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?
Apple adds three stage viewer of App approval progress. Here’s a couple more ideas to make it a lot better.by Mike on November 11th, 2009 |
Everybody panic: GSM algorithm cracked. This is not a repeat of 2008…2003….by Mike on December 28th, 2009 |
Does the Motorola Motus show Moto returning to their “Razr Rut”? 2-4 years of Cliq/Droid/Motus-like copies ahead?by Mike on November 20th, 2009 |
Geeky-Gadgets iPhone app finally approved. Long waits, multiple rejections, and stupid reasoning aplomb.by Mike on December 30th, 2009 |
PPC Locking HDMI Cable (Review)by Mike on February 21st, 2009 |
Xtend-a-View Pro [Review]by Mike on December 12th, 2009 |
Wordpress 2.0 for iPhone released! [Review]by Mike on October 29th, 2009 |
Logitech MX Revolution Reviewby Mike on January 5th, 2009 |
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December 11, 2009 at 12:43 pm
While I know one is in development, I’m still not convinced that it would work on a mobile phone. I’m one of those people who believe that a phone is for phone calls, not music, photography, or games. For the most part dedicated platforms always out perform something that tries to do everything. This is, however, changing.
With that said, I’m glad phones aren’t just phones anymore. I’d never have one if they where. lol.
December 11, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Well, we can politely agree to disagree. While I generally like my gadgets to pull at least a few extra tasks on the side, certain do-it-all gadgets fail to meet marketing hype. Case in point: most Nokia smartphones. on paper they meet or exceed just about any other smartphone, yet the software and hardware isn’t built to take advantage of anyone feature. Though phones such as the iPhone highlight how everything should look when multiple pieces of a puzzle come together.