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Standing Wheelchair helps accident victims get back on their feet
If the Segway was designed to help people as much as this standing wheelchair, we probably wouldn't make fun of it so much. While it does look a lot like a Segway, the standing wheelchair is designed to give people with spinal injuries a new way to get around. Rather than confining you to a chair and putting you at a lower level than everyone else, this stands the user up, bringing them back to eye level and restoring a bit of normalcy to someone who's gone through a traumatic accident. This is serious life-changing technology, something that does more than just add convenience to a lifestyle. While at the moment it's merely a design concept, we can see by the aforementioned Segway that the technology exists to make this a reality. Here's hoping it gets to people who need it sooner rather than later.
Via The Cool Hunter
By karpet at 6:47 PM ON 08/16/06
This is a great idea. It is hard to believe it took so long before someone put the concept together. Segway did came out with a wheel chair that used it's balance technology to lift the occupant but, the chair seemed over thought given the simplicity of the actual Segway stand up model. What better way to use a people transporter then to transport people that can't walk on their own. This needs to get expedited to market; it has been long over due.
By MageVailant at 8:15 PM ON 08/16/06
Actually, a similar product has been around for a while. I saw a self balancing wheelchair on the science channel about 3 or 4 years ago. The chair had three wheels in a triangular array on each side and the person sat in it like a normal chair. During normal operation the chair rolled along on four wheels but when the user wanted to go over rough terrain/stairs or just wanted to look someone in the eye the wheel arrays rotated, essentailly making the chair "stand-up" on two wheels. This left the user in a sitting position but still talking to others at eye level. The only problem I could see was that when it stayed put the chair oscilated back and forth a little.
By karpet at 7:59 PM ON 08/18/06
You would be referring to the iBot I believe, which is what I was also referring too. http://www.independencenow.com/home.html It is a very novel idea and has great benefits, but a two wheeled stand seems to give back more freedom to a person confined to a chair. Whether balancing or not, the occupant is still sitting in the iBot. In a stand up model the occupant would be able to go right up to people. If you have ever had a loved one in a chair you should be able to attest to how awkward it is to embrace them while sitting. Standing up hugs and possibly even dancing (think Number Five in Short Circuit) could really change someone’s way of life. I like it.
By ajkrun at 11:56 PM ON 08/25/06
...Er...Hmm...I recently recovered from a trauma that left me unable to use my legs. I understand that the rider will be more or less sitting...but how do you get from a sitting position to a quasi-standing one? Your arms? How do you switch from pulling yourself out of the chair to pushing yourself above the 'seat' and getting your feet onto the platform?
Interesting idea, lousy practicality.
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ajkrun:
...Er...Hmm...I recently recovered from a trauma that left me unable to use my legs. I understand that the rider w...More »