Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

Kanagawa Institute of Technology and Independence Technology (a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary) recently reported that within a few years there will be a wide range of devices enabling the most severely handicapped people to achieve independent mobility.

The Power Assist Suit was developed at Kanagawa to aid nurses in lifting immobile patients. Electronic sensors monitor the user's muscles and trigger the hydraulically operated suit to boost strength by more than 50%.

There are few areas in which technology can make such a great difference as in mobility assistance for the disabled and aged market. The aging world population is seen as an affluent target market for carer and helper robotic applications. That is where Exoskeletons - wearable robots capable of adding speed come in. They also add Strength and intelligent movement to the wearer.