Smart watches could do more for wheelchair users
fivethirtyeight.com
fivethirtyeight.com
Wheelchair push count is not as valuable a metric as the geometry/ergometry of the push itself.
Wheelchair related RSI is not usually a matter of volume, it's usually caused by one of many factors that can cause a wheelchair users' push geometry to change for the worse.
Underinflated tires, underinflated seat cushion that changes overall torso height in the seat, poorly adjusted wheelchair, wheelchairs that haven't been re-fit for the user in a very long time (this is common in the U.S., as many wheelchair users stick with the unit given to them out of the hospital for a long time, decades even, due to insurance/healthcare woes) -- these are all factors that are a greater contributor to push-related RSI than anything measurable by sheer counting.
So : wheelchair push count is a nice feature for athletes and training-tracking -- but chair ergonomics is a much more important health issue; if these devices are being pushed outside athletic circles I think they should spend a good chunk of time studying and considering the problems of ergonomics and how to track those kind of metrics over time.
bar napkin idea : pay attention to the push duration rather than the push volume. per-push-duration could give hints on things like underinflated tires -- the 'wind-up' motion that begets the push will take longer due to the increased energy expenditure.
P.S.
somewhat ironically, using a manual push wheelchair that is set up in an 'athletic' profile at all (maybe lots of camber, or maybe lots of seat 'dump' in the build) almost always prohibits the user from wearing anything on their wrist without continually bashing it into the hand-rim during their power stroke.
Watches/bracelets/bangles are , in my experience, a very uncommon fashion accessory for manual wheelchair users for that reason -- especially those of which have impaired neurological movement in their hands; folks with those kinds of issues generally push the handrim with the side of their wrist due to a lack of grip -- right where a watch would sit normally.
I haven't looked into mobility tech in a long time but things have certainly gotten a lot smaller and cheaper since I worked with it and there may be some simple things that would be handy for manual chair users that wouldn't add much weight or get in your way.
What kind of computer based gizmos are out there now? It would seem like there must be things like odometers and little dashboards already. Has anything really caught on?
I feel like this space would benefit so much from some sort of generally available components/designs where the manufacturer is just configuring sensors, case size/materials/design, battery size, display type, input methods - and it would all be supported on some standard software platform.
Because right now it seems like designing a smartwatch is a very expensive process, it's all mass produced one-size-fits-all designs and everyone is reinventing the software stack with their own flaws, and you don't want to drop serious money for one when you know that nothing about the device can be fixed after the warranty expires (compare that to a mechanical watch). Smartphone model seems suboptimal when it comes to watches IMO. I would gladly pay more for a device I knew I could potentially use in 5 years with a standard battery and screen replacement options.
Though, really, I think the biggest benefit of wearables expanding into this space is that they're not 'old people products' like Life Alert. A generally healthy 60-year-old person who doesn't want to 'seem old' is going to be far more comfortable wearing an Apple Watch or similar device, and far more likely to do so consistently.
Ok but this is clearly well past just a "wellness" device, if they are providing these features with these claims, are they going to certify it as a "Medical Device" ? Will they submit it through FDA/CE approval ?
I find that extremely doubtful.
That's the regular checking of BP /Pulse temps etc done in hospitals if our on 4h getting woken in the middle of the night sucks.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=H...
This certainly isn't a good fit for a nursing home. First off, you have general health issues, like thinning skin that tears and cuts easily paired with folks that are in declining health and may or may not have good control of their limbs. Psychological issues and things like dementia is going to make this more difficult as well. One horrible scenario is finding the device covered in feces, since some folks, as their minds degrade, handle their own feces. And I'd hate to have to fight with someone daily to put the device on (other folks won't care).Of course, if your nursing home is staffed well with folks that do their jobs, it probably won't make a difference.
a company that isn't already doing medical devices will be extremely hesitant in approaching any of that