Researchers at the National Cheng Kung University at Taiwan have created a new device that will allow people in wheelchairs to stand upright. This new robotic device, called i- Transport, can lift people to a standing position which they claim gives the person a new level of independence.

But this is not the only advantage of i-Transport; by lifting people who are confined to sitting in a wheelchair, it helps them converse with people directly while it improves bone density and aids digestion. It also has built-in technology that essentially fulfils the role of a human caregiver by measuring the person’s vital signs as they are standing.

As the Director of Medical Device Innovation Centre, Su Fong-Chin, indicates ‘We have included a physiological monitoring system to perform telemedicine or long-distance care services. We can eventually store the information in the cloud for the patient’s family to know that they are is safe and comfortable’

Researchers plan to make i-Transport available in the market as soon as possible.