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Types of Self Control Wheelchairs Many people with disabilities use self control wheelchairs to get around. These chairs are great for everyday mobility and can easily overcome obstacles and hills. They also have huge rear flat, shock-absorbing nylon tires. The speed of translation of the wheelchair was determined by using a local potential field approach. Each feature vector was fed to a Gaussian decoder, which output a discrete probability distribution. The evidence accumulated was used to drive visual feedback, and an instruction was issued after the threshold was exceeded. Wheelchairs with hand rims The type of wheel that a wheelchair uses can affect its ability to maneuver and navigate different terrains. Wheels with hand-rims are able to reduce wrist strain and increase comfort for the user. A wheelchair's wheel rims can be made of aluminum steel, or plastic and come in different sizes. They can be coated with rubber or vinyl to provide better grip. Some are ergonomically designed with features such as shapes that fit the grip of the user and broad surfaces to provide full-hand contact. This lets them distribute pressure more evenly and prevents fingertip pressure. Recent research has demonstrated that flexible hand rims can reduce the impact forces as well as wrist and finger flexor activities in wheelchair propulsion. They also have a greater gripping area than standard tubular rims. This lets the user apply less pressure, while ensuring good push rim stability and control. They are available at a wide range of online retailers as well as DME providers. The study found that 90% of respondents were pleased with the rims. It is important to remember that this was an email survey of those who bought hand rims from Three Rivers Holdings, and not all wheelchair users with SCI. The survey did not assess any actual changes in pain levels or symptoms. It simply measured whether people perceived an improvement. The rims are available in four different models including the light medium, big and prime. The light is a small round rim, and the medium and big are oval-shaped. The rims with the prime have a slightly bigger diameter and an ergonomically contoured gripping area. All of these rims are mounted on the front of the wheelchair and can be purchased in a variety of shades, from naturalwhich is a light tan shade -to flashy blue pink, red, green or jet black. These rims are quick-release, and are easily removed to clean or maintain. In addition the rims are encased with a rubber or vinyl coating that protects hands from slipping on the rims and causing discomfort. Wheelchairs with tongue drive Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a system that allows users of wheelchairs to control other digital devices and control them by moving their tongues. It consists of a small magnetic tongue stud that transmits signals from movement to a headset containing wireless sensors and mobile phones. The phone converts the signals to commands that control devices like a wheelchair. The prototype was tested by able-bodied people and spinal cord injury patients in clinical trials. To test the performance of this system, a group of able-bodied individuals used it to perform tasks that measured input speed and accuracy. Fittslaw was employed to complete tasks, such as mouse and keyboard use, and maze navigation using both the TDS joystick and the standard joystick. The prototype featured an emergency override button in red and a companion was with the participants to press it when required. The TDS worked as well as a standard joystick. In a separate test in another test, the TDS was compared with the sip and puff system. This allows people with tetraplegia control their electric wheelchairs by blowing or sucking into straws. The TDS was able to complete tasks three times faster and with greater precision than the sip-and-puff. lightweight self propelled folding wheelchair mymobilityscooters is able to drive wheelchairs with greater precision than a person suffering from Tetraplegia, who steers their chair using the joystick. The TDS was able to determine tongue position with a precision of less than 1 millimeter. It also had a camera system that captured the movements of an individual's eyes to identify and interpret their motions. Software safety features were included, which verified the validity of inputs from users twenty times per second. If a valid user input for UI direction control was not received after 100 milliseconds, interface modules immediately stopped the wheelchair. The next step for the team is to evaluate the TDS on individuals with severe disabilities. To conduct these tests, they are partnering with The Shepherd Center which is a critical care hospital in Atlanta, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They intend to improve the system's ability to adapt to ambient lighting conditions and add additional camera systems, and enable repositioning for alternate seating positions. Wheelchairs with a joystick With a power wheelchair equipped with a joystick, users can control their mobility device using their hands without needing to use their arms. It can be positioned in the center of the drive unit or on the opposite side. The screen can also be added to provide information to the user. Some of these screens have a large screen and are backlit for better visibility. Some screens are smaller and others may contain images or symbols that could assist the user. The joystick can also be adjusted to accommodate different hand sizes, grips and the distance between the buttons. As technology for power wheelchairs developed as it did, clinicians were able develop alternative driver controls that allowed patients to maximize their functional potential. These advancements also enable them to do this in a manner that is comfortable for the user. For instance, a typical joystick is a proportional input device that uses the amount of deflection on its gimble in order to produce an output that increases when you push it. This is similar to how automobile accelerator pedals or video game controllers work. However this system requires motor control, proprioception and finger strength in order to use it effectively. Another type of control is the tongue drive system which uses the position of the user's tongue to determine where to steer. A magnetic tongue stud transmits this information to a headset, which executes up to six commands. It is a great option to assist people suffering from tetraplegia or quadriplegia. Some alternative controls are more simple to use than the standard joystick. This is especially beneficial for people with limited strength or finger movement. Some of them can be operated with just one finger, making them ideal for those who can't use their hands at all or have minimal movement. Additionally, certain control systems come with multiple profiles which can be adapted to each client's needs. This is important for novice users who might have to alter the settings regularly when they feel tired or are experiencing a flare-up of a disease. It can also be beneficial for an experienced user who wishes to change the parameters that are set up initially for a specific location or activity. Wheelchairs with steering wheels Self-propelled wheelchairs can be utilized by those who have to move themselves on flat surfaces or climb small hills. They come with large rear wheels for the user to grip while they propel themselves. They also come with hand rims which let the user utilize their upper body strength and mobility to steer the wheelchair in a forward or reverse direction. Self-propelled wheelchairs can be equipped with a range of accessories, such as seatbelts, dropdown armrests and swing-away leg rests. Certain models can be converted into Attendant Controlled Wheelchairs, which permit family members and caregivers to drive and control wheelchairs for users who require assistance. To determine kinematic parameters participants' wheelchairs were fitted with three wearable sensors that tracked movement throughout the entire week. The distances measured by the wheels were determined with the gyroscopic sensors attached to the frame and the one mounted on wheels. To distinguish between straight forward movements and turns, the amount of time in which the velocity differences between the left and right wheels were less than 0.05m/s was considered straight. The remaining segments were scrutinized for turns and the reconstructed wheeled pathways were used to calculate the turning angles and radius. The study involved 14 participants. The participants were tested on navigation accuracy and command latencies. Utilizing an ecological field, they were asked to navigate the wheelchair through four different waypoints. During navigation tests, sensors monitored the wheelchair's movement throughout the entire route. Each trial was repeated at minimum twice. After each trial, the participants were asked to pick which direction the wheelchair to move into. The results showed that most participants were able complete the navigation tasks, even although they could not always follow the correct directions. On average, they completed 47 percent of their turns correctly. The remaining 23% either stopped right after the turn, or wheeled into a second turning, or replaced with another straight motion. These results are similar to the results of previous studies.