WheelCare is a smart adjustment assistant for wheelchair users to help automatically adjusting seat’s position according to body pressure. By embedding pressure sensors in the wheelchair, WheelCare collects real time pressure data of the seat and calculates user’s current sitting position through certain algorithm. The system would actively intervenes to prevent discomfort or lesions caused by long-time oppression.
In this project, I designed and developed an app for the system, which gives an overview of users’ body pressure and help them to adjust the wheelchair position by themselves on the phone.
Project Overview
Team Work / Oct. 2014 – Jun. 2015
Role
Design Lead / Visual Design / Interaction Design / User Research / Frontend Development
PROBLEM SPACE
Complications of Wheelchair
A great deal of scientific researches have proved that sitting in a wheelchair for a long time would very likely cause edema in lower body, increased venous pressure, campylorrhachia and functional decline of organs; while symptoms like cardiac dysfunction, slow blood circulation, muscle atrophy are common among long time bedridden patients.
Therefore, timely adjustment of the position of wheelchair seat is necessary for reducing the incidence of complications and speeding the physical rehabilitation of elderly and disabled.
SOLUTION
An Integrated System of Mobile App and Wheelchair
System Structure
 Body Pressure Distribution Detection
We placed multiple sensors to detect real-time human body pressure data in seat base and seat back.
Position Adjustment
A variety of preset adjustment modes as well as dynamic adjustment of the wheelchair position help to avoid long time pressure of the same area.
Statistics Visualization
Check your health score in mobile app, get overview of your health status over a period of time, and get adjustment suggestions.
RESEARCH
Study of Human Body Pressure
DESIGN
Iterations
DESIGN
Main Features
Your Daily Health Score
Get an overview of your body pressure and it’s your own choice to decide whether or not to adjust the seat position of your wheelchair. The smart assistant will tell you the best angle to relief your pressure in certain area.
Adjust Wheelchair Freely
The assistant can be set to auto mode or customize mode. You can check and adjust the wheelchair position at any time as you wish.Â
Statistics to Track and Analyze Your Status
Get an overview of your history activity as well as your current body pressure. Details of each body part provide a deeper understanding of your body pressure.