This week, we looked at a different rehabilitation device, the wijit, that is currently available in the market and analyzed its strengths and weaknesses. The strength of this system is that a patient can steer the device with the levers; this is done by pushing one side up and down and leaving the other side alone. Furthermore, the breaking system makes stopping the wheelchair easier for the patient; this is done by squeezing the handles inward towards the wheelchair frame. Furthermore, the wheelchair has a mechanism to control the direction that the wheelchair is going, forward, neutral or reverse.

One of the weaknesses of this system is that the level is attached to the wheelchair and cannot be transported as one piece. This goes against our goal of making it a snap on and off type of mechanism. Furthermore, with all the features listed in the above paragraph, the system is very complex in its design and thus, makes manufacturing more expensive and assembly more difficult.

Based off this system, we brainstormed ideas that we could apply to our mechanism. In trying to bring down the complexity of the system, we feel like some features may have to be taken out or possible functionally reduced. Additionally, Professor Reinkensmeyer asked us to see if we can develop a mechanism that could be used for patients who parallelized or weak on one side of their body. For example, he wanted to connect the braking system where if the patient brakes using his or her left or right lever, both wheels will equally stop.

Below is a video link to a patient using wijit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=491qe2pCr2c