Dynamic Controls unveils integrated iPhone app for wheelchair controls
By Laura June 
posted November 20th 2009 8:21PM
posted November 20th 2009 8:21PM
Dynamic Controls has just taken the wraps off of its new iPhone application which should be of great interest to those who use a wheelchair on a daily basis. The application -- which connects with the wheelchair via Bluetooth and has a built-in charger for the iPhone or iPod touch -- enables diagnostics to check for any problems with the chair. It also allows users to get real-time information, speed information, and compass data.
Timmay!
So wrong, but so ROFL!
Gobbles?
LMAO
I totally loled
iHandicapped
Compared to my other diabolical plan, this just made it a lot easier for me to get my hands on grandmother's fat wheel(will)
I know this is wrong but...
iCan'tWalk
What about turn-by-turn navigation?
But can you drive with it?
Wait till someone bluejacks it and takes you for a ride.
Clever idea IMO.
easily one of the best iphone apps I've seen ever
That's actually... kind of nice.
Wow...I hate to say but maybe there is an app out there for everything...
there's no apps that can get you laid.
I bet you really need that app va jj
Not only does this serve a great purpose, but that is one nice looking interface. It would be great if they built a Dock in the wheel chair where you would normally find the controls.
It says it has a built in charger, so I would assume that it's in an easily accessible location on the chair. Esp. if they have control functionality built into the app.
Cool...just don't let the kids get a hold of your iPhone...
Hehehe
I'm sure the insurance will cover this... Oh, wait. I doubt it.
So instead of dropping a call you'll just be stuck in your wheelchair? Nice!!! Wonder if it requires 3G. If so we're screwed!
Why would it require 3G? You're trying too hard.
Dude.
"which connects with the wheelchair via Bluetooth "
It's right there! Did you even read the damn article?
Let's just hope that the iPhone doesn't explode while you are scaling that steep hill.
At least its really useful
Idea for product placement: Peter Griffin doing a nasty prank on Joe Swanson.
You read my mind! :D
Just remember to turn your SSH off.
You might get Rick Rolled off a cliff!
Then the song is wrong - they're certain to "let you down" :P
Really now? So whenever you get a phone call, you're stuck? I'd hate to be at a crosswalk and have the phone ring..
As a wheelchair user, although mine's manual so I don't think I have a need for this, it is a really cool app. Technology can be used to help everyone in so many different ways. I'm not sure I'd want to drive only using voice control though.
@Unverified
I clicked on the pictures, which takes you to Dynamic Controls web site, and they actually do have a "cradle" so the user can have their iPhone attached to their chair.
I think I'd rather see this on Android. I hope they port it, because it seems super useful
What's needed is a switch-scanning adapter for the iPod connector. This app, like other apps for people with disabilities (e.g. Proloquo2Go), assumes that the user has good motor control of the hands and fingers. But with the right hardware interface, the app could scan through the buttons one at a time and the user could hit an adapted switch to select it. That's why computer controls for wheelchairs exist, but nothing like that exists at this time for iPod/iPhone.
Laura can you tell me why my avatar one show?
Great article by the way, definitely the best one of read all day.
please help me
*won't show
So if I'm on my wheelchair, controlling via iPhone, and I have to pee like a effing race horse and I'm on my way to the toilet...then I receive an annoying call from someone. The iWheelchair app then closes and goes to the phone.
I then turn my wheelchair into a toilet. Success or failure?
use iPod Touch.
....simply decline the call. It's not that tough.
If you decline a call while you are using your app, it will snap back to the app right where you left off.
Now, if only there was an app for immortality :P
cuz once you go black . . . . . .
What happens when you accidentially drop your phone? Or someone take it from your hands?
Very cool.
Fantastic Idea...
PROBLEM..... You can't multi-task on the iPhone. SO.....
When you receive a call. Your chair stops opperating & you have to stop & talk. So you can't opperate your chair while your on the phone.
Another problem... How you going to listen to music from Sirius/XM, or Rhapsody, or any other streaming music service & opperate your chair at the same time.
What about GPS? Ummmm I need my GPS when I am moving down the road. Hard to do when the iPhone don't multi-task.
Problem, I can't buy this app on Android or Winmo
Problem, Android and Winmo doen't have a standard HW connector, although this app works over Bluetooth, other companies active in medical space have developed measurement devices that connect to the dock ... there is no such a standard adopted by Android or Winmo ...
Problem, I would not like to have others apps steel precious cpu cycles when the device is interacting with a wheelchair ....
gotta love the iphone hate......someone point me in the direction of the winmo phone that does this better.
very funny indeed
ummmwhat? sorry but the excuse "so what if I got a C, at least I didn't get a D like *him* over there" doesn't fly. Pointing the finger at something even more inferior like WinMo doesn't disprove iPhone is inferior when it comes to a lot of things (i.e. the concept of "multitasking" -- yeah, big scary word for the iphone apparently.)
oh i agree with you....i'm hoping apple changes their stance on that....but as long as i can jailbreak, i guess its no big deal for me personally....and to be honest, the 3gs is def. the only iphone that could actually handle multitasking....from a business standpoint, it would have been a bad idea to allow it on the 3gs....3g users would have been pissed.....maybe the next gen....its gotta come at some point....push doesn't really cut it....its good for alerts, but in the true sense of multitasking for productive reasons, it will always fall short.