Summary Technologies That Enable Mobility

It has been argued that the wheelchair design world has been stale for the last several decades, especially in the active outdoor and electric power wheelchair markets. Many have tried to come up with the elusive next generation wheelchair design concept only to fall back on existing conventional materials and technology. All agree a new technological advancement is the most likely key needed to bring that break-through next generation design to life. Just as lightweight alloys and thermos plastics revolutionized manufacture of the wood and iron antique wheelchairs you can see in our gallery, a new technology will break us from current wheelchair design conventions and constraints.

Mobility solutions require the use of wireless technologies, which enables users to roam freely, while still being in touch with the necessary back-end office infrastructure. Generally speaking, wireless is an old-fashioned term for a radio transceiver (a mixed receiver and transmitter device), referring to its use in wireless telegraphy early on, or for a radio receiver. Now the term is used to describe modern wireless connections such as those in cellular networks and wireless broadband internet, mainly using radio waves. The wireless technologies used in mobility solutions can generally be classified according to their generation, which largely specifies the type of services and the data transfer speeds of each class of technologies. If you have a disability or injury you may use a number of assistive devices or rehabilitation equipment to aid you in and around the home.

Assistive devices are tools, products or types of equipment that help you perform tasks and activities if you have a disability, injury or are a senior. Assistive devices may help you move around, see, communicate, eat, or get dressed/undressed. Assistive devices for mobility/ambulation can also be referred to as ambulatory aids. Ambulatory aids (eg, canes, crutches, walkers) are used to provide an extension of the upper extremities to help transmit body weight and provide support for the user. Assistive devices can help you improve your quality of life and maintain your sense of independence. Well-designed high quality assistive devices, or daily living aids, that support independent living for the handicapped and disabled, seniors, or those with a medical condition or injury should make life easier and safer for the aged and disabled. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. An assistive device could be a wheelchair, Reacher, or a disability product that allows you to use a computer. If you experience difficulties performing certain tasks it's possible that an assistive device can help you overcome your problems.

As technology advances so will the design and manufacture of wheelchairs and other assistive technologies. Those successful in attaining funding to develop wheelchair technology and design, along with a customer base fortunate enough to afford or qualify for assistance with purchase of new concepts, improve the lives of wheelchair users. Every day people with spinal cord injury rely on “unfriendly” equipment designed by medical companies and employees with no disability whatsoever. Custom equipment however, is often designed by someone with — or for — a particular disability and therefore it more greatly enhances quality of life. Wheelchair design and technology has come a long way since the turn of the 19th century and in this new millennium we can look forward to some very exciting concepts that may one day make the term disability extinct.