Research Applications
Research Applications
Rehabilitation Applications
Alexis was an innovative electric wheelchair using a "wheels within wheels" design. It is unique in that it can turn in its own footprint and move sideways. The VA Palo Alto Heath Care System's Rehab R&D Center licensed Intex Industries to make Alexis commercially available in 1987, and Intex made 40 pre-production units for field trials in the San Antonio area. During subsequent redesign efforts, the company filed for bankruptcy, preventing further commercialization at this time.
Lingraphica is a portable assistive and therapeutic communication device for people with aphasia from stroke or other brain injury. It was developed under a VA Merit Review project at the Rehab R&D Center in 1987-1989 and commercialized in 1990 under the Technology Transfer Act. In 1996, the parent company, Lingraphicare America, redirected its efforts from selling medical devices to providing clinical language and speech therapy services to adults with aphasia. Their services employing Lingraphica report greater rates of improvement and better ultimate outcomes than traditional speech-language therapy.
Ultrasonic Head Controlled Wheelchair
This interface for a motorized wheelchair permits individuals with quadriplegia to control the wheelchair's speed and direction by tilting their head. in the desired direction of travel.
This computer-controlled electromechanical fingerspelling hand offers deaf-blind individuals improved access to computers and communication devices in addition to person-to-person conversations.
Forth Applications in Devices Serving Person with Disabilities - Proceeedings of the 1992 Rochest Forth Conference - David L. Jaffe
"In this paper, I discuss hoe Forth's features are being used in devices that serve disabled individuals with four specific examples drawn from my research and that of my colleagues."
original article on : http://www.forth.org/successes.html adapted by Peter Forth 2018