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Types of Self Control Wheelchairs Self-control wheelchairs are used by many people with disabilities to get around. These chairs are great for daily mobility and are able to overcome obstacles and hills. The chairs also feature large rear shock-absorbing nylon tires that are flat-free. The velocity of translation of the wheelchair was determined by using a local potential field method. Each feature vector was fed to a Gaussian decoder that outputs a discrete probability distribution. The accumulated evidence was used to trigger the visual feedback. A command was delivered when the threshold was reached. Wheelchairs with hand rims The type of wheels a wheelchair is able to affect its maneuverability and ability to navigate different terrains. Wheels with hand-rims are able to reduce wrist strain and increase the comfort of the user. Wheel rims for wheelchairs may be made of aluminum, steel, or plastic and are available in a variety of sizes. They can be coated with rubber or vinyl for a better grip. Some are equipped with ergonomic features such as being designed to fit the user's natural closed grip and wide surfaces that allow for full-hand contact. This lets them distribute pressure more evenly and reduce fingertip pressure. A recent study found that rims for the hands that are flexible reduce impact forces and wrist and finger flexor activity when using a wheelchair. They also provide a larger gripping surface than standard tubular rims which allows the user to use less force while still retaining good push-rim stability and control. These rims are sold from a variety of online retailers and DME suppliers. The study's findings revealed that 90% of the respondents who used the rims were satisfied with them. However, it is important to remember that this was a mail survey of people who purchased the hand rims from Three Rivers Holdings and did not necessarily reflect all wheelchair users who have SCI. The survey also did not measure actual changes in symptoms or pain or symptoms, but rather whether individuals perceived a change. These rims can be ordered in four different designs which include the light, big, medium and the prime. The light is a round rim with small diameter, while the oval-shaped medium and large are also available. The rims that are prime have a slightly larger diameter and an ergonomically contoured gripping area. All of these rims are mounted on the front of the wheelchair and can be purchased in various colors, ranging from natural- a light tan color -to flashy blue pink, red, green, or jet black. They are also quick-release and can be removed for cleaning or maintenance. The rims are coated with a protective rubber or vinyl coating to keep hands from sliding off and causing discomfort. Wheelchairs with tongue drive Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new system that lets users move a wheelchair and control other digital devices by moving their tongues. It is made up of a small tongue stud with magnetic strips that transmit movement signals from the headset to the mobile phone. The phone then converts the signals into commands that can be used to control the wheelchair or any other device. The prototype was tested on able-bodied people and in clinical trials with those who have spinal cord injuries. To evaluate the performance, a group of healthy people completed tasks that measured input accuracy and speed. Fittslaw was utilized to complete tasks, such as mouse and keyboard usage, and maze navigation using both the TDS joystick and standard joystick. The prototype was equipped with a red emergency override button and a companion was with the participants to press it when needed. The TDS performed as well as a standard joystick. Another test compared the TDS to what's called the sip-and puff system, which allows people with tetraplegia control their electric wheelchairs by blowing air through a straw. The TDS performed tasks three times faster, and with greater precision, than the sip-and puff system. In fact the TDS could drive a wheelchair with greater precision than a person with tetraplegia who controls their chair using an adapted joystick. The TDS was able to determine tongue position with an accuracy of less than 1 millimeter. It also incorporated cameras that recorded the eye movements of a person to detect and interpret their motions. It also had software safety features that checked for valid inputs from users 20 times per second. Interface modules would stop the wheelchair if they failed to receive a valid direction control signal from the user within 100 milliseconds. The team's next steps include testing the TDS on people who have severe disabilities. To conduct these tests they have formed a partnership with The Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta as well as the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They plan to improve their system's ability to handle lighting conditions in the ambient, to add additional camera systems and to enable the repositioning of seats. Wheelchairs with joysticks With a wheelchair powered with a joystick, users can operate their mobility device with their hands, without having to use their arms. It can be positioned in the middle of the drive unit or on either side. The screen can also be used to provide information to the user. My Mobility Scooters are large and have backlights to make them more visible. Others are smaller and could contain symbols or pictures to help the user. The joystick can be adjusted to fit different sizes of hands and grips as well as the distance of the buttons from the center. As power wheelchair technology evolved as it did, clinicians were able create alternative driver controls that allowed clients to maximize their potential. These innovations allow them to do this in a way that is comfortable for users. A normal joystick, for instance is a proportional device that utilizes the amount of deflection of its gimble in order to give an output that increases with force. This is similar to how accelerator pedals or video game controllers operate. However, this system requires good motor function, proprioception and finger strength to be used effectively. Another form of control is the tongue drive system which uses the position of the user's tongue to determine the direction to steer. A magnetic tongue stud sends this information to the headset, which can carry out up to six commands. It is a great option for people with tetraplegia and quadriplegia. Certain alternative controls are simpler to use than the traditional joystick. This is particularly beneficial for users with limited strength or finger movements. Some controls can be operated by just one finger and are ideal for those with limited or no movement in their hands. Additionally, some control systems come with multiple profiles that can be customized for each client's needs. This can be important for a new user who might require changing the settings frequently in the event that they experience fatigue or a disease flare up. This is useful for experienced users who want to alter the parameters that are set for a specific area or activity. Wheelchairs with a steering wheel Self-propelled wheelchairs can be utilized by people who need to get around on flat surfaces or climb small hills. They feature large wheels on the rear that allow the user's grip to propel themselves. They also have hand rims, that allow the user to use their upper body strength and mobility to control the wheelchair in a forward or backward direction. Self-propelled chairs can be outfitted with a range of accessories like seatbelts as well as dropdown armrests. They also come with swing away legrests. Certain models can also be transformed into Attendant Controlled Wheelchairs to help caregivers and family members drive and control the wheelchair for those who need more assistance. Three wearable sensors were affixed to the wheelchairs of the participants to determine kinematic parameters. The sensors monitored the movement of the wheelchair for a week. The gyroscopic sensors mounted on the wheels and fixed to the frame were used to measure the distances and directions of the wheels. To distinguish between straight-forward motions and turns, periods during which the velocities of the right and left wheels differed by less than 0.05 m/s were considered to be straight. The remaining segments were analyzed for turns and the reconstructed wheeled pathways were used to calculate the turning angles and radius. A total of 14 participants participated in this study. Participants were evaluated on their navigation accuracy and command latencies. Utilizing an ecological field, they were asked to steer the wheelchair around four different ways. During the navigation trials sensors tracked the path of the wheelchair over the entire distance. Each trial was repeated twice. After each trial, participants were asked to pick which direction the wheelchair was to be moving. The results showed that the majority of participants were able to complete the navigation tasks, even when they didn't always follow the correct directions. On average, they completed 47 percent of their turns correctly. The other 23% of their turns were either stopped immediately after the turn, wheeled on a subsequent moving turn, or superseded by a simple movement. These results are similar to those from earlier research.