Page 22 - Mobility Management, August 2019

ATP Series
Imagining New Possibilities
have to have an input/output module or a SCIM if you are not using an enhanced display. If you’re using an enhanced display,
you’re actively looking at the buttons. This is a non-latched system, which means it doesn’t stay driving based on the last command. It only drives when you’re actively looking at a direc- tional arrow.”
As with any system, and especially with a system that’s just being introduced, Independence Drive does have some limita- tions. “I feel that the way technology is moving, this is a giant first step,” Grieb said. “But we have to remember this is a first iteration of this technology. Right now, it does not support the use of power [seating] functions. I think some of that has to do with the limitations of the camera to maintain eye calibration during the shifting of positions.
“It’s really not recommended and shouldn’t be utilized in outdoor environments because direct sunlight can interfere with the calibration of the eyes with the eye-tracking camera. It is a highly functional drive system under normal indoor lighting conditions, and those can vary.”
While people with ALS were intimately involved in the creation of this particular eye-gaze system, Mixon believes
a number of complex rehab clients could ultimately benefit. “We believe that this is going to enable people with some of
the toughest conditions that we serve elongate their ability to effectively achieve independence and mobility on their own,” he said. “Think about how liberating this is if you have ALS and at some point, you’re no longer operating your chair. With this technology, you still have some degree of independence in your life. This is the direction our industry needs to go in terms of embracing technology to deliver the most sophisticated and capable solutions that we can.”
Ideally, the future of alternative driving controls will be always evolving, so that more power wheelchairs are able to drive and reposition themselves with ever-increasing confidence.
“I’ve had doctors contact me who are working with patients with different levels of consciousness,” Rotelli said. “They’re talking about finding a way so they can respond and react. There’s a lot more patients like that than you can imagine.”
The more empowered clients become, Rotelli added, the more they are able to do. “I have seen someone in a stroller who, when they start being able to change their own seat position, they can find a spot where their hands work better. They can hit more switches. I’ve seen it. Once they realize they can do something, they can start doing more. I had a student who had SMA I who came in on a gurney. I got a power chair, laid it flat, and got a fiber optic switch. He could move one index finger. We went for a walk, and he was in charge of going [forward]; when he let go, he’d stop. I was in charge of turning. They ended up getting him a power chair, and when I went back six months later, he was sitting at almost 90° and had four switch sites.
“He himself didn’t know he could do it. When he sat up, he could use his hands better. Gravity, or the lack of it, was able to help him more. When somebody can be in charge of their own position and their own interests, the things that can change are just phenomenal.” m
Jay Smith uses Independence Drive to operate his power chair.
it’s going to plug right into the 9-pin on the enhanced display.
“I think the majority of the folks who are not new [power chair] users likely will already be alternative drive users of some sort. In terms of the actual Independence Drive, it’s a USB
cable, an additional 9-pin, and what they call the Independence Drive interface (IDI), which is what allows the connection to either the augmentative communication device or the tablet that’s being utilized to drive at this point in time.”
Grieb test drove the system and found it quite easy to learn. “Essentially, they’re utilizing a special eye-tracking camera made by Tobii, which utilizes sophisticated image processing software to track the movement of the user’s eyes. Movement of the chair is initiated by looking at the appropriate transparent directional button. We’re allowing the navigation through the view on
the tablet screen versus looking at the world around us as we typically would. That screen is projecting the world around you through the camera, and your eye-gaze buttons are transparent buttons that are overlaid on that view.
“I was able to get in and drive it within about two minutes. I was in a crowded environment, and I didn’t feel nervous that I was going to lose control of the chair or anything like that. The camera system is quite responsive to the user’s input. You really aren’t obstructed. You’re going to get a very proportional view of the environment you’re driving in.”
Getting Everyone Involved
Darren Lowman, NSM’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, said the company’s ATPs have been enthusiastic about Independence Drive. “Our ATPs have had access to this equipment and have provided feedback in terms of what specific [clients] could work well with this technology. We have invested in demo equip- ment, we have a wait list today, and we are considering buying incremental demo units to get the equipment further distributed to ATPs who have candidate clients in order to do the appropriate assessments with those folks. This is gaining momentum, and there’s a lot of interest from our ATPs.”
Beavers said, “We’ve put over 3,000 people in a chair at this point to try it out. It’s really intuitive for people to understand and use. We give them a 15-second intro, and typically, they’re off and driving. Anytime you shut your eyes or look away,
the chair will decelerate to a safe stop. It will only drive when
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