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Types of Self Control Wheelchairs Many people with disabilities use self-controlled wheelchairs to get around. These chairs are perfect for everyday mobility and can easily climb up hills and other obstacles. The chairs also feature large rear shock-absorbing nylon tires that are flat-free. The velocity of translation for the wheelchair was measured using the local field potential method. Each feature vector was fed to an Gaussian encoder which output a discrete probabilistic spread. The accumulated evidence was then used to drive visual feedback, as well as an alert was sent after the threshold was exceeded. Wheelchairs with hand-rims The kind of wheels a wheelchair is able to affect its mobility and ability to maneuver various terrains. Wheels with hand-rims can help relieve wrist strain and provide more comfort to the user. Wheel rims for wheelchairs can be made from aluminum, plastic, or steel and are available in various sizes. They can be coated with rubber or vinyl to provide better grip. Some are ergonomically designed with features such as a shape that fits the grip of the user's closed and wide surfaces that allow for full-hand contact. This allows them distribute pressure more evenly, and prevents fingertip pressing. A recent study has found that flexible hand rims reduce the impact force and the flexors of the wrist and fingers when using a wheelchair. They also have a wider gripping area than tubular rims that are standard. This lets the user apply less pressure while still maintaining the rim's stability and control. These rims are sold at a wide range of online retailers as well as DME suppliers. The study's results showed that 90% of respondents who had used the rims were pleased with the rims. However it is important to keep in mind that this was a postal survey of people who had purchased the hand rims from Three Rivers Holdings and did not necessarily reflect all wheelchair users who have SCI. The survey did not measure any actual changes in the level of pain or other symptoms. It simply measured the degree to which people felt a difference. These rims can be ordered in four different styles which include the light, medium, big and prime. The light is a smaller-diameter round rim, while the medium and big are oval-shaped. The prime rims have a slightly larger diameter and an ergonomically contoured gripping area. These rims are able to be fitted on the front wheel of the wheelchair in various colors. They include natural, a light tan, and flashy greens, blues pinks, reds and jet black. They also have quick-release capabilities and can be removed to clean or maintain. The rims have a protective vinyl or rubber 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 comprised of a small magnetic tongue stud, which transmits signals from movement to a headset with wireless sensors as well as the mobile phone. The smartphone converts the signals into commands that can be used to control a wheelchair or other device. The prototype was tested on able-bodied people and in clinical trials with those who suffer from spinal cord injuries. To assess self propelled wheelchair with suspension of the group, physically fit people completed tasks that assessed input accuracy and speed. Fitts’ law was used to complete tasks, like keyboard and mouse use, as well as maze navigation using both the TDS joystick as well as the standard joystick. The prototype featured an emergency override button in red and a companion was present to assist the participants in pressing it if necessary. The TDS worked as well as a normal joystick. Another test compared the TDS to what's called the sip-and-puff system, which allows those with tetraplegia to control their electric wheelchairs by blowing air through a straw. The TDS was able to complete tasks three times faster, and with greater accuracy, than the sip-and puff system. In fact the TDS was able to operate a wheelchair with greater precision than a person with tetraplegia that controls their chair with an adapted joystick. The TDS was able to determine tongue position with an accuracy of less than a millimeter. It also included cameras that could record eye movements of a person to detect and interpret their movements. It also included software safety features that checked for valid inputs from users 20 times per second. Interface modules would stop the wheelchair if they didn't receive a valid direction control signal from the user within 100 milliseconds. The next step is testing the TDS on people who have severe disabilities. To conduct these trials they have formed a partnership with The Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They intend to improve the system's tolerance to ambient lighting conditions and include additional camera systems, and allow repositioning to accommodate different seating positions. Wheelchairs with joysticks With a power wheelchair equipped with a joystick, users can operate their mobility device with their hands, without having to use their arms. It can be mounted either in the middle of the drive unit or on either side. It also comes with a display to show information to the user. Some screens have a large screen and are backlit to provide better visibility. Some screens are smaller and others may contain symbols or images that help the user. The joystick can be adjusted to suit different hand sizes and grips as well as the distance of the buttons from the center. As power wheelchair technology evolved, clinicians were able to create driver controls that allowed patients to maximize their functional potential. These advancements allow them to do this in a way that is comfortable for users. For instance, a typical joystick is an input device which uses the amount of deflection that is applied to its gimble in order to produce an output that grows when you push it. This is similar to how video game controllers and automobile accelerator pedals work. However this system requires motor control, proprioception and finger strength in order to use it effectively. A tongue drive system is a second kind of control that makes use of the position of the user's mouth to determine which direction to steer. A tongue stud with magnetic properties transmits this information to the headset which can execute up to six commands. It can be used for people with tetraplegia and quadriplegia. Some alternative controls are easier to use than the standard joystick. This is especially useful for users with limited strength or finger movements. Certain controls can be operated by only one finger which is perfect for those with little or no movement in their hands. Additionally, some control systems have multiple profiles which can be adapted to the specific needs of each customer. This can be important for a novice user who might need to alter the settings frequently in the event that they feel fatigued or have an illness flare-up. It is also useful for an experienced user who wants to change the parameters that are set up for a specific environment or activity. Wheelchairs with a steering wheel Self-propelled wheelchairs are designed to accommodate those who need to move around on flat surfaces and up small hills. They feature large wheels on the rear that allow the user's grip to propel themselves. Hand rims allow the user to use their upper-body strength and mobility to move the wheelchair forward or backwards. Self-propelled wheelchairs come with a wide range of accessories, including seatbelts that can be dropped down, dropdown armrests and swing away leg rests. Certain models can be converted into Attendant Controlled Wheelchairs, which permit caregivers and family to drive and control wheelchairs for people who require assistance. To determine kinematic parameters participants' wheelchairs were fitted with three sensors that monitored movement throughout the entire week. The distances measured by the wheels were determined by using the gyroscopic sensor that was mounted on the frame and the one that was mounted on the wheels. To distinguish between straight forward movements and turns, periods of time in which the velocity differs between the left and right wheels were less than 0.05m/s was deemed straight. The remaining segments were analyzed for turns, and the reconstructed paths of the wheel were used to calculate the turning angles and radius. A total of 14 participants took part in this study. They were evaluated for their navigation accuracy and command latency. Utilizing an ecological field, they were tasked to steer the wheelchair around four different waypoints. During navigation trials, sensors tracked the wheelchair's path across the entire course. Each trial was repeated at least twice. After each trial, the participants were asked to select a direction for the wheelchair to move within. The results showed that the majority of participants were competent in completing the navigation tasks, even though they didn't always follow the right directions. On the average 47% of turns were correctly completed. The other 23% were either stopped immediately after the turn, or wheeled into a subsequent moving turning, or replaced by another straight movement. These results are similar to those of previous studies.