Gizmodo: disability

A Wheelchair Controlled By Man's Mighty Will

Mark Wilson — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:10:00 EDT

We've seen a few instances of mind-controlled wheel chairs, and now researchers from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, offer us yet another amazing prototype.

The chair displays a realtime 3D HUD while the user concentrates on basic functions, such as rotating the chair left or right. That information is read by the chair via EEG waves (the electricity running along your scalp as a byproduct of your brain working). It's the same idea we've seen in recent game controllers, but applied to a more practical use.

The chair also features laser sensors, allowing it to override a circumstance in which a misreading could drive the user into a wall or an innocent bystander.

As I said, we're seeing this technology pop up in a few different places...which seems to imply that researchers, in general, are on to something. [University of Zaragoza via Times Online via medgadget via ubergizmo]

Footime Mouse Lets You Operate Your Mouse Hands-free, Not Feet-free

Haroon Malik — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:05:00 EST

So, you're at your desk typing away, but what are your feet doing? If they're wandering about aimlessly, put them to work by investing in a Footime Mouse, which allows you to control your cursor by using feet-based gestures. Retailing at $199, the Footime Mouse could actually provide great functionality for those with physical disabilities, or alternatively, it could help the chronically bored dispose of some free time.

The package contains two units; the first straps onto your right foot and is used as the tracker, whilst the second has two rows of programmable buttons and a scroll wheel. Both of the units connect via USB and the gadget is Windows compatible only. One thing is for sure—you wouldn't want to take a sniff of the foot mouse after a hard day's web surfing, and what's the point of surfing the web if you can't have a good mouse sniff thereafter? [PC Watch]

Gravitonus Workstation Gets Disabled-Friendly Add-on

Travis Hudson — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:42:44 EST

The Gravitonus is one hell of a workstation that keeps the user in the most ergonomically optimized position at all times. This workstation is now being adapted for quadriplegics with the addition of ACCS, or alternative computer control system. Basically, a control unit is placed in the mouth that does all of the work and still allows for breathing, drinking, talking, smoking, etc. The addition fo ACCS for the paralyzed is definitely a plus, but I'm still amazed with the actual workstation. Jump to see a video of the original Gravitonus in action.

–Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via MedGadget]