Mark E. Smith’s great blog Wheelchairjunkie.com, has a great article about powerchairs — a topic which combines two issues I am passionate about: disabilities and technology.
I have seen some amazing powerchairs, from a super speedy model with an Herman Miller Aeron chair, running circles around people at Sam’s club, to a Dean Kamen Segway filled [...]
Posts under ‘Medical Advances’
Do powerchairs cost as much as cars?
Bionic hand commercially available
While it does not seem as useful as Dean Kamen’s Luke arm, this prosthetic arm is commercially available today.
iBot discontinued but motorized wheelchair technology marches on
I was surprised to read in Popular Science that Dean Kamen’s iBot (an electric, motorized wheelchair which goes from four wheels to two wheels lifting the writer in the process, and can climb stairs,) has been discontinued due to costs. Neither insurance companies, nor Medicaid, wanted to foot the bill for this expensive, although [...]
VA begins testing on Dean Kamen’s prosthetic Luke arm
Alright! Dean Kamen’s prosthetic “Luke” arm is one step closer to helping amputess, especially injured veterans:
Last week, VA announced the start of a three-year clinical trial that represents the first large-scale testing of the arm, a critical step before it can be made widely available. The first patient was fitted with an arm in April.
The [...]
Twittering with your mind
We previously talked about brain control interfaces. Here is a new device that lets you twitter with your thoughts.
A new device developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison allows users to tell a computer what to do simply by concentrating on a letter or action on the screen.
via Twittering For Those Who Can’t Talk [...]
Brain Control Interface – 60 Minutes Video
Watch this 60 Minutes story on Scott Mackler, a man with almost total paralysis, who can communicate with a computer with just his thoughts using a BCI (Brain Control Interface).
Scott Mackler was a husband, father and successful neuroscientist when he received perhaps the worst news imaginable. At the age of 40, he could run a marathon in [...]
Video: Dean Kamen’s IBOT “Wheelchair” Power Chair
The IBOT is Dean Kamen’s on-road, off road, all terrain, stair climbing, power chair (”wheelchair”) which can also go into two wheel mode to raise the rider into a higher, more eye-level position.
It isn’t exactly new, but it is actually out in the real world; instead of being just some super cool prototype in [...]
Video: More on Dean Kamen’s Luke Arm Prosthetic
I previously posted about Dean Kamen’s prosthetic arm.
That was just a teaser. Here is a new video showing you much more of what the arm can do.
