wheelchair
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Uber doesn't need to offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles in all cites, judge rules
A federal court has ruled that Uber does not need to provide wheelchair-accessible service in every US market.
British Airways is testing autonomous electric wheelchairs at JFK
The next time you fly out of JFK, you may notice a self-driving wheelchair race past you as you make your way to your departure gate. British Airways shared today that it has been testing "autonomous mobility devices" at the country's sixth-busiest airport to see how they can help passengers with accessibility needs.
Adapter turns power wheelchairs into Xbox controllers
The Xbox Adaptive Controller already makes gaming more accessible if you're in a wheelchair, but wouldn't it be better if you could use the wheelchair itself as a controller? You can now. AbleGamers Charity has unveiled a Freedom Wing Adapter that lets you use the joystick on a power wheelchair as an Xbox One controller. The design revolves around the combination of an adapter board and an Adafruit Feather M4 that translates the input from the joystick into commands the Adaptive Controller can understand.
Via now provides veterans with free rides in the DC area
Veterans in the DC area can now book up to four free rides per month through the ride-sharing company Via. The new VetRides program could help veterans get to medical appointments, classes and job interviews.
Toyota unveils electric shuttles for 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo
Toyota's first dedicated vehicle for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo isn't a flying car, but it shows promise. The automaker today unveiled the APM (Accessible People Mover), an all-electric vehicle it designed especially for next summer's event. The open-air, three-row vehicle can reach speeds of up to 12 mph and accommodate up to five passengers. Each car is powered by lithium-ion batteries and can run 100 kilometers on a single charge. A fleet of 200 APMs will be used to transport people to different competitions and the Olympic Village.
Lyft expands wheelchair accessible rides in LA and SF
Lyft is testing a special line of cars just for riders who use wheelchairs. The ridesharing company announced today that it was piloting a new WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) service in Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties. All drivers will be certified by First Transit and operate 2019 Toyota Sienna vans, which include a folding ramp for side entry.
Toyota unveils finalists in $4 million quest to reinvent wheelchairs
Toyota's ongoing bid to modernize wheelchairs has borne some fruit. The automaker has unveiled the five finalists for its $4 million Mobility Unlimited Challenge after three years of competition, and all of them promise to rethink how people with mobility issues get around -- in some cases, without using a wheelchair at all. The project you see above is Qolo, a hybrid exoskeleton and wheelchair that can sit or stand. You could talk to standing people at eye level without losing the advantages of a conventional chair.
Behind the quest to control a wheelchair with a smile
Facial recognition software has earned a difficult reputation over the past few years, what with its massive privacy implications and ease of being misused by governments and retailers alike, but the technology has just as many beneficial applications. Take the Wheelie 7, for example.
Intel's AI wheelchair can be controlled by facial expressions
Motorized wheelchairs are traditionally controlled by a joystick or sensors attached to the user's body, but now innovation in artificial intelligence is helping severely disabled people drive their chairs with their facial expressions.
Uber enlists outside help to improve wheelchair-accessible rides
Uber has found itself in hot water multiple times over its lack of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), and now it's teaming up with another company in order to better serve passengers with disabilities. It's partnering with MV Transportation, a company that provides paratransit services across the US and Canada, and is bringing MV Transportation's WAV fleet to eight cities.
Innovative wheelchair design isn’t for all wheelchair users
You'll often see positive news stories coming out of the tech press involving robotics projects that are designed to help people with mobility issues. Exoskeletons, like Toyota's WelWalk, ReWalk, and Ekso Bionics' eponymous walking frame, help people regain the use of their legs. Sit-stand wheelchairs are currently gaining lots of attention, and they do offer, for many people, much greater freedom and independence than standard chairs. But more often than not, they're designed for people with specific disability requirements -- and that means not everyone will get to use them.
Google Maps can find wheelchair-accessible routes
Google announced today that Maps is getting a new feature aimed at helping those in wheelchairs or people with other mobility restrictions. While lots of people rely on apps like Google Maps to help them get where they're going, they're not always so useful when it comes to finding wheelchair-accessible routes. But now, Google is launching a feature that will let users select a route that can accomodate wheelchairs and it's rolling out now in London, New York City, Tokyo, Mexico City, Boston and Sydney.
Whill's new electric wheelchair is light, portable and fast
Whill's electric wheelchair picked up the award for Best Accessibility Tech in last year's Best of CES, and now it's back with a newer, lighter and more portable version of that vehicle. The Model Ci uses a lithium-ion battery and can travel 10 miles on one charge, with a top speed of five miles per hour. (We took the Model Ci for a brief spin and we're happy to confirm 5 MPH is plenty fast for everyday navigation; it's a light jogging speed). That battery makes it lightweight, too; the entire thing weighs 115 pounds. The Model Ci is available today for $4,000.
Robotic wheelchair gives you a piggyback ride
Most wheelchairs, even the most advanced ones, have conventional seats. They're basically furniture on wheels. And that creates problems. It can be hard to sit in the chair if you're getting out of bed, while you're stuck in a position that puts many things out of reach. That's where Tmsuk's long-in-the-making Rodem might just come to the rescue. The robotic wheelchair gives you a piggyback ride that not only makes it easier to climb aboard, but puts you in a high, forward-mounted position. It's easier to brush your teeth, make breakfast or just hold face-to-face conversations.
Autonomous wheelchairs arrive at Japanese airport
Passengers with limited mobility will soon be able to navigate airports more easily thanks to Panasonic's robotic electric wheelchair. Developed as part of a wider program to make Japan's Haneda Airport more accessible to all, the wheelchair utilizes autonomous mobility technology: after users input their destination via smartphone the wheelchair will identify its position and select the best route to get there. Multiple chairs can move in tandem which means families or groups can travel together, and after use, the chairs will 'regroup' automatically, reducing the workload for airport staff. The chairs also use sensors to stop automatically if they detect a potential collision.
Uber sued again for failing to accommodate disabled passengers
Despite Uber's programs to serve the needs of people who use wheelchairs, the ride sharing company faces a long line of lawsuits and complaints about its ability to serve people with disabilities. The Equal Rights Center claims that the company is in violation of Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the DC Human Rights Act in Washington, DC. Mississippi riders have filed a similar suit, alleging that "persons with disabilities in Jackson have no ability to call a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a specially trained driver through the Uber app." Now there's a suit against Uber in In New York City. Disability Rights Activists (DRA) just filed a class action by a "broad coalition of disability groups and disabled individuals in New York City," saying that Uber is 99.9% inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities.
Google Maps crowdsources info for wheelchair-accessible places
It's important to know whether a restaurant or other building is accessible if you use a wheelchair. While Google already added this information to places in its Maps app a while ago, the company has just announced that it will be crowdsourcing a larger set of accessibility options to help those with wheelchairs know if places are accessible or not. Google claims it has added this valuable information to almost seven million places around the world.
Tot Bot helps physically disabled toddlers explore
As any parent of a small child knows, toddlers want to explore. They want to look and touch (and sometimes even taste) everything. It's how they learn about the world. Unfortunately, kids with certain physical disabilities can't move about as easily. This difficulty can create a bit of a cognitive gap between them and other kids their age. The Tot Bot is a chair designed to give these children the increased mobility they need to investigate their surroundings thoroughly.
Whill's all-terrain wheelchair is built for rough surfaces
Danielle Kent rode her wheelchair toward a black ramp at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where CES is taking place. She gently pressed on a small controller on the right armrest before the powered wheelchair went over a 3-inch bump to climb the incline. Seconds later, Kent made a smooth turn onto a stone-covered path. The personal vehicle, designed by a wheelchair-making company called Whill, navigated the bumpy end of the ramp with ease.
Google Maps tells you if locations are wheelchair accessible
It's tough using internet maps when you have a wheelchair. If you don't use a third-party site like Wheelmap, you may have to scrutinize Street View looking for ramps and other signs that you can get in. However, you won't have to worry about freedom of movement so much from now on. Thanks to spare time work from Google Drive product manager Rio Akasaka, Google Maps now mentions wheelchair accessibility when it's available. Local Guides (that is, users who answer questions about places they visit) have provided enough answers about access that Google will now display it as an amenity on a location page.
