Just when I thought I’ve seen the most clever use an iPhone app can take on I pleasantly get surprised. The fact of the matter is, even though the title says “iPhone”, controlling a wheelchair with a consumer device is actually open to a few more Apple branded devices: iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod touch V2.0 and 3.0. Right off the bat, I’m sure many of you are filling your heads with endless and meaningless (in my head) code that will need to be executed in order to get the hardware above speaking and controlling the compatible wheelchair systems: Dynamic Controls DX2, DX or Shark wheelchair. That’s the beauty of this whole union — the chairs don’t need to be reprogrammed. Plug-n-ride entertaiment!

The obvious benefit is the ability to control normal movement with the iPhone/iPod Touch screen. But the developers and engineers behind this project didn’t stop at simple navigation. Besides navigation controls, chair riders can see many other diagnostics of their chair, talk to and recognize other devices connected to the chair, as well as pull a charge from the chair battery. Modern gadgetry coming together with practical medical uses is always fun to see for us and I’m sure extremely exciting and life changing for those who depend on it. Pretty sweet huh? Almost makes me want to buy a motorized wheelchair and zip along all future-like. Wanna join my wheelchair gang?

9to5 Mac

9to5 Mac > Dynamic Controls

Wheelchair technology has been sort of stagnant wouldn’t you agree? I mean, besides a few subtle design changes here and there, the overall design on the whole is basically the same as it has been for decades. Technology has the power to transform many things, wheelchairs are just the latest to get that magic touch. The Roll Charge Light Protect Wheelchair ushers in a new era for those confined to the likes of a chair on wheels. The main reason a wheelchair is garnering so much attention on a tech site is because of the gems stowed away in it’s wheels: LED’s. Big bright LED’s to shine some light on one’s path when riding at night or places of low light. Such a feature makes a load of practical sense. Why it hasn’t been thought of prior to now is again, beyond me. Still it will be a welcome addition I’m sure.

The fact it has light up wheels is only half the story however. Powering lights takes power. Even energy sipping LED’s need something to give them juice. While we would naturally turn to battery packs on first though, carrying said batteries means more weight and maintenance, not to mention being tied to a wall for several hours of every day. Not exactly a perfect solution. Instead, the Roll Protect features recharging abilities via its wheels. Again a simple solution that I’m surprised took this long to implement. As the wheels turn, the LED’s on the wheels get energy. Perfect. The jury’s still out on how many revolutions and how long it takes for the LED’s to get enough juice though. Intrigued?

Ubergizmo > Dvice > Tuvie