At Innovation Japan 2009, Tokyo Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Health Sciences presented the Intelligent Handrail.
With conventional standing aids, a machine assists the user in one-way fashion. This causes difficulty and inconvenience to people with Parkinson’s Disease or little physical strength, increasing their stress and requiring human aid. Therefore, the Nitta Laboratory has developed computer-controlled technology for helping people stand up. In this system, when the user stands up, the equipment reacts simultaneously to the speed at which the user grips the handrail and the load from the handrail, and automatically moves forward to assist the user.
This handrail brings out the user’s potential ability,
Rather than having a machine move the user forcibly, this handrail amplifies the users potential ability. This intelligent, user-friendly system is expected to come into practical use in the future.
Related Links :
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http://www.hs.tmu.ac.jp/english/index_en.html
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http://expo.nikkeibp.co.jp/innovation/english/index.html (Innovation JAPAN 2009)
