People sometimes like to speculate as to what the future of the wheelchair will be, and I think there’s plenty of room to speculate. Society is slowly learning to pay more attention to the needs of people who have a disability and this is reflected in the increasing changes and innovations being thought of by the industries that manufacture disability aids. Designs are increasingly sophisticated and advanced, and they seem to be shaking off the very “clinical” appearance we’re used to, instead adopting a look you could describe as “sleek”, “smart” and “cool”. Furthermore there appears to be a trend that is inclined to get wheelchair users out of their seats and into an upright position.

We spoke a few weeks ago about the Ekso, a robotic suit that can hold someone with paraplegia (or in fact anyone who cannot stand unaided) upright and standing and even allow them to walk. This gives enough room to at least suggest that in some distant future, new technologies could render wheelchairs effectively obsolete. Carrying on with this theme, this week we look at the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device, described on the company website as:

“A brand new mobility platform that completely reimagines the way individuals with paraplegia and other walking disabilities are able to move in the world”.

What it is, is a sort of standing mobility scooter that wheelchair users can strap themselves into, giving them an entirely new way of getting around. It’s intended not as a replacement for the wheelchair but as an alternative to it. Resembling an electric chariot, it looks smart, can be more practical in certain situations, affords more independence, and can make socialising easier. But don’t let me influence you; see the RMD in action for yourself.

What is Tek RMD from Tek RMC on Vimeo.

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