Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

In start of October, a powered wheelchair that moves when user thinks on particular word, was demonstrated by American company Ambient. The electric wheelchair operates by catching the signals sent from user's brain to their larynx (voice box), even when there is no audiable sound. Wheelchair was developed to help people with spinal injuries, or neurological problems like cerebral palsy or motor neurone disease. This revolutionary brain interface allows user to operate computer and other equipment despite serious problems with muscle control. Similar to autonomous remote controlled electric wheelchair we already wrote about, this system allows user even more freedom, as all user has to do is think of the word. System consists of larynx (voice box), which user must be able to operate - and most likely can, even in the event of poor muscle coordination necessary to produce coherent speech.

This breakthrough voice boy system called larynx control system, or shortly "Audeo", was developed by researchers Michael Callahan and Thomas Coleman at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US, who together also founded Ambient. 

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Even if visitors of Tokyo Motor Show expected revolution in electric car design, Toyota's i-Real is a leap forward compared to today's electric wheelchairs. i-Real is answer on how to relax legs, but ride in personal transporter device that looks as sleek as a Segway?

Now the next generation in this exciting personal mobility series is here - as almost every year on Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota introduced a new high end electric wheelchair concept, the new i-Real three-wheeled chair. The i-REAL is a personal mobility vehicle that represents the next stage of Toyota's personal mobility vehicle development, following the PM, i-unit and i-swing.

Toyota's i-real might lead to the next generation mobility devices for the handicapped. Its great design and mobility makes is ideal companion for metro users. i-Real represents next-generation of personal transport, positioned as a tough competitor to Segway offering an adjustable wheelbase - at slow speeds and in crowds the space between the two front wheels and one rear is small, thereby increasing maneuverability and lifting the rider up to eye-level…

Toyota is already dominating the green vehicle scene thanks to its Prius hybrid electric car. But Toyota is looking for expansion to new territories, and personal mobility is hotter than ever.  

Opinions are still divided - is it wheelchair, or is a scooter? Well, if you will call Segway a scooter, you can call i-Real a wheelchair. But truth is that both are new type of personal mobility devices, urban personal transporters.

Toyota is targeting i-Real at a variety of seated users who need to move around. Transporter offers a upright seating position that reclines as speed increases. Maximum speed of device is

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