Post on 12-Mar-2016
description
INNOVATION
VA N TA G E M O B I L I T Y I N T E R N AT I O N A L
I N N O VAT I O N S PA C E 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3
PROPOSAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction
Fundamental Research
Brainstorming
Proposed Concepts
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
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Team pacr
Vantage Mobility International (VMI)
About this Document
About the Project
What do you get when you place four people with four
entirely different professional backgrounds in a team
together? I’ll tell you what you get, you get pacr:
an innovation machine, a mechanism of progress, and
a veritable brain trust of skill, vision and dedication.
And all of this is possible through our diversity:
Peter’s deeply-ingrained business savviness, Andrew’s
masterous understanding of product design, Chris’s
knowledge of the human body, and Rachel’s keen
eye for detail.
Meet the Team
Our team name, pacr, signifies the unity of our team by
incorporating the first letter of each of our names.
P for Peter, A for Andrew, C for Chris, and R for Rachel.
The name pacr is simple, clean, and memorable, and
by using the first letter of our names it signifies the
great things that can come from the collaboration of 4
very different things, whether that be skills, viewpoints,
or mindsets. While it may be an acronym to each of our
names, it also bears relevance to wheeled mobility.
Pacr is similar to pace, as in moving forward and
making progress.
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Andrew Lai
“Master Artist”
Industrial Design
ylai17@asu.edu
Rachel Bone
“Visionary Insomniac Perfectionist”
Visual Communication Design
rrbone@asu.edu
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Peter Georgiou
“Not Your Average Business Student”
Business
ptgeorgi@asu.edu
Christopher Miranda
“Too Much Awesome to Put in 5 Words”
Engineering
cmirand4@asu.edu
As a part of our endeavor to improve wheeled mobility,
we are afforded the pleasure of working with Phoenix-
based wheelchair van producer, Vantage Mobility
International (VMI). VMI holds a prominent position
within the wheeled mobility market by providing high
quality, innovative, and accessible wheelchair vans
to people with disabilities ranging from paralysis to
muscular dystrophy, stroke, and amputeeism. Since VMI
was founded in Phoenix, AZ in 1987, they have grown
steadily and now distribute their modified vans
across the country.
Vantage Mobility International (VMI)
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VMI’s focus on high quality, innovative mobility
solutions is apparent with their recent ramp offering,
the Northstar. The Northstar ramp is unique due to
the fact that it is stored below the floor of the van as
opposed to in the cabin of the van, and this innovative
usage of space allows for more space within the cabin
of the vehicle and a more enjoyable driving experience
for the customer.
Vantage Mobility International (VMI) has dedicated
themselves to providing functional, high quality
wheelchair vans to disabled users in need of specialized
transport. In order to provide their customers with the
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best wheelchair vans that they can, VMI must undergo
a very costly and technically challenging conversion
process, including removing the floor from the van,
reinstalling their lift system, and wiring the car to
function properly and with OEM key fob. This process
takes roughly a day, and most of the cost VMI incurs is
with materials, totaling $7000 per conversion.
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About this Document
The purpose of this document is to showcase the
culmination of our efforts over the last semester
focused around reimagining mobility. In the past four
months, we have worked diligently to understand the
wheelchair community, the issues present in the daily
lives of wheelchair users, and possible solutions to the
problems that we identified in our research. Within this
document, we have provided information about our
users, trends in the wheelchair industry, as well as our
vision for 3 unique wheelchair designs that we propose
to solve some of the issues present to wheelchair users.
Each design is supported by a detailed business model
and sound engineering, and upon the selection of our
final product idea this detail will only grow.
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About the Project
For the average person, mobility is pretty easy.
They are free to walk wherever they need to go;
they can easily get into any car; they can go up
stairs without trouble, and they can instantly react
to any obstacle that may get in their way. They often
take these freedoms for granted and dismiss them as
being part of life. That is not the case for wheelchair
users; the world is completely different when you are
relegated to living your entire life in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair users cannot walk wherever they please;
entering a vehicle is much more complicated,
and navigating their surroundings is much more
complicated. In all of these differences, there is one
very distinct similarity: convenience. Life is far more
inconvenient when you are required to sit in a chair.
Much of our research has been done through
first-person experience in wheelchairs and observation
of wheelchair users. Through this research we saw
first-hand the inconvenience of a wheelchair and have
gathered a wealth of knowledge that we have applied
to our product designs.
While researching our problem of convenience,
we learned many things about just how inconvenient
a wheelchair truly is and that they are mired by an
unnecessarily high number of problems. Transferring
into and out of a wheelchair requires a fair amount of
upper arm strength, and some users do not have the
ability to do this; the height of a wheelchair limits the
ability for someone to grab things around them, both
high and low; and the inability to easily transfer to
other types of chairs is unnecessarily difficult.
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
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The User
The Market
Technology
Society and Environment
Our users are disabled persons with lack of leg function
due to either amputation or Thoracic spinal paralysis.
Our users still retain the function of the upper portion
of their body and are capable of doing regular activities
that require the use of the top half of the human body.
Our user group includes such persons within the ages
of 16-60 and are not dependent on the help of others
in order to conduct themselves. Our users can be
employed, unemployed; active, inactive; male, female;
single, in a relationship etc. Overall, our user group is
very broad and consists of a large portion of the manual
wheelchair community. This is by design, however, as
we would like to help as many people as we can while
capturing the largest market that we can.
Who are the users?
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Our typical user is the average person you would
expect to be in a manual wheelchair: someone who is
male or female, of average build, currently capable
of but has difficulty transferring, lives in a home
designed around the able-bodied, and has to use their
wheelchair to travel around various places such as the
store, parks, etc.
Our extreme users could vary from our typical user for
a variety of reasons. They could be weak and unable to
transfer easily, or they could be overweight and unable
to lift themselves because of their weight. They could
also have some limitation in the function of their upper
body, perhaps their hands.
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Our influencers consist of people who may recommend
our solution to our eventual purchaser as well as teens
who may need their parents to buy mobility products
for them. These influencers can play a big role in the
promotion and sale of our product, as word of mouth
among the wheelchair market is very valuable.
The needs of our users, purchasers, and influencers
can vary depending on the group and need to be
considered differently. Our users are looking for how
our solution will fit their needs as a wheelchair user,
and this is the same if they are the purchaser as well.
An external purchaser’s needs may be focused around
cost and reliability, along with the aforementioned user
needs. Finally, the influencer’s needs may be focused
around how well the user, or purchaser, reacts to the
recommendation of our solution.
Our purchasers are generally limited to two groups:
the user and the family of the user, in the event of a
parent buying a chair for their child. While these are
our two main purchasers, there needs to be some
consideration given to the financial buyer, such as
insurance companies, the VA, or other external entities
aside from our user. These external purchasers will be
looking for various attributes from our product, and
may not provide funding if they feel that it does not fit
their standards. We can also consider 3rd party retailers
as our purchasers as they may buy our product to sell
to users.
Purchasers and Influencers
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In order to further our research, we sent a survey out
to members of the wheelchair community. Getting the
insight of wheelchair users themselves allowed us to
pinpoint exactly what they find to be inconvenient with
wheeled mobility, and gave us a better understanding
of what we should focus on improving. While this was
the main goal of our survey, we also sought out to gain
a better understanding of how each wheelchair user
differs and what each one does differently when
faced with the various inconveniences of daily life in
a chair. Our market for this survey was the Phoenix
Wheelchair Suns, due to their active lifestyle and use
of manual chairs.
Wheelchair Suns Survey
20Average Daily
Transfers
4/5 Drive Their Own Vehicle
4/5 Use a Shower Chair
3/5 Users Are Employed
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4/5 Have Multiple Chairs
5/5 Transfer to a Car Seat
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Take off
Backpack or
Purse
AdjustChair
Take off Wheels
Open Car
Door
Climb into Car Take off
Seat
Transfer from Chair
Male/FemaleTransferring
to a Car
As a part of their daily lives, wheelchair users are
involved with many other people, places, and things,
and engage in a multitude of different activities.
The chart is an Ax4 Analysis and depicts the many
people involved in a wheelchair users life, the items
a wheelchair user interacts with, what activities they
may participate it, and where they will do so.
AX4 Analysis
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Due to the niche size and nature of the manual
wheelchair market, it is very difficult to put your finger
squarely on its pulse. The wheelchair market overall
is one that is not given much attention in the grand
scheme of the world economy, so finding data can
be rather hard, and finding up-to-date data can be
very expensive. The only data that we could gather
on the wheelchair market is from a 2009 report from
the University of Buffalo, which uses data from 2002;
the most recent large-scale data available at the time.
This report gives an estimate of the total number of
wheelchair users in the US as 2.7 million users in 2002,
Understanding the Market
2.2 million in 1997, 1.6 million in 1994, and 1.5 million
in 1992. This data places the total market growth
between 1992 and 2002 at 81%, with yearly growth at
8.1%. Such growth is promising for business and
means a steady increase in customers over time.
This same report also projected future growth and
predicted the 2009 market to be somewhere between
3,860,099 and 5,276,119 users. Our market of 16-60
year old persons without the use of their legs may
or may not apply to this growth trend, especially
considering that some of this growth is due to the
aging of the baby boomer population.
Customers within the wheelchair market tend to be
rather involved in understanding their disability and
the options available to them. Due to this knowledge,
some wheelchair users have multiple chairs and put
a great deal of effort in selecting these chairs. An
example we were given in one of our interviews is that
our interviewee would look at the what kind of chair she
would need 5 years from now, as opposed to just today.
The manual wheelchair market is fairly homogeneous
in nature, and aside from shape, size, weight, and
some basic functional aspects, the majority of manual
wheelchairs are the same. Most feature a low height,
two large wheels, two caster wheels, a cushioned seat
and back, and are propelled by using the arms to push
the wheels forward. This similarity is broken by a few
select products, but they are a rarity among the general
wheelchair population.
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Government financing is always subject to change
which may effect funding for veterans and those
on social security, a segment in which 3/4 of
wheelchair users fit
Cheaper wheelchairs are on the market;
consumers may not view the added cost of our
chair as a reasonable expense
New insurance regulations may lead to some
uncertainty with payment coverage
Given the homogeneous and well grounded
nature of the wheelchair market a unique product
offering may be perceived as odd, ineffective, or
as a gimmick intended to merely sell chairs.
Most wheelchairs are pretty basic & suffer from
the same problems: large size, hard to maneuver,
limited storage, etc.
Chairs that are meant to transfer still take up
a great amount of space when being stored in
a vehicle
Aesthetically pleasing wheelchairs are few and
far between. Offering one that delivers in both
form and function could be a great competitive
advantage and would help boost brand
recognition and equity
Disabled persons tend to do a great deal
of research into their disabilities & products
that serve them. A product that is unique will
stand out, and the added function may lead to
recommendations by other wheelchair users
Low manufacturing quantities may lead to higher
manufacturing costs per unit
Susceptible to the demands/coverage criteria of
insurance companies
Semi-niche market that excludes 98% of world
population
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Captive market
Chairs are covered by many insurance companies/
plans as Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Veterans have their chairs paid for as part of their
disability coverage
Engaged market with high interest in product
offerings
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Entering the wheelchair market can be fairly complex
due to multiple barriers to entry including multiple
competing brands, high research and development,
manufacturing and production costs, complex approval
processes with the Veterans Association and insurance
companies, and relatively low budgets and funding.
The approval process with the Veterans Association
and Insurance companies will be a large hurdle that
will need to be overcome as quickly as possible. If our
product ends up costing a large sum of money, then
it will be likely that our customers will need financial
assistance, and this lack of approval will lower our
overall market significantly. Meanwhile, being that
our product will be tangible, it will require
development and manufacturing. These processes
are very costly and time consuming, and a lack of
funding will limit production, and subsequently the
success of our product.
Hurdles
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their production to an external manufacturer, then a
tight relationship with that supplier can lead to higher
production quality and, once again, first priority with
production. Insurance companies are crucial for not
only funding authorization, but they can also be used as
pseudo-salesmen by recommending your product
to those who they insure. This early exposure will
reduce stress from your customer because they will
know that the chair is covered by their insurance,
and will not have to put in the extra time to research
it for themselves. Lastly, we have public wheelchair
associations. During our research, we came across a
large number of wheelchair advocacy groups, sports
teams, fitness facilities, and other community outreach
events. By having connections with these
organizations, a company can have their product
showcased in front of their primary market, with little
extra marketing necessary. This added exposure will
not only have the potential to increase sales, but will
also be a great way of getting input from those who
you wish to sell to. As a manufacturer and designer, you
need to consider the inputs of these people, and what
better way than to get their direct criticism or praise for
your product?
Success in the manual wheelchair market is very reliant
on partnerships, and being involved with the right
people will keep you moving forward. Such partners
include material and labor suppliers, insurance
companies, and public wheelchair user associations.
Each one of these partners provides a unique and
valuable benefit that is essential to success in the
manual wheelchair industry. Wheelchairs must fit high
quality standards, and the best way to ensure that these
standards are met is to ensure that the materials used
are of high quality and that the construction of the
chair is structurally sound. Being involved with materials
suppliers can ensure not only a high quality product,
but also faster shipping times, and perhaps even first
priority when new orders are placed. These extra
benefits can reduce costs for a company, which can
allow for either higher profits or the ability to use that
money elsewhere. Should a company plan to outsource
Necessary Partnerships
There are many wheelchair brands that offer a variety
of different mobility solutions. Two of the most known
are Quickie and Invacare. Other brands include Drive,
Spinlife, Tilite, Colours in Motion, and LifeCare
Medical Inc.
Understanding Current Competitors
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This brand is all about returning independence to
people who are disabled. The logo features a stylized
Q to represent fast and agile movement, and the
typeface is bold and strong. This appeals to people
who want to stay active as well as people who simply
want a more efficient wheelchair. The wide variety of
chairs offered helps to keep their customers satisfied
in all of their needs.
Invacare’s brand puts a strong emphasis on helping
disabled people do things that they may not be able to
do otherwise. This brand is focusing on the emotional
aspect of disabilities and using that to attract their
target audience. The logo features a blue ellipse, which
abstractly resembles a wheel in motion. The bold and
strong typeface with tight letter spacing communicates
the idea of support as well as unity.
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Drive focuses on quality of life and functionality in their
products to prepare users “for the road ahead”. Their
logo uses a slanted typeface, hinting at speed and moving
towards the future. The name “Drive” also hints that
people will be able to take control and drive their own
lives with these products.
This company puts a large emphasis on having great
customer service as well as having a large selection of
products. They want to make it easier for the user to find
and purchase what they are looking for. The logo features
a slanted typeface with a circular swirl shape. Both of
these work together in communicating motion and moving
forward in life.
LifeCare Medical’s target audience is primarily the elderly.
They emphasize on investing in safety and peace of
mind, and offer many products that aid in the care of
the disabled. The tagline “Large enough to serve, small
enough to care” emphasizes that they care about each
individual customer. The logo features a classic handicap
symbol, which is familiar to users, especially older ones,
and gives the feeling of trust and comfort. The typeface is
very legible and strong.
Tilite’s only focus is manual wheelchairs, and their target
audience is active people, primarily younger people,
who want to have the greatest amount of mobility and
independence. They want their users to feel unique and
special, so they offer numerous types of customization
for wheelchairs such as tattooed titanium, multiple color
choices, and custom sizing. Their logo is clean, modern,
and simple with strong colors, which appeals to the
younger crowd as well as active people in general.
Colours in Motion strives to enhance the lifestyle of the
disabled as well as the surrounding population. They
design and manufacture very specialized rigid wheelchairs
for an international market of disabled customers. They
target people of a wide range of ages. Colours has a goal
of changing the way the public sees the disabled as well
as how the disabled see themselves. Their logo is a simple
stylized C that is sharp and strong. The letter stands alone
but has a strong base underneath it, symbolizing disabled
people’s independence when they use these products.
There are many types of products and technologies to
aid in the mobility of disabled people. Numerous
types of wheelchairs exist in today’s society, including,
but not limited to, manual and power chairs. Manual
wheelchairs range from lightweight folding chairs to
sport wheelchairs and hand cycles to heavy-duty chairs.
Power mobility options include power chairs and
scooters. Not only are there many types of chairs to
fit the needs of numerous people, but there are also
different sizes of chairs to best fit each individual’s
needs. There are many types of accessories that also
aid in the assistance for people with disabilities.
Understanding Existing Solutions
These include various products to help transfers such as
boards or lifts, furniture that is tailored to the disabled,
walkers and crutches, braces, bath and hygiene aids,
anti-tip bars or wheels, safety belts, tilt and/or recline
features, support for limbs and neck, drink holders, and
much more.
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A basic manual wheelchair design includes a seat,
footrests, and four wheels (two caster wheels in the
front and two large wheels in the back). The larger
wheels generally have hand rims about 3⁄4” in
thickness, and they usually have a diameter that is
slightly smaller than the wheels. Some wheelchairs also
have two push handles at the top of the back to allow a
second person to maneuver the chair.
Other manual wheelchair designs are often variations of
this basic design, but can be considerably customized
to fit the needs of certain users. Customizations may
include seat dimensions, height, seat angle (known
as dump or squeeze), footrests, leg rests, front caster
outriggers, adjustable backrests, and controls.
There are two major designs of manual wheelchairs:
folding or rigid. Rigid chairs are preferred by active
users due to the permanently welded joints and many
fewer moving parts. This decreases the energy needed
Comparisonsto move the chair because it eliminates many points
where the chair would flex as it moves, while also
reducing the overall weight of the chair. Instant-release
rear wheels and backrests that fold down flat are
typically featured in rigid chairs, allowing the user to
break it down quickly for storage in a car.
Ultralight materials such as aircraft aluminum and
titanium are often used in rigid models. Another
innovation in rigid chair design is the installation of
polymer shock absorbers, such as FrogLegs, which
cushion the bumps a chair rolls over. These shock
absorbers may be added to the front wheels, back
wheels, or both. Another option of rigid chairs is to
have a camber, or tilt, that angles top of wheels in
towards the chair to allow for better propulsion by the
user. This is common in sport wheelchairs to
improve stability.
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There are many benefits for these mobility solutions.
Without wheelchairs, it would be very hard for people
with disabilities to get where they want to go.
They would lose a lot of independence and have to
count on others for assistance all the time. Most of
them would have to be carried around whenever they
need to go somewhere.
While there are many positive aspects of mobility
solutions for the disabled, there are also weaknesses.
People in wheelchairs still lack independence and are
not able to do all the things that able-bodied people
can. While many wheelchair users are able to do most
things themselves, there are still times where they
need assistance. Often, these people will feel like they
don’t fit in and get in the way. Most of the world is
not designed for the disabled, and it is very hard or
impossible to maneuver in certain areas. Even though
wheelchairs are a great improvement for the way
disabled people travel, there are still many things that
can be improved upon.
Pros and Cons
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There are a myriad of technologies utilized in the
manual wheelchair market to make life for wheelchair
users better. These technologies range from the
simple to the complex, depending on the problem
being tackled. Among the most notable byproducts
of modern technology are the new extremely light
weight, yet remarkably strong materials that are
utilized to create the frames of some of the more
high-end wheelchairs. The light weight makes the
wheelchair much easier to maneuver and easier to
move forward. Moreover, for wheelchair users who
are more independent and constantly on the move,
Understanding the Technology there have been attempts to create wheelchairs that
take up minimal space and are easily stored in the
hopes of removing the need for assistance. This has
led to wheelchairs that have wheels (often the most
cumbersome part of the wheelchair) that can easily
detach from the chair, allowing for easy storage,
while still being completely safe, secure, and reliable.
Additionally, the aforementioned arduous task of
transferring out of the wheelchair has also been tackled
with technology, albeit simple technology. Transfer
boards have been employed in order to remove the
need to complete the transfer in a single bound, but
rather make it possible for the user to less strenuously
move out of the wheelchair.
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Evolution of Technology
For an extended period of time, the top manufactured
wheelchairs were made out of steel, since it was
relatively strong, cheap, and easy to manufacture. In
fact, steel alloys are still the most commonly used for
wheelchairs. However, with the arrival of aluminum
alloys, titanium, and other composites onto the
wheelchair market, steel is no longer the material of
choice for high-end wheelchairs. In the late 1980’s
the first patents were filed for detachable wheels
for wheelchairs. This technology is among the most
important for many wheelchair manufactures that try
to provide users with wheelchairs that can be easily
stored. Before this technology, the wheelchair could
not be expected to fold to a size remotely smaller
than that of the large cumbersome wheels. Even the
simpler of the technologies has seen some innovation
over the years. Transfer boards have acquired new
shapes, for instance, that take into account the troubles
wheelchairs themselves might pose when transferring.
For example, some transfer boards are curved in order
to allow transfer from wheelchairs with rigid armrests,
which make sideways transfer - for many users – a near
impossibility. Transfer boards also now contain material
underneath that is considered to be “non-slip” as well
as built in sliding seats that run from one end to the
other, making the transfer process less strenuous.
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For Manual Wheelchairs, it is common for the parts to
be made with metal extrusion. Different materials may
be used for each chair, and each will perform
differently because of these differences. Extrusion can
only form straight beams, so in order to shape these
tubes a secondary bending process will be needed.
Stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium are the most
common materials used for wheelchair production.
None of these materials will rust, and this extends
the life of the material and helps with durability. Each
material has many different sub-types, and depending
on the application of use a different sub-type may be
Production Methods
used. Cost for each material is determined using Cost
Per Foot pricing, and may vary due to economic factors
such as the demands of the product.
After the metal extrusions and bending, parts are then
welded together to allow for the proper strength,
and are then prepped for the addition of non-metal
materials including the wheels, seat and backrests.
Human workers do these final assemblies.
There are exciting new innovations occurring in the
wheelchair market that have brought forth promising
technology. The most remarkable being the application
of neuroscience to wheelchairs. Two separate groups of
scientists and engineers have created wheelchairs that
can be controlled with thoughts, essentially. A research
team at NASA has figured out a way to turn sub vocal
speech into commands for a wheelchair. Moreover, a
team of researchers at California State University has
figured out how to turn brainwaves into commands
for a wheelchair. Although the technology is still in its
infancy, it shows great promise. Not to be outdone by
Emerging Technologies
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electrical wheelchairs, the manual wheelchair market
has also seen technological milestones recently. Most
recently, a brand new material has been introduced to
the wheelchair market that is extraordinarily strong and
very cheap: cardboard. Folded in the correct way and
treated with the right organic materials, cardboard has
recently proved itself as a reliable material. It is also
interesting to note that the wheel has literally been
reinvented in the manual wheelchair market. The wheel,
which for many years had to be detached to allow for
easy storage, has itself been made foldable, making
the wheelchair surprisingly compact. Such wheels
are not yet being used by wheelchair users, but the
concept is promising.
Transfer Board
Detachable Wheels Foldable Wheelchairs
Foldable WheelsCardboard Frame
Utilitote Carrier
Lighted Casters
Drink Holder
Wheelchair Gears
Lightweight Frame
COMMON
RARE
EXPENSIVEINEXPENSIVE
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The inconvenience that wheelchair users experience is
constantly seen in society. Wheelchair users are always
seated, and this places them at a height that is not
optimal for social interaction or interaction with societal
artifacts such as soda dispensers at restaurants and
items on store shelves, to name a few. This disparity
in height compared to the average person not only
limits the general convenience in a wheelchair user’s
life, but also manifests itself in negative equity for the
user. They are always below the view of others, and
this leads to them being looked down upon. This fact
along with the aforementioned limited reach can leave
the user feeling as though they are not normal, and can
negatively impact their mood.
Understanding Society and the Environment
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In the last few decades, some social issues have been
resolved, including the automatic opening of doors, the
installation of ramps to substitute the use of stairs, and
the widening of walking paths. These improvements
have afforded wheelchair users with better interaction
with the physical environment, and job regulations
have made employment more available. Despite these
advancements, there are still many ways that both
society and the wheelchair can improve in order to fit
together harmoniously. Many items are still out of reach
of wheelchair users; many spaces don’t allow enough
room for wheelchairs to turn; and some jobs could be
more accommodating to wheelchair users.
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In the last few decades, some social issues have been
resolved, including the automatic opening of doors, the
installation of ramps to substitute the use of stairs, and
the widening of walking paths. These improvements
have afforded wheelchair users with better interaction
with the physical environment, and job regulations
have made employment more available. Despite these
advancements, there are still many ways that both
society and the wheelchair can improve in order to fit
together harmoniously. Many items are still out of reach
of wheelchair users; many spaces don’t allow enough
room for wheelchairs to turn; and some jobs could be
more accommodating to wheelchair users.
Change Over Time
Wheelchairs are made primarily of recyclable materials
and are easy to recycle after a chair has reached the
end of its useful life. Production of wheelchairs does
not require highly advanced technology and can easily
be done utilizing our current technology. The only
problem could be the lifespan of wheelchairs. Manual
chairs are prone to needing replacement after only a
few years, and can be damaged or destroyed, with the
ultimate outcome being disposal.
Environmental Issues
BRAINSTORMING
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Product Opportunity Gaps
Brainstorming Lists
Idea Pages
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During our research, we found plenty of product
opportunity gaps in the wheelchair market that hinder
the convenience of wheelchair users. Amongst these
gaps, not all apply to our area of focus. Here we have
the most applicable gaps along with their descriptions.
Product Opportunity Gaps
Nothing allowing user to grab items above them
Users can buy small grabbing tools, which are only
capable of holding items weighing 1-2 pounds.
No easy transfer as part of the chair
Transfers into a vehicle or other chairs are multistep
processes and require the wheelchair user to compact
and stow their chair after transfer.
No way to efficiently store the wheelchair when in
the car
When stored in a vehicle, wheelchairs can take up as
many as two to three spaces within the car, limiting the
number of other occupants that can ride in the vehicle.
37
No way to move feet out of way when sitting at a
table/desk
When seated at a restaurant table, there is a high
chance of hitting the table support when seated.
No way to stow away chair when lounging on
sofa/bed
After transferring from their chair to their sofa, the
chair must go somewhere, and this often results in it
sitting in the area next to the sofa, thus resulting in the
unnecessary use of space.
No way to keep hands clean when using the chair
In order to propel a wheelchair, the user must make
constant contact with a push-bar near the tire of the
chair. This close proximity to the tire leads to the user
getting their hands dirty, and often resulting in the use
of gloves.
Nothing is offered that helps with the actual motion
of the chair
Every manual wheelchair on the market is propelled
using a tire-based push system. This motion is unnatural
and very bothersome to the elbows and shoulders of
the user.
No way for users to interact with others at eye level
Wheelchair users are at a lower height than the rest of
society. This low height limits reach and has a negative
effect on interaction with others.
Brainstorming Lists
In order to come up with our final three ideas, we spent
an extensive amount of time brainstorming and coming
up with possible solutions to the problems we saw
in the manual wheelchair market. This brainstorming
yielded plenty of great ideas, thanks to the help of
a free-flowing brainstorming process as well as our
esteemed classmates and guests. Now we present our
brainstorming questions and some of our results.
38
Headrest cushion with pillow inside
Sleep Number style cushions
Cover to make environment dark
Privacy from outside world
Wheelchair that rocks back and forth
Pressure adjustments
Neck support pillow
Repetitive/soothing sounds
Heating/cooling pads
Reclining wheelchair
Longer chair design
Side flaps to make bed wider
Built-in water bottle
Chair that connects to a bed
Inflatable sleep equipment
Reading light
Interchangeable cushions
39
Cut off external noise
Electrical brain stimulation to trigger sleepiness
Food storage
Sleep goggles
Massage chair functionality
Lie flat armrests
Programmable positioning
Built in fan
Relaxing smells
Armrest nightstand
Seat that extends to make transfer to a bed easier
Alert system
Lock into floor of car for sleeping on the road
Seatbelt
Stabilization system
Sleep cycle detection
What are all the ways we can make it easier for a wheelchair user to sleep in their wheelchair?
40
Increase visibility
Helmets
Hazard Sensors
Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication
Backup camera
Wider roads to allow for a wheelchair lane
Attaching wheelchair to car/bike
2-piece car/chair combo
Path charting GPS system
Transforming tires/cushions based on environment
Engaging roll cage at time of an accident
Preventative technology
Ability to change wheel thickness at will
Gears
Hydraulics
Chair that transforms into a car for the road
More power options and horsepower
Arachnid legs
Leaning in moves chair forward, Leaning seat back
moves it back
Dyson style orb “wheel”
What are all the ways by which we can make it easier and safer for a wheelchair user to be on the road with other vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes, etc.)?
What are all the ways by which things in nature move from Point A to Point B?
41
Ants use pheromones as non-verbal communication
Dolphins and bats use echolocation
Kangaroo pocket/Ticks with stuff on backs use Storage
Isopods and armadillos turn into balls
Snakes and worms slide
Birds fly or glide in wind
Squirrels glide
Monkeys swing
Dolphins, fish, people, octopi, and water strider
bugs swim
Ducks waddle and fly in V for less air resistance
Jesus lizard uses fast speed and large feet
Cats pounce
Moles burrow
Bees carry pollen
Venus flytraps
Flowers open and close/turn towards the sun
Salmon jumping or swimming upstream
Capillary system/capillary action
Heart pumps
Digestive system
Starfish uses lots of little feet
Sponges and turtles utilizes currents
Gravity
Different ways to jump: muscle tension, tendons,
extension, contraction, ant that smashes jaws into
ground, frogs use tongue
Leaves and feathers float in the wind
Humans walk
Light and sound waves
Cats and scorpions fit in small spaces
Cats carry by scruff
Ant highways and bridges
Crawl
Idea Pages
42
After brainstorming many ideas for wheelchair
solutions, we moved on to sketching out ideas for how
to make things work. These are a few of the solutions
we came up with.
CompactingIdeas
43
StandingIdeas
Transfer Ideas
44
45
Brake Ideas
46
AccessoryIdeas
47
PROPOSED CONCEPTS
50
52
58
72
86
Three Chosen Concepts
Sketches
C3 - Cardboard Compacting Chair
Up - Elevation-Changing Chair
Chair2 - Seamless Immediate Transfer
Three Chosen Concepts
50
C3
Current wheelchairs are made of sophisticated
lightweight metals, such as titanium, making them
wonderfully light, but also incredibly expensive. C3 is
made of 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard that
has been strengthened and compacted to provide an
incredibly strong, yet affordable wheelchair. Along with
its innovative cardboard construction, C3 also compacts
into the size of a small suitcase for easy storage in the
car, allowing for more friends and more fun!
51
Chair2
Wheelchair users are refined to their chair for the
majority of their day, making it hard to sit in a
restaurant booth, on a sofa, or in their car without
first transferring out of their chair. Chair2 is a radical
innovation allowing users to transfer themselves, along
with their chair, onto other seats. This convenience
makes restaurants and social gatherings more casual
by allowing the user to fit in with everyone else. Chair2
improves transfer into a vehicle by reducing the process
and freeing up space in the vehicle for more occupants,
and as we all know, the more the merrier!
UP
Being in a wheelchair greatly reduces the height of the
wheelchair user, thus limiting their reach and affecting
how they interact with others. Up allows wheelchair
users to quickly and freely adjust their height at a
moment’s notice, resulting in a broader field of reach
and more equitable social interaction with those around
them.
Sketches
52
53
54
55
56
57
C3 - Cardboard Compacting Chair
When buying a wheelchair you look at multiple factors
including size, weight, and strength. This often ends
with you buying a bland, ordinary chair that costs way
too much, but with C3 you get a unique and affordable
chair. C3 is an innovation in the wheelchair market that
is made of 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard,
resulting in a lightweight, strong, and inexpensive
wheelchair that conveniently collapses for storage
in a vehicle. C3’s cardboard construction makes it
strong enough to withstand the strain of constant
use, inexpensive to buy and repair, and incredibly
easy to transfer into your car. During day-to-day life,
C3 functions just like any other wheelchair. Its light
weight makes it easy to move around, while its durable
cardboard frame is capable of withstanding any strain
that it may encounter. C3’s simple lightweight folding
mechanism makes it the ideal chair for transfers. Once
in your car, you simply fold the chair by lifting the
handle and place it in your vehicle. When compacted,
C3 is about the size of a small suitcase and takes up
only one seat in your vehicle, unlike the two or more
seats taken up by current chairs. With this extra space
in your car you will have more space for friends, family,
and fun! Oh, and did we mention that it’s green?
59
Current wheelchairs on the market can cost anywhere
from $600 for a basic, throw-away chair, to upwards
of $3,000 for a chair that can withstand the trials of
everyday use. This high cost can be too much for some,
especially if they are paying for it outright and without
assistance from an insurance company. Introducing
an affordable, yet capable chair into the wheelchair
market will allow for better mobility among users, while
affording all users the luxury of a quality chair.
The Problem
GIVE IT THE
GREEN.
LITE.
Color Scheme
60
Typography
Headings
Akzidenz-Grotesk Pro Bold; 12-14pt; Tracking -5
Subheadings
Akzidenz-Grotesk ProLight; 10-12pt; Tracking 25
Body Text
Akzidenz-Grotesk Pro
Light; 8-10pt; Tracking 25
Light Green
Pantone P 157-15 C
C:42 M:0 Y:87 K:12
Dark Green
Pantone P 156-18 C
C:62 M:0 Y:100 K:49
White
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0
Light Gray
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:60
Dark Gray
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:90
Logo Usage
61
62
Renderings
63
64
User Experience Storyboard
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to be folded
WHEEL RELEASE Allows the wheels to be removed
FOOT RESTAdjustable foot rest
HANDLEAllows user to carry
65
RELEASE BUTTONUnlocks chair to allow for foldingMakes carrying easier
RELEASE BUTTONReleases wheelsNo need for tools
HANDLEHandle in back when chair is foldedAllows user to easily carry chair
66
C3 is an innovation in wheelchair construction and
design that is marketed to paraplegic wheelchair users
who are self-capable and between the ages of 15
and 59. C3 is made of 100% post-consumer recycled
cardboard that has been compacted and shaped to
create a chair that it is strong, stylish, and wonderfully
affordable. C3 will be sold to our customers through
both direct sale through our own website as well
as through online retailers and will allow for extra
revenue through spec upgrades, accessories, and color
options. In order to produce C3 and deliver value to
our customers while remaining profitable, we will need
Business Model Summary
67
tangible resources like a production facility, metal, and
seat materials. Intangible resources will include patents
and financing approval from insurance companies and
the VA. Due to its unique cardboard construction, a
steady supply of uncompromised recycled cardboard
will also be needed to produce C3. Research and
development will be essential in ensuring that C3 is
light, easy to compact, and strong enough to be used
everyday. This is especially important given the natural
frailty of cardboard, and our need to make it as strong
as its metal alternatives. Because so much research and
development is needed to make C3, it will constitute
much of our initial costs, while establishing our
production facility will be another high initial cost.
68
PROVIDE
MOBILITY
LIGHTWEIGHT EASY TO COMPACT DURABLE COMFORTABLE WEIGHT
CAPACITY
Minimal parts
Minimal moving parts
Lightweight frame
Parts fit together
One motion folding Smooth Motion Doesn’t get caught on surroundings
High Quality Materials
Quality Design Low wear and tear
Distribute Pressure Evenly
Center of Mass Between Wheel and Caster
Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way over time Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply
Function Tree
69
Specification Sheet
D/W Requirement
Geometry
W Seat Width: 12” – 16”
W Seat Length: 12” – 16”
W Wheel Diameter: 24 in
W Weight < 28 lbs
W Caster size: 3” – 6”
Forces
D Support at least 265 lbs
Materials
D Rigid Frame seat
W Cardboard Composite
Safety
D Holds after 5000 uses
Energy
W 99 % of energy goes into motion and not
moving parts
Cost
W Under $1000 dollars a chair
Operation
D 1 push and release wheels
D Smooth moving parts
W 1 motion steps
70
Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3
Compacting
Movement
Morphological Chart
UP - Elevation-Changing Chair
It isn’t fun sitting in a chair everyday. Along with
pushing yourself to get around, you also have less
reach, less view, and social interactions can feel a bit
demeaning. It would be a lot better if you could be
higher up, right? Well, Up is an elevating wheelchair
that is intended to fix these problems by offering
a simple, one-step raising process that allows you
to easily reach high shelves, counters, and cabinets
without having to stretch long distances or use a
grabber tool. Up’s easy raising feature also allows you
to quickly raise yourself to the height of those around
you so that you can talk with them at eye level.
This combination of benefits ensures that you have not
only more convenience, but also more self-confidence
in your daily life. While it may be true that height
adjusting chairs already exist in the market, they are
very cumbersome and involve multiple steps to raise
and lower. Up is the size of your average wheelchair
and can be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds
due to its simple one-step process. This speed allows
you to simply ‘pop up’ and grab something from a
shelf or talk with a cashier at your local store or bank.
Simple, fast, and convenient.
73
Up addresses a problem faced by all wheelchair
users: lack of height in daily life. When resigned to
a wheelchair, users lose a fair deal of height, with
some going from ~6 to 4 feet tall. This lowered height
results in an inability to reach items that they would
otherwise have been able to reach, and makes social
interactions far less pleasurable due to a lingering
feeling of inequality, and a perception of being looked
down upon. Being able to reintroduce height into a
wheelchair user’s life would allow them to reach things
that they haven’t been able to reach in some time, and
would make social interactions much more enjoyable.
The Problem
reach easy
Color Scheme Typography
Headings
UniversMedium; 11-13pt; Tracking 10
Subheadings
Univers Condensed Light; 10-12pt; Tracking 25
Body Text
Univers
Light; 8-10pt; Tracking 10
Light Blue
C:60 M:0 Y:10 K:30
Dark Blue
C:100 M:0 Y:10 K:70
White
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0
Light Gray
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:40
Dark Gray
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:75
74
Logo Usage
75
76
Renderings
77
User Experience Storyboard
78
FOOT RESTUser rests feet here when chair raises up
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to rise up
ARM RESTUser uses for support to raise the seat
79
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE User presses button to unlock the rising deviceUser then pushes down on the arm restsDevice will rise as users push themselves up
Up is an elevation-changing wheelchair that is marketed
to paraplegic wheelchair users who are self-capable
and between the ages of 15 and 59. Up increases in
height, thus letting users benefit from extra height
so that they may reach high items and interact with
other at eye level. Up will be sold to our customers
through both direct sale through our own website as
well as through online retailers and will allow for extra
revenue through spec upgrades, accessories, and color
options. In order to produce Up and deliver value to
our customers while remaining profitable, we will need
tangible resources like a production facility, metal, and
seat materials. Intangible resources will include patents
and financing approval from insurance companies and
the VA. Research and development will be essential in
ensuring that Up is stable when elevated and that the
elevating process is quick and easy. Because of this
need for research and development, much of our costs
will be incurred designing Up and its lift mechanism of
Up, while establishing our production facility will be
another high initial cost.
Business Model Summary
80
81
COMFORTABLE
82
Function Tree
PROVIDE
MOBILITY
EASY STAND SMOOTH MOTION HOLD USER STAY STABLE
One Motion
Assisted Lift
Hydraulic system assist drop motion One Large Central Hydraulic Two Small Side Hydraulics
Prevents Drop While Standing
BeltsStrapsGuards
Wide wheel base
Locked wheels
Distribute Pressure Evenly
EASY TO MOVE
WEIGHT CAPACITY
Light Weight Minimal Parts Lightweight Frame
Roll Wheel Forward
Lever Back and Forth
Strong Hydraulics
Center of Mass Between Wheel and Caster
Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way too much over time
Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply
Distribute weight to wheels Warp seat to distributes the weight sideways Stay comfortable Small seat width Narrow Wheels
83
Specification Sheet
D/W Requirement
Geometry
W Seat Width: 12” – 16”
W Seat Length: 12” – 16”
W Wheel Diameter: 24 in
W Weight < 28 lbs
W Caster size: 3” – 6”
Forces
D Support at least 265 lbs
Materials
D Rigid Frame seat
W Aluminum (SAE 6061)
Kinematics
D Hydraulic System: Support 265 lb
Safety
D Holds after 5000 uses
Energy
W 99 % of energy goes into motion and not
moving parts
Cost
W Under $1000 dollars a chair
Operation
D Smooth moving parts
W 1 motion steps
84
Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3
StandingChair
StandingMechanism
Solution 4
Leg Rests
Morphological Chart
Chair2 - Seamless Immediate Transfer
Being a wheelchair user you sit in your chair every
day. You travel about in it, you shop in it, and you
interact with the world all while in your chair. Well, this
can be a bit inconvenient because the world just isn’t
designed for wheelchairs, no matter how hard it tries.
You can’t sit in a restaurant both; riding the bus means
that you have to be strapped in; and getting in your
car requires you to get out of your chair and stow it
somewhere in the vehicle. Chair2 is designed to address
these problems by allowing you to simply slide your
chair onto other seating locations that you encounter
in the world everyday. These locations include the
aforementioned restaurant booth, bus benches, and
car seats, along with any other seat you can possibly
imagine. This innovative and unique feature of Chair2
will add convenience and normalcy to your life by
allowing you to go places that you never could before,
and with such ease that it will become second nature.
Now you can sit in that booth table you never could;
you can ride the bus like everyone else; and when you
go for a drive you can get in your car with ease and
have more room for friends and family.
87
The average wheelchair user transfers upwards of
15 times during their day, and this can be to various
different locations including their car, sofa, or other
various seating locations. The process of transferring
involves many steps, and given the number of times
wheelchair users transfer each day, it can put a
great deal of strain on them over the course of the
day. Finding a way to reduce or even put an end
to transferring in general would make the lives of
wheelchair users much easier and would allow for more
convenience as they go about their daily lives.
The ProblemFIT IN ANY CHAIR
Color Scheme Typography
Headings
Avant Garde T. Bold; 13-15pt; Tracking 0
Subheadings
DinCondensed Medium; 10-12pt; Tracking 50
Body Text
Din
Regular; 8-10pt; Tracking 25
Red
Pantone P 54-8 C
C:0 M:97 Y:80 K:42
Dark Gray
C:62 M:0 Y:100 K:49
White
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0
Light Gray
C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:50
88
Logo Usage
89
90
Renderings
91
92
User Experience Storyboard
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to compact for transferring
WHEEL LOCK RELEASE Pressing button allows wheel to fold
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE User presses buttons and rolls backwards to transfer onto a chairUser can also roll backwards into a car
93
CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to compact for transferring
WHEEL LOCK RELEASE Pressing button allows wheel to fold
94
Chair2 is a unique wheelchair design that is marketed
to paraplegic wheelchair users who are self-capable and
between the ages of 15 and 59. Chair2 allows users to
slide themselves and Chair2 onto other seats, including
restaurant booths, benches, and car seats, thus adding
a great deal of convenience and normalcy to their
lives. Chair2 will be sold to our customers through
both direct sale through our own website, as well as
through online retailers, and will allow for extra revenue
through spec upgrades, accessories and color options.
In order to produce Chair2, and deliver value to our
customers while remaining profitable, we will need
tangible resources like a production facility, metal, and
seat materials. Intangible resources will include patents
and financing approval from insurance companies and
the VA. Research and development will be essential in
ensuring that Chair2 is easy to use and compact, and
does not damage the slide target. This is important
given the potential damage that can occur from sliding.
Because so much research and development is needed
to make Chair2, it will constitute much of our initial
costs, while establishing our production facility will be
another high initial.
Business Model Summary
95
96
STAY STABLE DURING FOLD
Function Tree
PROVIDE
MOBILITY
SUPPORT WEIGHT
SEAMLESS FOLDING DURABLE
Distribute weight evenly
Center of Mass Between Wheel and Caster
Find design that puts minimal stress on moveable parts
Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way too much over time Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply
Distribute weight to wheels Warp seat to distributes the weight sideways Stay comfortable Small seat width Narrow Wheels
Prevent moving parts from getting caught with surroundings
Avoid damage due to incorrect folding Avoid high friction in moving parts Employ simple folding mechanisms
High quality materials
Quality design Low wear and tear
Create stable platform
Prevent slipping
STAY RIGID (WHEN NOT FOLDING)
Locking mechanism
Design that prevents users energy from going into the moving parts
FOLDING WHEELS
Fold into oval shape
Detach at one point
Go from large circumference to small circumference
Use motion of moving into car to fold wheel
Wheel should find itself in a reasonable position (next to lap)
TWO WHEEL SYSTEM
Gear ratio that works
Large wheel on top of small wheel
LIGHTWEIGHT
Minimal Parts Design
Lightweight frame
97
Specification Sheet
D/W Requirement
Geometry
W Seat Width: 12” – 16”
W Seat Length: 12” – 16”
W Wheel Diameter: 24 in
W Weight < 28 lbs
W Caster size: 3” – 6”
Forces
D Support at least 265 lbs
Materials
D Rigid Frame seat
W Chromium-Molybdenum Alloy Steel (AISI 4130)
Safety
D Holds after 5000 uses
Energy
W 99 % of energy goes into motion and not
moving parts
Assembly
W 5 < large parts
Cost
W Under $1000 dollars a chair
Operation
D 1 push and release wheels
D Smooth moving parts
W 1 motion steps
98
Morphological Chart
Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3
Folding Wheel
WheelRe-Location
Solution 4
CONCLUSION
102
103
A Final Word
Moving Towards the Future
A Final Word
While the wheelchair was a great invention that has
allowed millions of people to be mobile when they
otherwise wouldn’t, its generic form and basic set of
features leaves much to be desired. Wheelchair users
are resigned to paying thousands of dollars for a chair
that limits their reach, their general convenience, and
their freedom to be who they want to be. As we select
our final concept and move forward with our design
process, we will continue to tweak, refine, and enhance
our product so that we can fit the needs of wheelchair
users while also ensuring a healthy business venture.
102
103
Moving Towards the Future
In the many months ahead, we will dedicate ourselves
to our task of reestablishing wheeled convenience.
We will press on through countless all-nighters, many
intense discussions, multiple prototypes, and copious
amounts of energy drinks. The next four months are
the real deal, and it is imperative that we work as a
team, combining our intellects, our emotions, and
our passions toward helping wheelchair users, and
designing a product that fits their needs. Come May we
will deliver, and we will deliver big.
THANK YOU!
Team pacr would like to extend a great thanks to
those who have helped us with wheelchair research,
brainstorming, and idea generation. We would also
like to thank our sponsor, Vantage Mobility
International, because without them we would not
have been able to get to the point we are at as of the
completion of this book. We hope that you enjoy this
book and all of the hard work that was put into it!