While the needs of many individuals with disabilities can be satisfied with power wheelchairs, some members of the disabled community find it difficult or impossible to operate a standard power wheelchair. To accommodate this population, several researchers have used technologies originally developed for mobile robots to create "smart wheelchairs" that reduce the physical, perceptual, and cogni...

It has been 5 years since Chris was evaluated for a powered wheelchair, and she has had two occupational therapists and three physical therapists since the evaluation and training process began. It has been a long and arduous process, full of triumphs and setbacks. Chris's level of functional mobility, self-confidence, and ability to socialize, however, have increased dramatically as a result o...

Intelligent wheelchairs (IWs) can become an important solution to the challenge of assisting individuals who have disabilities and are thus unable to perform their daily activities using classic powered wheelchairs. This article describes the concept and design of IntellWheels, a modular platform to facilitate the development of IWs through a multiagent system paradigm. In fact, modularity is a...

Many studies have found that both the chosen travel mode and duration a strong effect on satisfaction. However, are often related with each other, as active trips shorter durations than motorized modes. As result, of choice satisfaction may be attenuated by duration. Results from this study, using sample 1,430 respondents Ghent (Belgium), indicate commute strongly other (with having public tran...

modern world faces a multitude of challenges regarding displacement including high fuel consumption, air pollution, congestion in streets, decrease in physical activities, insecurity of passers-by etc. most of which result from dependence on automobiles and the vehicle-stricken urban forms. planners and public health officials are turning to land planning and urban design for help in reducing a...

UNLABELLED Previous literature suggests that muscular involvement and biomechanical changes elicit different responses between overground and treadmill training. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of training on two different treadmill designs on the conventional (CR; concentric only) and functional (FR; eccentric to concentric) hamstring and quadriceps strength ratios. Fift...

By July 2011, North American carsharing had grown to an industry of nearly 640,000 members since its inception on the continent more than 15 years ago. Carsharing engenders changes in member travel patterns both towards and away from public transit and non-motorized modes. This study, which builds on the work of two previous studies, evaluates this shift in travel based on a 6281 respondent sur...