Creative technology studio Chaotic Moon has developed the Freewheel, a wheelchair that is designed to keep tabs on users' physical activity.
As the Freewheel user moves around, an array of sensors measures things like distance, speed, acceleration incline and decline and collates it in an app. The data can also be combined with other wearables to provide an understanding of the user's overall physical activity.
The Freewheel chair is currently in prototype stage, but could offer some great implications down the road. In addition to helping improve users' fitness, data procured by the Freewheel could even be used to create extremely detailed terrain mapping, which can help people find less strenuous routes -- while possibly giving clues as to where accessibility needs to be improved.
Fitness-Tracking Wheelchairs
The Freewheel Wheelchair Keeps Tabs on Your Physical Activity
Trend Themes
1. Fitness-tracking Devices - Promote the creation of more fitness-tracking devices for individuals with disabilities, creating opportunities into the handicapped sector.
2. Digital Health Monitoring - This trend provides the opportunity to improve healthcare by developing advanced and cost-effective technology to monitor healthcare parameters.
3. Smart Wearable and Sensor Technologies - Developing and integrating more accessible technology that offers improved outcomes in healthcare and daily life for people with disabilities.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - The healthcare industry could leverage this technology to create more effective solutions for disability needs.
2. Fitness and Sports - This industry could create more adaptive fitness programs that help people deal with disabilities and achieve better health outcomes.
3. Technology - This trend provides an opportunity to develop high tech devices that cater specifically to individuals with disabilities, ensuring their integration and autonomy.