Ambient Assisted Living: Smart technology for self-determined living
14/01/2021
Opening the front door by voice or having a 3D camera under the ceiling that precisely detects falls and calls for help? There are no limits to the possibilities of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). We show you which smart technical systems are now hidden behind this term and how they can contribute to more self-determination for people with disabilities.
More self-determination thanks to smart technologies
14/01/2021
Everyone wants to live a self-determined life, but it isn’t always easy to implement – especially if you are an older adult or live with a disability. Fortunately, there are systems that help promote autonomy and independence in your own home. Size doesn’t always matter as even little smart helpers can give users peace of mind and a feeling of security as they navigate everyday life.
Glucose earring could revolutionise how patients manage type 1 diabetes
16/12/2020
A product design graduate from the University of Huddersfield has defeated thousands of entries from around the world to become one of the finalists of the 2020 Global Grad Show with their design for a discrete earring that monitors blood sugar levels and delivers feedback in real-time.
Robotic exoskeleton training improves walking in adolescents with acquired brain injury
15/12/2020
New Jersey researchers find potential for gait training using robotic exoskeletons in the rehabilitation of adolescents and young adults with hemiparesis caused by acquired brain injury.
Quantum power chair is better manoeuvrable and more narrow
09/12/2020
Consumers are hungry for information. They’d like to know more about the differences between power chairs, especially exciting, new innovations before meeting with a therapist and ATP. That was one of the main takeaways from Quantum focus groups of power chair users.
Hand disinfection for passengers
02/12/2020
The AMF-Bruns Sani-Station is a new innovation to answer sanitation challenges facing the transportation industry.
Annual review 2020: Auxiliary means industry proves staying power and creativity
01/12/2020
Hygiene concepts, contact restrictions, rethinking – many companies have stumbled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and the travel and aids industry has also had a hard time. Nevertheless, the companies are not burying their heads in the sand. On the contrary: Corona has encouraged their creativity and shown that staying power in challenging situations pays off.
The rehabilitation and assistive technologies sector looks back at 2020
01/12/2020
Conventions, exhibitions, trade fairs – the rehabilitation and assistive technologies sector had big plans for 2020. Along came the coronavirus pandemic and changed everything. Profoundly and radically. Events had to be cancelled, personal contacts had to be drastically restricted, completely altering daily and public life in the process. How has the industry responded to the crisis?
Diabetes: Computer vision app allows easier monitoring
23/11/2020
A computer vision technology developed by University of Cambridge engineers has now been developed into a free mobile phone app for regular monitoring of glucose levels in people with diabetes.
Exoskeletons can reduce strain also in health care
23/11/2020
Wearable exoskeletons are increasingly being used in physically demanding jobs to support good ergonomics and augment muscular strength. In ground-breaking studies led by researchers at Tampere University and LUT University in Finland, exoskeleton vests were worn by nurses to discover how the new technology would suit the special requirements of patient care.
Mobility Networks: Protecting lift users and ensuring manufacturing quality
18/11/2020
Safety mode is unique to Mobility Networks. The team has been working hard to develop a higher standard of lift-based technology and this has enabled them to produce Safety Mode.
Assistive technologies: CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition shows advances
16/11/2020
CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition: In total, 51 teams from 20 countries competed against each other, completing everyday tasks with the help of state-of-the-art assistance systems. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the teams competed for the first time in different time zones and locations. Apart from the winning teams, the technological advances attracted the most attention.
Spinal cord injury: Exoskeleton-assisted walking improves mobility
16/11/2020
Exoskeletal-assisted walking is safe, feasible, and effective in individuals disabled by spinal cord injury, according to the results of a federally funded multi-site randomized clinical trial. The article "Mobility skills with exoskeletal-assisted walking in persons with SCI: Results from a three-center randomized clinical trial" was published August 4, 2020 in Frontiers in Robotics and AI.
Rehabilitation: Improving the usability of exosceletons
11/11/2020
Wearable robots such as exoskeletons are often used in the rehabilitation of paretic patients. However, these exoskeletons work more or less without knowledge of the patients’ body internal information. PhD candidate Guillaume Durandau of the University of Twente is adding controllers to wearable robots so that intuitive human control is possible.
Functionality meets design: the new adaptive sport equipment Spike
29/10/2020
Activities aiming at occupational therapy and rehabilitation are boring? Not necessarily! A new assistive exercise and sports equipment named Spike is not only designed to be fun, but also suitable for everybody who wants to get and stay fit. How this works for whom and what kind of history connects Spike with REHACARE? We asked!
Pro Walk: Overcoming foot drop one step at a time
24/09/2020
Safe walking without tripping or falling is challenging for people with foot drop. Luckily there are technologies that provide active support by using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Pro Walk GmbH delivers these types of foot drop systems. How do these devices allow users to complete everyday tasks? REHACARE.com asked Nico Riedl, Product Manager and Physiotherapist at Pro Walk GmbH.
How the Coronavirus crisis affects the assistive technology industry
01/09/2020
Working from home, conversion of production, digital events – the Coronavirus pandemic has kept us on our collective toes for months now. The assistive technology industry sector is no exception. As a result, many have decided to restructure their company and business processes and some have even chosen to completely reposition themselves.
The assistive devices industry in times of Coronavirus
01/09/2020
Serving customers primarily digitally and expanding the product range to meet the current demand – all this has been happening since the Corona pandemic among REHACARE exhibitors. How exactly companies are trying to make the best out of the crisis can be read in the current Topic of the Month September: The assistive devices industry in times of Coronavirus.
Corona pandemic: Companies adapt to meet changes in demand
01/09/2020
The Coronavirus crisis has affected all of us. The pandemic has also left its mark on many REHACARE exhibitors. Several companies have adapted their services and product portfolios in response to a rapidly changing situation. REHACARE.com has taken a closer look at three exhibitors.
Labor force participation: "Breaking down mental barriers is more important than auxiliary aids and services"
02/07/2020
Competent and tough – Anja Winkler works at the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) and by virtue of her own disability is in charge of multiple accessibility and inclusion aspects. In this REHACARE.com interview, she describes the auxiliary aids and services that help make her workday easier and explains how she overcomes the barriers she occasionally faces as a blind staff member.
"Rehabilitation for children and young adults must keep all options open"
04/06/2020
The foundation for self-determination and control over one's own life should be laid at a very young age. A comprehensive supply of auxiliary aids and services and custom rehabilitation programs are critical for children and young adults with disabilities. This is the jumping-off point of rehaKIND, a competent partner that assists parents, providers, health insurance providers, and policy-makers.
Coronavirus crisis strikes Paralympics: Ottobock embraces flexibility and fosters creativity
04/05/2020
Coronavirus has heightened the importance of being flexible and creative. Two strengths that Ottobock, the Official Technical Service Partner of the Paralympics, has leveraged many times at its onsite workshop during the Games and now relies on in these strange times.
Accessible travel: Hotels for everyone
02/04/2020
When people with disabilities plan a trip, accessible accommodations are typically a critical aspect to consider. Both the hotel room and the surroundings should offer all the typical amenities, but also address the person’s special needs. REHACARE.com showcases three hotels that want to facilitate comfort and ease, especially for people with mobility disabilities.
ATTO folding mobility scooter makes self-determined travel possible
02/04/2020
Traveling with a mobility aid should be easy: Simply fold it up if needed and take it with you in the car or even on the plane. The foldable scooter ATTO from MovingLife makes all of this possible. REHACARE.com talked with Marcel Zwart, MovingLife Sales Manager EMEAI (Europe, Middle East, Africa & India), about ATTO being a game-changer for people with mobility impairments when they travel.
Transfer boards by meinHOLTZ: "Assistive devices can be practical, modern and stylish at the same time"
28/02/2020
Is it a skateboard with no wheels? No, it’s a transfer board made by meinHOLTZ! These modern boards help people who use wheelchairs to easily move from one surface to another on their own. Not only does this make transfers easy, but the assistive devices also look stylish and sophisticated.
WheelAir: No more overheating for wheelchair users
30/01/2020
Overheating is a serious issue for people who use a wheelchair. Ice packs and water sprays used to help many of them in order to keep cool. But Corien Staels, Founder & Managing Director of WheelAir, wanted to find a technological solution for the problem of overheating. Since then the WheelAir concept is about to change lives.
Technology-based assistance systems: Aging in place
07/01/2020
Whether it is sensor systems for fall detection or stand assist beds – technology-based assistance systems provide safety and create independence in your own home. The AAL Living Lab carefully studies and even designs new systems like these. That’s because there is a growing demand for so-called Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies.
Standing Ovation facilitates mobility at the workplace
12/12/2019
Sitting while standing up – Standing Ovation makes this oxymoron possible. The rail system with its C-shaped seat bar and seat lifting unit allows Austrian chef Peter Lammer to sustain his job despite an 80 percent disability rating pertaining to his legs. With REHACARE.com he talked about the invention that brought back his zest for life and the feedback he received at this year's trade fair.
Mobility: Overcoming barriers with Wheelblades
28/11/2019
Whether they are on vacation in the mountains or brave winter weather at home – people with mobility impairments want to take precautions to arrive safely at their destination. Patrick Mayer is personally affected by disability and developed two products that enable wheelchair and walking aid users to master these situations: Wheelblades and the SafetyFoot.
Adaptive eating utensils with a Twist: How Bravo Twist by ProWalk outsmarts Parkinson’s tremors
17/10/2019
We all know that food intake is essential for the survival of every living organism. Yet for humans, food can also be a great source of pleasure or even love. At any rate, it is an important part of our social life. But what happens if our own body throws a monkey wrench into our food intake by having a stroke or neurological disorder?
"Assistive devices help to actively join the meal"
22/08/2019
There are various different kinds of auxiliary means at REHACARE. And the drinking and eating aids are definitely among the popular ones. With its assistive devices the company Assistive Innovations bv from the Netherlands wants to help people with different disabilities to become more independent with eating. CEO Arthur Blom tells REHACARE.com more about classic and new products.
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
"ichó brings people with and without dementia together and provides a way to share stories, experiences, and impressions."
22/04/2018
Like the golden sphere in the fairy tale of the Frog King, ichó (Greek for echo) is meant to bring back lost motor skills and cognitive functions to people with dementia. The project of four former graduates of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences aims to offer individual support through a person’s favorite music or fairy tale.
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.
HelpCamps: "Making assistive technology faster, more affordable and personalized"
23/11/2017
In accordance with the slogan "Nothing about us without us", the HelpCamps project aims at developing and implementing concepts and ideas together. To make this a reality, people with disabilities, companies from the assistive technology, care and assistance sectors, as well as stakeholders in the so-called maker movement and researchers, are brought together to network during various events.
"Long cane for children is a 'facilitator'– the chance to independently accomplish something"
17/08/2017
The long cane offers the possibility to be independent and effectively mobile as a person with visual impairment. Children in particular could get used to him in a playful way. The association "Anderes sehen e.V." has co-developed the children's long cane. REHACARE.com spoke to Ellen Schweizer, the founder of the association, about the fact that inclusion is not a burden, but can bring joy.
"Inclusive communication design is both accessible and attractive"
15/06/2017
For many, recognizing and understanding characters is an important prerequisite to social participation. Inclusive communication design helps people with visual impairments to accomplish this. REHACARE.com spoke with designer and expert of the German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People, Florian Adler. He has developed a digital guide to inclusive communication design.
"Horse riding is a sport people with and without impairments are able to experience together on equal footing"
20/04/2017
More self-confidence and independence – things you can learn from horse riding for example. People with disabilities can take this important step with "Rolli auf Trab" (English: Trotting with Wheelchairs). REHACARE.com spoke with Sandra Glöckler of "Rolli auf Trab" about the lust for life that horse riding inspires and the interaction and experiences with the animals.
Will software automatically describe movie plots in the near future?
18/07/2016
In order to understand the plot of a movie an audio version is very helpful for visually impaired people. Authors watch the whole movies and describe what happens in each scene. But wouldn’t it be possible for a computer software to do this kind of work? Researchers work on developing a program which automatically generates movie descriptions and reads them out.
Blessing or curse? Using robots in the healthcare sector
21/06/2016
In the distant future? – But today already a reality: robot caregivers are designed to make the daily tasks of healthcare workers easier. Today these types of helpers are already being used in Japan. They lift people in need of care out of their beds, play cards with them or cuddle with dementia patients.
"Ability4Refugees platform wants to provide auxiliary means for refugees with disabilities"
24/05/2016
Many people who had to leave their home country traveled in a wheelchair or used crutches. The stress of this escape was at times even more exhausting and taxing for some than for others. REHACARE.com spoke with Sigrid Arnade (ISL e.V.) and Eva-Maria and Andreas Mohn (Andreas Mohn Foundation) about the Ability4Refugees platform that aims to improve the availability of auxiliary means for refugees.
"The robot facilitates and promotes the connection between children"
15/12/2015
A robot that provides a link between hospital and classroom? The project Avatar Kids makes this possible: acutely ill children are able to actively participate in school activities with the help of a tablet computer. The teacher facilitates the communication. REHACARE.com spoke with Philipp Mahler of Avatar Kids about the opportunities this project provides.
"Safe mobility starts with the right choice and adaptation of the wheelchair"
23/07/2015
Whether it’s a wheelchair or a walker – for people with disabilities, it is crucial to control their own mobility in a competent and safe manner. Yet not everyone truly feels confident in every situation with these assistive devices. That’s why REHACARE.com spoke with Nicole Seifert about ways to foster more trust in yourself and others.