Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[TankChair deemed too heavy to use on UK streets, disabled man becomes marketing boon (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/tankchair-deemed-too-heavy-to-use-on-uk-streets-disabled-man-be/#comments While we figure that giant, tread-wielding wheelchairs have no trouble selling themselves, a disabled man named Jim Starr is helping them along their merry way -- a story about his TankChair being rejected for street use by UK authorities is giving the company plenty of free advertising. That's not to say that we don't feel for the disabled father of two, and hope he gets to use his snow-crushing, beach-mashing wheelchair in peace -- it's just not particularly surprising that a non-standard vehicle would be illegal to use on public roadways, and as you'll see in the video after the break (at roughly 5:30) the law doesn't seem to be restraining him any.

Continue reading TankChair deemed too heavy to use on UK streets, disabled man becomes marketing boon (video)

TankChair deemed too heavy to use on UK streets, disabled man becomes marketing boon (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disabilitydisabledDLVADriver and Vehicle Licensing AgencyDriverAndVehicleLicensingAgencyJim StarrJimStarrmotor vehicleMotorVehicletankTank ChairTankChairtreadsUKvehiclevehiclesvideowheelchairwheelchairsMon, 24 Jan 2011 00:37:00 EST<![CDATA[The nose knows... how to let quadriplegics move and speak (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/the-nose-knows-how-to-let-quadriplegics-move-and-speak-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/the-nose-knows-how-to-let-quadriplegics-move-and-speak-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/the-nose-knows-how-to-let-quadriplegics-move-and-speak-video/#comments We've seen quadriplegic transportation directed by brainwaves, speech and even the occasional Wiimote, but your best bet might be to follow your nose. Israeli nasal researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science unveiled a "sniff controller" this week, that measures nasal pressure to control a wheelchair joystick with surprising precision (see a video after the break) and a specially-developed typing interface. The latter is likely the more important advancement, as Discover heartwarmingly reports at the source link, by giving patients with locked-in syndrome (a la The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) the long-lost ability to speak. Best of all, the technology is inexpensive compared to alternatives on the market; while a Stephen Hawking-esque eye-tracking system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, Weizmann scholars reportedly pieced the prototype together for $358. The device is already being considered for public availability by the institute's technology transfer company, Yeda R&D -- find out just how it works in the full study at our more coverage link.

Continue reading The nose knows... how to let quadriplegics move and speak (video)

The nose knows... how to let quadriplegics move and speak (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Disabilitiesdisabilitydisableddiving bell and the butterflyDivingBellAndTheButterflylocked-innasalnosenose controlNoseControlquadraplegicsniffsniff controlSniffControlsniffingvideoWeizmannweizmann institute of scienceWeizmannInstituteOfSciencewheelchairwheelchairsTue, 27 Jul 2010 21:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Student moves quadriplegics with Wiimote wheelchair control (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/student-moves-quadriplegics-with-wiimote-wheelchair-control-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/student-moves-quadriplegics-with-wiimote-wheelchair-control-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/14/student-moves-quadriplegics-with-wiimote-wheelchair-control-vid/#comments There were certainly a couple whiz kids at Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair this year, but high school senior John Hinckel's a regular MacGyver: he built a wheelchair remote control out of a couple sheets of transparent plastic, four sliding furniture rails and some string. A Nintendo Wiimote goes in your hat and tells the whole system what to do -- simply tilt your head in any direction, and accelerometer readings are sent over Bluetooth. The receiving laptop activates microcontrollers, directing servo motors to pull the strings, and acrylic gates push the joystick accordingly to steer your vehicle. We tried on the headset for ourselves and came away fairly impressed -- it's no mind control, but for $534 in parts, it just might do. Apparently, we weren't the only ones who thought so, as patents are pending, and a manufacturer of wheelchair control systems has already expressed interest in commercializing the idea. See the young inventor show it off after the break.

Continue reading Student moves quadriplegics with Wiimote wheelchair control (video)

Student moves quadriplegics with Wiimote wheelchair control (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfhackhackshands-onIntel International Science and Engineering FairIntel ISEF 2010IntelInternationalScienceAndEngineeringFairIntelIsef2010ISEFISEF 2010Isef2010John HinckelJohnHinckelmodmodsmotion controlmotion controlledmotion controllermotion controlsMotionControlMotionControlledMotionControllerMotionControlsNintendoNintendo WiiNintendo Wii RemoteNintendoWiiNintendoWiiRemotesciencevideowheelchairwheelchairswii remotewii remote controlwiimotewiimote hackwiimote hacksWiimoteHackWiimoteHacksWiiRemoteWiiRemoteControlFri, 14 May 2010 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Dynamic Controls unveils integrated iPhone app for wheelchair controls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/dynamic-controls-unveils-integrated-iphone-app-for-wheelchair-co/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/dynamic-controls-unveils-integrated-iphone-app-for-wheelchair-co/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/dynamic-controls-unveils-integrated-iphone-app-for-wheelchair-co/#comments
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.

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Dynamic Controls unveils integrated iPhone app for wheelchair controls originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapplicationiphoneiphone applicationIphoneApplicationipodipod touchIpodTouchtouchwheelchairwheelchairsFri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:00 EST