January 2022: Product development in the assistive technology industry
24/01/2022
What does it take to develop a really good auxiliary mean? First-hand feedback – from those who use it regularly! Through those experiences, a company benefits from the knowledge of its customers and can incorporate it into the development of its products. Read more in our Topic of the Month.
Product development in the assistive technology industry
24/01/2022
What does it take to develop a really good auxiliary mean? First-hand feedback – from those who use it regularly! Through those experiences, a company benefits from the knowledge of its customers and can incorporate it into the development of its products.
New product development takes an interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach
24/01/2022
Business stagnation is never a good thing. It’s the reason assistive technology manufacturers continuously come up with innovative equipment and improve on their existing products. REHACARE.com shows the influence users have on the assistive technology industry and explains the research and development processes in manufacturing companies.
HASE BIKES: new website online
24/01/2022
Easier to navigate, more stories, detailed product information: The brand-new website of specialized bicycle-manufacturer HASE BIKES has gone live.
Personalizing treatment for severe limb injuries
17/01/2022
Researchers at the University of Missouri used small wearable sensors to gather data on how people use a prosthesis versus a transplant in everyday life following a traumatic hand loss.
Disabled people risk being left in the cold in a sustainable energy future
05/01/2022
A new study reveals that disabled households in the Europe Union currently consume 10 per cent less energy than other households, as well as being 5 per cent more likely to experience energy poverty.
Permobil outlines ambitious sustainability commitments
03/01/2022
Permobil announces its seven sustainability focus areas, including two innovative KPIs specific to the core business: quality of life for the people who use their products and driving workplace diversity, as well as reducing their CO2 emissions 70 per cent by 2030. Permobils focus is to drive the company to continuously do better for all its stakeholders.
Prosthetics: stretchable pressure sensor could lead to better robotics
20/12/2021
In the future, soft robotic hands with advanced sensors could help diagnose and care for patients or act as more lifelike prostheses.
The right wheelchair for every occasion
16/12/2021
Wheelchairs have a special significance for their users: they give many people with disabilities a great deal of freedom by enabling them to live more self-determined. Whether for daily errands in the city, off-road adventures in the forest or for sports – the variety of wheelchairs is constantly increasing. REHACARE.com took a closer look.Paralympics swimmer Josia Topf: mobile thanks to Space Drive and joystick
15/12/2021
After passing his driving test, Paralympics swimmer Josia Topf was now able to take delivery of his adapted vehicle. Driving a car means freedom, independence and spontaneity for the 18-year-old.
Jonah Holtermann – That's how he rolls
15/12/2021
Due to an abrasion, Jonah Holtermann's life was turned completely upside down. The 23-year-old thinks positively despite the challenges that still lie ahead. After all, in the interim it was touch and go whether he would survive at all. Thanks to which aids he is mobile again, how it felt to wear a prosthesis for the first time and what makes him roll otherwise, he tells at REHACARE.com
WheelAir and DIETZ Power announce partnership
13/12/2021
With the first temperature and moisture control system suitable for any wheelchair, WheelAir brought a breath of fresh air to the everyday life of wheelchair users. Thanks to the partnership with DIETZ Power, even more wheelchair users will soon be able to enjoy the control over their core temperature instead of overheating.
Reinventing the wheelchair wheel: greater independence with trivida®
09/12/2021
Nobody expects the reinvention of the wheel and yet that is exactly what P+L Innovations GmbH has accomplished. In this REHACARE.com interview, the company’s managing director, Dr. Christine Pflaumbaum, tells us what makes trivida® so unique, explains the benefits of a detachable wheelchair wheel and gives us insights into the development process.
Cassandra Mae Spittmann – That's how she rolls
01/12/2021
Cassandra Mae Spittmann discovered the world of rhythm at the age of two. While she started out playing the tabla with her feet, the 19-year-old now elicits the notes with her hands. She has remained true to her preference for Indian music. With her voice and her songs, however, she is reaching an ever-growing audience worldwide. At REHACARE.com she tells us how she rolls otherwise.
Understanding their target market: retail companies in search of the best new products
24/11/2021
No two days are the same. You always learn and experience new things when you work with people. It’s one reason why medical supply stores strive to keep up to date on the latest product innovations. Besides manufacturers, retailers often step up to ensure the equipment lands in the right medical supply store.
Target market: medical supply store
24/11/2021
You could say that a medical supply store is your friend and helper when it comes to medical aids. But what would medical supply stores be without them? How do new products make it into the range? Which link in the supply chain comes before the user's "place to be" when looking for a new aid?
Getting the finished product to the customers: partnering up with medical supply stores
24/11/2021
The medical supply store is your first point of contact if you need a (new) assistive device: It has a vast selection of mobility supports, practical aids for everyday activities, sports and leisure equipment. But how do these items get to the medical supply store? And how can a startup find commercial partners and establish its products effectively?
Stylish and innovative design: taking it to the top with the Lifton home elevator
11/11/2021
Raúl Krauthausen recently discovered how much an elevator can make your life easier and add accessibility to your home. These days, the disability rights activist uses the LiftonTRIO Home Elevator from Lifton GmbH to navigate his apartment in Berlin. Reason enough for REHACARE.com to ask the Liftstar Group what makes the Lifton home elevator so different from other systems.
Assistive devices for people with sensory disabilities
28/10/2021
In the end, a good assistive device always means: more participation. People with sensory disabilities experience a different form of barriers every day – especially frequently in the area of communication. In our Topic of the Month, you can read about the aids that can help them use their smartphones without barriers, for example, or about the development of hearing systems.
Touch, hear, participate: Assistive technology helps conquer visual impairment
28/10/2021
Blindness or visual impairment means a loss or partial loss of the sense of sight. What it doesn't mean is that those who are impacted by this must aim lower or feel inferior. An abundance of vision aids does a fantastic job of replacing the sense of sight in the best way possible.
Small, smart, connected: hearing solutions and smart home applications
28/10/2021
The latest communication technology trends also affect hearing systems: These tiny hearing amplifiers are getting smarter and can sometimes be connected to other systems. REHACARE.com recaps the latest trends in hearing aid technology, explains the present limitations and explores other applications for the deaf and hard of hearing community.Tokyo 2020: Paralympic Games in a "bubble"
29/09/2021
The Paralympic Games in Tokyo were different than originally planned – not only for the athletes, but also for the technicians and other experts who helped turn the Tokyo athletic event into a success. Daniel Anlauf was on location as a technician of Ottobock – the official technical service partner of the Paralympics.
Florian Lutz – That's how he rolls
08/09/2021
Florian Lutz listens carefully to people with disabilities when it comes to making their lives more self-determined. As a rehab consultant, he is on the road around Göppingen – and on the internet: There, inspired by his daily work, he presents aids for people with disabilities. What he thinks aid manufacturers need to consider in development and how he otherwise rolls, he tells on REHACARE.com.
Prosthetic care takes comprehensive support and perseverance
31/08/2021
Adjusting to life after amputation can be challenging – both physically and mentally. Amputees need a lot of endurance and discipline before a prosthesis can fully replace a missing body part. Find out at REHACARE.com what is important when it comes to prosthesis fitting and discover where amputees can turn to for support.
The future of prosthetics is here thanks to Artificial Intelligence and bionic feedback
31/08/2021
There are many exciting advances in the field of prosthetics. REHACARE.com asked prosthetic manufacturers and experts about the latest medical and technical research in laboratories and discovered how prostheses quite literally learn from the user.
Prosthetics – between demand and reality
31/08/2021
Whether sporty on the move, dynamically flexible or with the right balance through everyday life – a prosthesis should support its wearer in the best possible way. What is a hot topic from a medical point of view, in which direction prostheses will apparently continue to develop and how, on the other hand, everyday care in Germany looks, is highlighted by REHACARE.com in our Topic of the Month.
Everyday life in the medical supply store: working on, with and for people
29/07/2021
Whether it is an orthotic, prosthetic or wheelchair – it takes orthopedic know-how and skill to ensure the assistive device has the proper fit and also "fits" your lifestyle (pun intended). Although orthopedic technicians are often the first point of contact for patients, their profession is often unfairly underrated.
From scanning to 3D printing: the workshop goes digital
29/07/2021
"Our world today is becoming more digital both in the personal and business realm. Digital transformation affects many industry sectors – and the orthopedic industry is no exception," says Niklas Hohlfeld, Prosthetics Market Management of Otto Bock. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly accelerated the pace of this development. Otto Bock and Mecuris told us more.
Orthopedic technology – A professional field as multifaceted as the medical aids industry
29/07/2021
People with disabilities need individual assistive devices. It is the task of orthopaedic technicians to select these with them and to adapt them to their specific needs. What else is part of the job description and how companies support the technicians in their work in the medical supply store can be read in our Topic of the Month.
Janine Kolbig – That's how she rolls
14/07/2021
Living a self-determined life is a matter of the heart for Janine Kolbig. She is the founder of the Centre for Self-Determined Living Northern Germany, which advises people with disabilities and represents their interests. What self-determination means to her, who the origin of this movement is for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Jesi Stracham – That's how she rolls
30/06/2021
Jesi Stracham is a wheelchair user and has no problem with it: Over the years, she has learned to accept herself as she is and to detach herself from societal expectations – she no longer wants to have any labels put on her. How she has achieved this mindset, why every day is a good day for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Service dogs: priceless four-legged helpers
29/06/2021
REHACARE.com spoke with two dog training centers and learned how much people with disabilities benefit from a canine companion in everyday life and discovered the type of training assistance dogs complete before they are matched with a person.
Tobi Kroll – That's how he rolls
16/06/2021
How can we arrive in an inclusive world? Tobi Kroll has a few suggestions, because he is always thinking about barriers – both structural and social. But he also has some ideas about how society can accommodate people with disabilities. Who he would like to discuss our society with and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Better swallowing and understanding: Sophisticated aids from the field of speech therapy
15/06/2021
Some aids may play a minor role in life, but they make everyday life much easier. These include products from iuvas medical: on the one hand, the transparent mask miama, which makes communication in the pandemic clearer. On the other hand, the sippa drinking aid, in which the contents are kept constantly at the top by a membrane so that people with dysphagia can swallow more easily.
Corporate social responsibility: diversity is an asset
31/05/2021
Accessibility, participation, and inclusion are buzzwords associated with people with disabilities. The notion that we should focus on people’s abilities, not their disabilities is a lesson that is not yet fully understood by most - especially when it comes to labor force participation. We took a closer look at the role companies and their social responsibility play in spurring social changes.
Rita Ebel – That's how she rolls
19/05/2021
Rita Ebel has become known as the "Lego granny": Since accessibility is still a scarce commodity, she designs ramps made of interlocking plastic bricks. Boxes of the colourful bricks are stored in her house and are transformed into ramps with creative patterns. Why she herself is dependent on accessibility, why she never loses her smile and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Computer-aided communication: assistive technology promotes participation
29/04/2021
Whether it is voice recognition with or without eye tracking technology, educational or speech recognition software – assistive technology builds bridges that allow people to get in touch with their surroundings.
Assistive devices in the workplace: Making communication accessible
26/04/2021
Especially for blind and visually impaired people, the lack of or non-working augmentative communication devices frequently means that they have no prospect of participating in the workplace. We discussed with Bruno Behrendt from Papenmeier why screen readers are sometimes nothing more than pretty tools and learned why technical support is THE perennial issue when it comes to customer service.
Building bridges - communication software in focus
26/04/2021
Communication is an important cornerstone for social participation. It is therefore all the more important that the communication aids that are available are adapted to the people who need them. In our Topic of the Month, you can find out who is responsible for this and what difficulties still exist today, but also what is encouraging.
Head support system HeadUp Collar: Communication at eye level
22/04/2021
Head support systems for ALS patients are often not sophisticated and resemble neck braces. The University of Sheffield developed the HeadUp Collar, which can be individually adapted to the needs of the patient. REHACARE.com asked Anita Ogale, Product Manager at ProWalk, what makes the new head support system so special.
Sporty and flexible biking – with the new TRETS from HASE BIKES
04/03/2021
On your bike, get set, go – the new TRETS from HASE BIKES makes this possible for children with neuromuscular disease. And the best thing about it? Since it has a medical aid registration number, German health insurance companies pay for or contribute to the purchase of the trike. REHACARE.com asked Dario Valenti to find out what makes TRETS unique and why working for HASE BIKES is so special.
Strategies for optimal bowel management with stoma or TAI
02/03/2021
A variety of solutions can help when the intestines don’t work properly: a stoma is an artificial opening designed to treat disease, relieve symptoms and make life easier. Transanal irrigation (TAI) is another well-documented technique that helps remediate fecal incontinence and constipation. Medical device manufacturers and home care experts help find the best solution to every problem.
Incontinence: Effective management with the right aid and consultation service
02/03/2021
Incontinence comes with a list of misconceptions. Yet it is quite common and should not be a taboo subject. Incontinence affects many people: besides older adults, this includes pregnant women, people who are paralyzed or children. How do you manage incontinence and self-catheterization if you are affected and what are available product options and consultation services?
Incontinence and stoma: assistive devices for a carefree life
02/03/2021
The reasons for living with incontinence or a stoma are as varied as the people affected themselves. Manufacturers of assistive devices are therefore particularly concerned that their products fit the users as well as possible. And they are also there to advise and support their customers. We will show you the variety of products and advice offers.
Jörg Dommershausen – That's how he rolls
24/02/2021
Jörg Dommershausen takes comprehensive care of his clients: He helps those affected to cope with changed circumstances in their professional and private lives after serious accidents. In addition to his counselling services, Dommershausen also produces two (German) podcasts and a guide. What is indispensable for his work with his clients and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Sensor glasses: Move the wheelchair independently with your eyes
16/02/2021
The eyes play an important role in everyday communication, for example in recognising facial expressions. But for people with severely limited mobility, the eye makes much more possible: Equipped with the MyEcc Pupil, they can move their power wheelchair or a robotic arm independently. How do the glasses make all this possible? REHACARE.com asked Managing Director Thomas Rosner.
Lily Rice – That's how she rolls
10/02/2021
Lily Rice can usually be found at the skatepark, refining her WCMX techniques in her pink wheelchair. The training is paying off: Lily entered the scene in 2017, two years later she was Women's World Champion. It was only logical that her biggest challenge to date was in the halfpipe – what it was, who motivates her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Myd'l: Diverse, innovative and individual – ramps for all occasions
28/01/2021
Shopping – especially in city centers – can quickly turn from pleasure to frustration. Namely, when stores are only accessible via one or more steps. The French company Myd'l has a solution ready for every barrier in terms of accessibility – whether private or business. Successfully active in international business for 22 years, the manufacturer now also offers its products in Germany.
Lilli Zeifert – That's how she rolls
27/01/2021
Lilli Zeifert has already seen a lot of the world. Perhaps that's why her great love is for what there is still to discover beyond the Earth: Whatever there is to find out about astrophysics – Lilli wants to know. Who she thinks are the smartest minds of all time, what she would like to discuss with them and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.