The purpose behind the creation of assistive technologies is universal; to reduce the barriers that exist between people with and without physical disabilities, to increase the human (mental and physical) abilities so that they may lead an improved life.
Disability of any kind can produce immense pressures on an individual as well as their family. Someone with arthritis can have trouble using the most common tools that a healthy person wouldn’t even think about. For example, doing or undoing of buttons of a shirt, rotating a doorknob and using simple kitchen utensils can become a gruesome task. Similarly, walking around without twisting or bending your joints can be extremely painful and sometimes simply not possible when one goes into the chronic stages of arthritis. There are so many other severe disabilities that require the use of assistive tech so that people can lead normal lives to some extent.
While assisting canes to go quite a long way back into history, they are definitely a great invention, as they are still extensively helping disabled as well as elderly people walk. They can be a temporary or a permanent solution to hindrances that people face to decrease immobility.
The term adaptive technology may seem like a new idea but it has been working for quite some time now, creating ordinary to extraordinary tech, joining the simplest of gadgets with the ever-changing innovations to help reduce the problems that disabled people face so often. To name a few, they include high-end Gait trainers, Posture control walkers, Crutches and Canes, Wheelchairs and Bicycles. They can help support and train individuals with less movement due to injury or an existing health issue. They also help transition from professional caregiving to self-support, which is essential to most people to maintain their self-esteem.
A preview of some of these gadgets and techs is given below to shed some light into the recent advancements that have been happening in the mobility industry.
1. Optimo – the Convertible Wheelchair
The era of old simple and minimalistic wheelchairs is over and it is such a relief to have such convertible wheelchairs like Optimo. The whole idea behind this modified and innovative tech is to provide more comfort and support for the disabled so they can go on about their lives as close to what normal healthy people do. It isn’t just a way of being mobile, it also helps its user to stand when needed, supporting their weight and also to sit at a low angle with legs stretched out in front. People with physical impairments can talk and communicate eye to eye with others and reaching for objects placed high, whether inside the house or outside in a grocery market, can be easily achieved.
There’s a joystick-lookalike controlling aid attached that helps modify the wheelchair as per requirement. We can all agree that this revamping was very much the requirement considering it not only makes life easier but provides more independence to its user especially in the longer run.
2. Kenguru’s Trunk Wheelchair Accessible Cars
Another milestone advancement which is getting newer modifications each year is the very accessible and smartly designed compact car which enables a disabled person to use the provided ramp to enter the car while on their wheelchair. The car is smaller than most smart cars and allows for a maximum of two people. It is excellent for people living alone who are dependent on either departmental stores to get their groceries delivered or have to ask family/neighbors for help. It comes with a chargeable battery and is eco-friendly. This car initially sped up to around 25 mph but recently, more companies have produced the same vehicle, giving it more power and turning it into a city car which is definitely something to be appreciated.
3. Wheeled Walking Sticks for the Blind
Walking sticks have played a vital role in assisting the impaired for mobility purposes. ‘Take me away’ is such a kind of walking stick which greatly facilitates the carrier. The added wheel to the device reduces the friction to a great extent and is ideal for plain surfaces. Plus it can also easily slide between slight heights with the help of the wheel so it doesn’t need to be raised from the ground. A group of Chinese university students presented this idea and even won a Red Dot Design Award for achievement back in 2014. The lower end of the stick can also be equipped with a camera and a sensor to intimate the wielder regarding upcoming obstacles and hindrances through voice commands or vibrations.
4. GPS Enabled Walking Sticks
These walking supports presents the latest technology in mobility and maneuverability. Sonicane 2 developed by Soonjae Kwon offers added luxury and freedom to the blind with the help of the added GPS capabilities. The strength of the stick itself is quite formidable made from premium materials.
This GPS enabled stick gives continuous feedback to its wielder through sound and vibrations. The user gets cues to move around the city with comfort gives guidance towards various routes which lead towards a certain destination. The device also encompasses a built-in nightlight so people are aware of your presence during dark hours. Further development is being carried out to make this device, even more, user-friendly with the added features. A great addition to these features would be mobile connectivity where the stick will be able to use your mobile internet connection. So be sure you have a dependable internet connection and you can check your LocalCableDeals to choose what suits you. It won’t be a stretch to say that these sticks could be the future of mobility for the blind and would become a necessity.
5. Sonar Wearable Devices for the Sight Impaired
This tech may sound like something out of a Batman movie but let me assure you that it’s quite real. Depending upon the same sonar and ultrasonic waves that bats use to find their way in the darkness, Sunu uses the same wave tech to help the sight impaired in not just finding them but also like bats, perceiving any objects or hurdles that may be standing in their way. Navigation is improved and so is life. The band can be worn on the wrist or the tag attached to a keychain, also providing help with tracking lost items. The mobility of the impaired individual is increased when both are used together.
6. Wheelchairs with Eye-Control Options
Developed by a pair of German teenagers, the mechanics of this wheelchair are indeed very interesting. Although the wheelchair design and components are getting revolutionized around the globe, disabled people still face major hindrances especially in the situation of paralysis or other motor control issues. This wheelchair takes care of that problem and lets the user control it with sheer eye movements. A pair of safety glasses are used which are equipped with a capable webcam and LED illumination to track the eye movements of the user. The system is based on “Rasberry’s Pi 2B” technology to carry out these activities. Any contingency surfaced due to accidental movements can be avoided by using a number of pre-equipped safeguards. These features are sure to attract more traffic towards this technology and change the very future of wheelchairs.
7. Printable Portable Wheelchair Ramps
Colorful, attractive and dependable ramps helping the handicapped take their wheelchairs to otherwise inaccessible areas, sounds cool right? Designed by a citizen of Berlin named Nanonan, these miniature ramps are the perfect utility for people living in cities like Berlin where there are a lot of ups and downs. These not only look good but perform great as well.
Since these ramps have been developed via 3D printer they can be cast in various shapes. If you happen to have a 3D printer available, you can develop your very own set of ramps and traverse the city in style.
These are some of the best mobility devices you can get your hands on this year. As stated earlier, the technology is rapidly advancing and the increased number of entrepreneurs are turning their heads towards developing products in order to facilitate this niche. We hope that the listed offerings might be of help to our readers, we haven’t included the prices since they vary from developer to developer and between various regions. You can to check out your local and online stores in order to get accurate pricing details on these.
The post 7 Useful Mobility Gadgets In 2019 appeared first on Robust Tricks.
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