Wheelchairs would be dangerous for open ride especially when users go out during dark night. “Roll Charge Light Protect” Project demonstrates a concept wheelchair that has lights for other people to notice the wheelchair, offering a remarkable safety system. This lights get power from movements of the wheels, thus, it is a good way to save energy. There are a set of LEDs under the wheel cover that glows brightly during the night. A magnet is helping generating electricity by rotating and the generated electricity is conveyed by the Coil to the LEDs. The wheel and the magnet are bridged with a Gear, protected by a Small Cover. The LCD panel shows readings about remaining amount of electricity and how long the user will be able to use it.
Designer : Mingoo Kim, Yunjin Chang, and Sueun Park
This design looks very attractive. But I have several concerms about it:
First: It looks like it might add quite a bit of weight. Most wheelchair users are looking for the lightest wheelchairs possible.
Second: It looks like it might be quite expensive. If so, it would only be an alternative for a very few wheelchair users. Many disabled people can not afford very expensive equipment.
Third: Does it has an on/off switch? Many disabled people are concerned about drawing attetion to themselves and would not want to be “glowing” 24 hours every day. They would want a light that can be removed or at least shut off.
There are alternatives such as this wheelchair light ( http://www.medserviceseurope.com/wheelchairlights.htm ), or these wheelchair reflectors ( http://www.newdisability.com/spokereflectors.htm )
They are not as high tech, but they are not very expensive, they do not add much weight, and they are only seen when you need them to be seen.