GeckoSystems Demos New ‘Collision Proof’ Power Wheelchair

posted on Dec 21 by Guest Author in the Disability News, Healthcare, Technology, Wheelchair Accessibility, Wheelchair Technology category

Over two million Americans are wheelchair users, and nearly half of them have problems steering their wheelchairs using the current controls on the market. One company, GeckoSystems International Corporation, is currently testing their new “collision proof” wheelchair prototype.

President and CEO R. Martin Spencer remarked, “We are very pleased to have completed initial tests of our new ‘collision proof’ wheelchair prototype. We now have videos on our website that clearly demonstrate the enhanced safety features of a power wheelchair upgraded with GeckoSystems technology. You will see that the upgrade prevents dangerous collisions with both stationary and moving obstacles regardless of joystick position.”

The company’s market research uncovered a huge demand for collision-proof wheelchairs in the healthcare market. Such chairs would benefit residents in nursing homes and assisted care facilities who start having trouble maneuvering a power wheelchair as their condition deteriorates. The company foresees an improvement in safety for wheelchair users and their caregivers as well as for residents of assisted care facilities. The average combined weight of a power wheelchair and its user can be as much as 350 pounds. A poorly controlled wheelchair can cause serious trauma and physical damage to its user or others.

The collision-proof wheelchair prototype utilizes a new advanced automatic self-navigation software called GeckoNav, a user joystick, and GeckoSteer, a new software and computer interface that lies between the joystick and the GeckoNav, and compensates for tremors, spasticity, and other involuntary movements associated with physically debilitating diseases that affect many wheelchair users.

GeckoSystems was able to reduce the projected cost of the upgrade kit thanks to Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect. “The release of the Microsoft Kinect depth camera and its cost advantage over traditional machine vision solutions has helped the company further reduce the projected cost of the upgrade kit. This will make improved safety more affordable for thousands who presently rely on a wheelchair for personal mobility,” said Spencer.

“Now that we have a successful prototype of our ‘collision proof’ wheelchair upgrade kit, we will progress to visual design improvement and further cost reduction. We expect that technology-licensing revenues will precede revenues from product manufacturing and sales. We believe that our over 1300 stockholders will receive this news as confirmation of their wisdom in investing in GeckoSystems and be encouraged in their expectation of a satisfying return on their investment,” said Spencer.