Rob Woodcock, Senior DELPHI Product Engineer Europe
Sunrise Medical

Background
In todays powered mobility Rehabilitation business, control systems are very limited and complex in their adaptations to the users needs especially with functional access and environmental controls.
IR technology is a standard way to control AV Devices in a household (TV, DVD, VCR, Computer Mouse, etc.). Power chair users have difficulties to control them due to their disability (operating IR remote controls or the device buttons itself). There is also a growing need to embrace additional environmental control technology such as Radio and Bluetooth.

Aims
A: Discuss product technologies that allow the user to operate all Environmental and AV devices in a home through the same input device they use to control their power chair.
B: Discuss how modular approaches to this technology make adaptations easy to make on the power chair, thus reducing support time and allowing the user to change, add or delete Environmental options themselves.
C: Discuss platforms that could be used to store customised chair data and make it available at any time, in any location if an adjusted control module fails

Results
Environmental Control technology accessible by the user through the standard input device of their power chair gives them more freedom to control their environment without adding components or raising complexity.

Conclusion
With the increase in available technologies that can interface to control systems, Power Chair users are now able to control their environment, and that in turn will increase their freedom and independence.

Technologies can also enhance the life of the user and increase their confidence that they can remain as independent as possible.