In my previous post, I have mentioned that wheelchairs must be made of convetional technologies while also being innovative. This "dream" wheelchair has come out: the SMART Walker. It is not exactly a wheelchair since there is no place for a patient to sit. However, it does the same role as a wheelchair, moving a patient around comfortably.
The SMART Walker is designed to help patients with paralysis or brain damage walk around. The good parts of this wheel chair is that it is quite simple to use, relatively light, and most importantly, it has the highest performance to price ratio compared to other products such as the iBot.
To begin with, a patient's feet are inserted on two platforms that are attached to a long handle. This connection help handicaps to maintain their balance while they are walking. The shoe on the two platforms are made by Piedro footwear, which provides extra comfort and sensitivity to the handicap. In addition, the tool is supported by four wheels that let the patient on the Walker to move more smoothly.
I hope that the National Rehabilitation Center would consider using this equipment. While being quite cheap, it is also very effective, teaching young disabilities to walk and older handicaps to move around freely. I am sure that the SMART Walker will provide a greater amount of freedom for handicaps.
Showing posts with label National Rehabilitation Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Rehabilitation Center. Show all posts
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A Concert for the Disabled
On Saturday, April 17, 2010, my friends and I entertained the patients at the National Rehabilitation Center in Korea. Our strings trio consisted of two violins and a cello. We played three songs, two are Korean traditional songs (Doraji and Arirang) and one is a waltz by Johann Brahms. We were a little bit nervous when we started the concert.
At first, there were no audience members. We were performing alone in an empty room. However, one by one, patients came in to see
our performance. Just five minutes after we started, there were about thirty patients in the room. They were clapping, singing, crying, and some were dozing off. When we finished our performance, the patients and their family members applauded and left slowly.
My friends and I were very tired because we had to play the same pieces continuously for nearly thirty minutes. Fortunately, I felt that the patients were happy because they finally saw some kids recognize their isolation from society and come to perform for them. I also felt that next time we should prepare better with more Korean traditional songs since nearly all of the patients there are old men and women.
At first, there were no audience members. We were performing alone in an empty room. However, one by one, patients came in to see
our performance. Just five minutes after we started, there were about thirty patients in the room. They were clapping, singing, crying, and some were dozing off. When we finished our performance, the patients and their family members applauded and left slowly.
My friends and I were very tired because we had to play the same pieces continuously for nearly thirty minutes. Fortunately, I felt that the patients were happy because they finally saw some kids recognize their isolation from society and come to perform for them. I also felt that next time we should prepare better with more Korean traditional songs since nearly all of the patients there are old men and women.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Helping my new friend
On Friday, March 26, 2010, I visited the National Rehabilitation Center in Korea (left image) for the first time. There, I thought that I was going to have a difficult time helping the handicaps. I took an entire bag just in case that I might need anything. In the bag, there was a water bottle, three books for teaching English to kids, and a large pencil case. I was extremely nervous when I entered the hospital. I waited for the head nurse to tell me what to do. After a couple of minutes, the head nurse introduced a boy just three years older than me.
He was extremely small because his muscles could not react to his growth spurts. Therefore, he had a seriously curved spine. His entire body kept shivering and he could not talk well. I was so shocked that I felt that he was half-dead. The head nurse put us in an enclosed room, shut the door, and left. I was still recovering from my shock and I did not know what to do. First, we just stared at each other. Next, we had short conversations. Then, we talked very much without stopping. Finally, I followed him everywhere he went.
While, I was with him, I felt that these people were no different than normal people. The only difference was that they had some disabilities. These handicaps had a pure heart and an encouraging mind, unlike the general belief of violent handicaps. Therefore, I promised to myself that I would help these people for my whole life.
He was extremely small because his muscles could not react to his growth spurts. Therefore, he had a seriously curved spine. His entire body kept shivering and he could not talk well. I was so shocked that I felt that he was half-dead. The head nurse put us in an enclosed room, shut the door, and left. I was still recovering from my shock and I did not know what to do. First, we just stared at each other. Next, we had short conversations. Then, we talked very much without stopping. Finally, I followed him everywhere he went.
While, I was with him, I felt that these people were no different than normal people. The only difference was that they had some disabilities. These handicaps had a pure heart and an encouraging mind, unlike the general belief of violent handicaps. Therefore, I promised to myself that I would help these people for my whole life.
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