whose ability to sense touch and pressure is compromised.  A phone that converses with its user would probably be the best solution, so the instrument can lead its user to verbally indicate the needed inputs.Beyond that, the two biggest needs are an artificial remedy for loss of strength in legs and core to enable people to lift and move their own legs, say from in bed to sitting on the bed, or from sitting sideways on a car seat with feet on the ground, to facing front in the car with feet on the floor of the cabin.  Likewise for the core strength needed to lift one's torso from a lying position in bed to a sitting position in bed.After that, you're getting into the area of a full powered exoskeletal system to counteract loss of balance signals. 

Answer 5

When I needed a wheelchair, I could not use my arms, so setting/unsetting the brakes was pretty difficult.  I also had the use of only one leg, so moving the thing was problematic, although I did manage.  E.g., going backwards up slight rises.



There are MANY reasons that people need these things, so making a "one size fits all" approach probably will not work.  Equipment that has variability built in would be particularly useful.

Answer 6

Most complaints I hear have to do with incompatibility between equipment while transitioning to different activities and environments. 



One total system of reliable 'snap-in-place' transition tools would be ideal. Getting out of bed via a lift that is compatible with a wheelchair that is universally compatible with a 'snap-in' walker or shower chair, or 'snap-in' restraints in a van or car. Same system would have compatible accessories for each activity, like a go-bag for travel, shower accessory holders for the shower chair, etc...Making them 'digital' or 'web ready' would be fun and really helpful but it seems like a pipe dream given the current situation.



Basically, everything is sort of 'half-thoughts' now and good intentions but nobody really thinks of everything a disabled person actually deals with in each room, environment or while 'transitioning' between. What is out there is functional, but not convenient or safe. I realize that lawyers and insurance companies prefer it this way, but disabled people would much prefer to avoid further injury rather than having a few more bucks to spend on medical bills and more bad equipment.  



I have also seen very enthusiastic people come in determined to improve life for disabled people using computers and software and wind up bailing on the idea because computer literacy is low or they underestimated the learning curve. Again, some kind of integrated system that does everything for you and connects people to each other without having to learn to 'problem solve' along the way would be great.



Even this question, for example, is being answered by someone 'just outside' their world and not by them, mostly because you overestimated their current access or computer literacy. Most disabled people don't have a guy like me to intermediate for them. Most guys like you aren't interested in the job when they find out what it actually entails. 

Answer 7

Foot plates can be a hazard when swung back, they can be the cause of skin tears & other injuries.

Best to take them off when not in use, but where to store them.

Maybe some kind of holder on the rear of the chair.

The latches that hold the foot plates in place, most designs risk pinching skin or catching catheter or other tubing.



This I just thought of, sometimes people seem to slip forward in an electric wheel chair, it's hard to move them back without using a hoist.

What if the seat cover was like a small conveyor belt, it rolls back moving their body back into the seat?



All the best with your work.

Answer 8

If you are ambitious, robotic “nurse/maids” to help out with basic tasks around the house. Finding a live in nurse is tough, expensive  and plus there is the human factor like them not getting along with your sick mom or vice versa. And no one likes putting their family member in a nursing home.



Also, if you make something, make it user friendly. I have seen so many medical devices that have good intentions but are not user friendly. Remember the person you are making this for is NOT a software engineer and may even have some cognitive impairments.