SmartWheels | Mapping for Accessibility
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3 million people in the U.S. use wheelchairs
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Everyday, wheelchair users navigating across city streets, campuses, and pathways face obstacles due to inaccessible routes and changing terrain. Now, with SmartWheels, they can rely on real-time, personalized route directions. The power of the SmartWheels system is that the wheelchair itself becomes an internet-connected sensor suite for the user. The wheelchair utilizes terrain-sensing technology, which determines the type of surface underneath the wheels as well as grade, elevation, and surrounding curbs and obstacles. Users can enter additional information about the environment to provide context to the collected data. SmartWheels is an integrated system comprised of a SmartWheels Sensor Kit, smartphone app, and crowd-sourced accessible maps for any browser. The Connector Kit can be installed on any wheelchair and provides Internet and sensor capabilities directly to the wheelchair. After installing the Connector Kit, the person can track his or her route data, plus get or give recommendations for improved routes. SmartWheels is a brain collective of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) students at the University of Washington and we seek to solve real-life accessibility problems. Luke Easterwood, Susan Oldham, Annuska Perkins and Tristan Plank designed SmartWheels as part of an Interaction Design class taught by Kelly Franznick of Blink Interaction at UW.
Transcript of SmartWheels | Mapping for Accessibility
3 million people in the U.S. use wheelchairs
over 1 million people use other mobility devices
wheelchair users numbers are expected to increase 5% annually
Team Wheels : luke easTerWood, susan oldham, annuska Perkins, TrisTan Plank
running slope
cross slope
The problem
our users
students using a power wheelchair
students using a manual wheelchair
our Vision
Wheelchair users will have: § A rewarding experience
§ Accessible, efficient and safe journeys
§ Connection to a community of wheelchair users
§ Smart, connected device
§ Easy system to install, use and maintain
our soluTion : The smarTwheels ecosysTem
SmartWheelsCommunication Kit
SmartWheels installed on chair
Sensors & Processor
SmartWheels App
OpenStreetMaps
Secure User Database
BluetoothUser
The smarT KiT : collecTing daTa
arduino uno microcontroller
VibraTion sensor detects surface quality
Triple-axis acceleromeTer measures motion, slope and tilt
roTary encoder Tracks wheel rotation
wiFi shield connects to Internet
smarTwheels sensor KiTputting it all together
smarT VisualizaTion
rouTe 1
rouTe 2
rouTe 3
rouTe 1
rouTe 2
rouTe 3
2 4 6 8 10 12 14
.2 .4 .6 .8 1.0 1.2 1.4
route Times (est. minutes)
route distance (in miles)
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nr
nr
smarT crowdsourcing
inTeracTions : mobile app
inTeracTions : Voice
sTarTing a rouTe
pin a locaTion For commenT
locaTing accessible enTrances
rouTe alerT
Give me more options.
Closest accessible entrance is on the
south side.
The next closest is on the west side.
Take me to HCDE 536!
Pin this location.
Route 1 looks good.
Start Route!
3 Routes found to HCDE 536.
Location pinned. What is your comment?
Route 1 selected. Ready?
Find any alternate paths.
There will be a 5° slope for 105 feet.
Yes, turn right onto the path in 20 feet.
Your building is next one on your right, in
300 feet.
our ideas For The FuTure
share
connect
expand
refinemultiplatform
empower
