pacr Innovation Proposal

INNOVATION

VA N TA G E M O B I L I T Y I N T E R N AT I O N A L

I N N O VAT I O N S PA C E 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3

PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Introduction

Fundamental Research

Brainstorming

Proposed Concepts

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

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Team pacr

Vantage Mobility International (VMI)

About this Document

About the Project

What do you get when you place four people with four

entirely different professional backgrounds in a team

together? I’ll tell you what you get, you get pacr:

an innovation machine, a mechanism of progress, and

a veritable brain trust of skill, vision and dedication.

And all of this is possible through our diversity:

Peter’s deeply-ingrained business savviness, Andrew’s

masterous understanding of product design, Chris’s

knowledge of the human body, and Rachel’s keen

eye for detail.

Meet the Team

Our team name, pacr, signifies the unity of our team by

incorporating the first letter of each of our names.

P for Peter, A for Andrew, C for Chris, and R for Rachel.

The name pacr is simple, clean, and memorable, and

by using the first letter of our names it signifies the

great things that can come from the collaboration of 4

very different things, whether that be skills, viewpoints,

or mindsets. While it may be an acronym to each of our

names, it also bears relevance to wheeled mobility.

Pacr is similar to pace, as in moving forward and

making progress.

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Andrew Lai

“Master Artist”

Industrial Design

[email protected]

Rachel Bone

“Visionary Insomniac Perfectionist”

Visual Communication Design

[email protected]

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Peter Georgiou

“Not Your Average Business Student”

Business

[email protected]

Christopher Miranda

“Too Much Awesome to Put in 5 Words”

Engineering

[email protected]

As a part of our endeavor to improve wheeled mobility,

we are afforded the pleasure of working with Phoenix-

based wheelchair van producer, Vantage Mobility

International (VMI). VMI holds a prominent position

within the wheeled mobility market by providing high

quality, innovative, and accessible wheelchair vans

to people with disabilities ranging from paralysis to

muscular dystrophy, stroke, and amputeeism. Since VMI

was founded in Phoenix, AZ in 1987, they have grown

steadily and now distribute their modified vans

across the country.

Vantage Mobility International (VMI)

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VMI’s focus on high quality, innovative mobility

solutions is apparent with their recent ramp offering,

the Northstar. The Northstar ramp is unique due to

the fact that it is stored below the floor of the van as

opposed to in the cabin of the van, and this innovative

usage of space allows for more space within the cabin

of the vehicle and a more enjoyable driving experience

for the customer.

Vantage Mobility International (VMI) has dedicated

themselves to providing functional, high quality

wheelchair vans to disabled users in need of specialized

transport. In order to provide their customers with the

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best wheelchair vans that they can, VMI must undergo

a very costly and technically challenging conversion

process, including removing the floor from the van,

reinstalling their lift system, and wiring the car to

function properly and with OEM key fob. This process

takes roughly a day, and most of the cost VMI incurs is

with materials, totaling $7000 per conversion.

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About this Document

The purpose of this document is to showcase the

culmination of our efforts over the last semester

focused around reimagining mobility. In the past four

months, we have worked diligently to understand the

wheelchair community, the issues present in the daily

lives of wheelchair users, and possible solutions to the

problems that we identified in our research. Within this

document, we have provided information about our

users, trends in the wheelchair industry, as well as our

vision for 3 unique wheelchair designs that we propose

to solve some of the issues present to wheelchair users.

Each design is supported by a detailed business model

and sound engineering, and upon the selection of our

final product idea this detail will only grow.

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About the Project

For the average person, mobility is pretty easy.

They are free to walk wherever they need to go;

they can easily get into any car; they can go up

stairs without trouble, and they can instantly react

to any obstacle that may get in their way. They often

take these freedoms for granted and dismiss them as

being part of life. That is not the case for wheelchair

users; the world is completely different when you are

relegated to living your entire life in a wheelchair.

Wheelchair users cannot walk wherever they please;

entering a vehicle is much more complicated,

and navigating their surroundings is much more

complicated. In all of these differences, there is one

very distinct similarity: convenience. Life is far more

inconvenient when you are required to sit in a chair.

Much of our research has been done through

first-person experience in wheelchairs and observation

of wheelchair users. Through this research we saw

first-hand the inconvenience of a wheelchair and have

gathered a wealth of knowledge that we have applied

to our product designs.

While researching our problem of convenience,

we learned many things about just how inconvenient

a wheelchair truly is and that they are mired by an

unnecessarily high number of problems. Transferring

into and out of a wheelchair requires a fair amount of

upper arm strength, and some users do not have the

ability to do this; the height of a wheelchair limits the

ability for someone to grab things around them, both

high and low; and the inability to easily transfer to

other types of chairs is unnecessarily difficult.

FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH

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The User

The Market

Technology

Society and Environment

Our users are disabled persons with lack of leg function

due to either amputation or Thoracic spinal paralysis.

Our users still retain the function of the upper portion

of their body and are capable of doing regular activities

that require the use of the top half of the human body.

Our user group includes such persons within the ages

of 16-60 and are not dependent on the help of others

in order to conduct themselves. Our users can be

employed, unemployed; active, inactive; male, female;

single, in a relationship etc. Overall, our user group is

very broad and consists of a large portion of the manual

wheelchair community. This is by design, however, as

we would like to help as many people as we can while

capturing the largest market that we can.

Who are the users?

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Our typical user is the average person you would

expect to be in a manual wheelchair: someone who is

male or female, of average build, currently capable

of but has difficulty transferring, lives in a home

designed around the able-bodied, and has to use their

wheelchair to travel around various places such as the

store, parks, etc.

Our extreme users could vary from our typical user for

a variety of reasons. They could be weak and unable to

transfer easily, or they could be overweight and unable

to lift themselves because of their weight. They could

also have some limitation in the function of their upper

body, perhaps their hands.

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Our influencers consist of people who may recommend

our solution to our eventual purchaser as well as teens

who may need their parents to buy mobility products

for them. These influencers can play a big role in the

promotion and sale of our product, as word of mouth

among the wheelchair market is very valuable.

The needs of our users, purchasers, and influencers

can vary depending on the group and need to be

considered differently. Our users are looking for how

our solution will fit their needs as a wheelchair user,

and this is the same if they are the purchaser as well.

An external purchaser’s needs may be focused around

cost and reliability, along with the aforementioned user

needs. Finally, the influencer’s needs may be focused

around how well the user, or purchaser, reacts to the

recommendation of our solution.

Our purchasers are generally limited to two groups:

the user and the family of the user, in the event of a

parent buying a chair for their child. While these are

our two main purchasers, there needs to be some

consideration given to the financial buyer, such as

insurance companies, the VA, or other external entities

aside from our user. These external purchasers will be

looking for various attributes from our product, and

may not provide funding if they feel that it does not fit

their standards. We can also consider 3rd party retailers

as our purchasers as they may buy our product to sell

to users.

Purchasers and Influencers

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In order to further our research, we sent a survey out

to members of the wheelchair community. Getting the

insight of wheelchair users themselves allowed us to

pinpoint exactly what they find to be inconvenient with

wheeled mobility, and gave us a better understanding

of what we should focus on improving. While this was

the main goal of our survey, we also sought out to gain

a better understanding of how each wheelchair user

differs and what each one does differently when

faced with the various inconveniences of daily life in

a chair. Our market for this survey was the Phoenix

Wheelchair Suns, due to their active lifestyle and use

of manual chairs.

Wheelchair Suns Survey

20Average Daily

Transfers

4/5 Drive Their Own Vehicle

4/5 Use a Shower Chair

3/5 Users Are Employed

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4/5 Have Multiple Chairs

5/5 Transfer to a Car Seat

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Take off

Backpack or

Purse

AdjustChair

Take off Wheels

Open Car

Door

Climb into Car Take off

Seat

Transfer from Chair

Male/FemaleTransferring

to a Car

As a part of their daily lives, wheelchair users are

involved with many other people, places, and things,

and engage in a multitude of different activities.

The chart is an Ax4 Analysis and depicts the many

people involved in a wheelchair users life, the items

a wheelchair user interacts with, what activities they

may participate it, and where they will do so.

AX4 Analysis

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Due to the niche size and nature of the manual

wheelchair market, it is very difficult to put your finger

squarely on its pulse. The wheelchair market overall

is one that is not given much attention in the grand

scheme of the world economy, so finding data can

be rather hard, and finding up-to-date data can be

very expensive. The only data that we could gather

on the wheelchair market is from a 2009 report from

the University of Buffalo, which uses data from 2002;

the most recent large-scale data available at the time.

This report gives an estimate of the total number of

wheelchair users in the US as 2.7 million users in 2002,

Understanding the Market

2.2 million in 1997, 1.6 million in 1994, and 1.5 million

in 1992. This data places the total market growth

between 1992 and 2002 at 81%, with yearly growth at

8.1%. Such growth is promising for business and

means a steady increase in customers over time.

This same report also projected future growth and

predicted the 2009 market to be somewhere between

3,860,099 and 5,276,119 users. Our market of 16-60

year old persons without the use of their legs may

or may not apply to this growth trend, especially

considering that some of this growth is due to the

aging of the baby boomer population.

Customers within the wheelchair market tend to be

rather involved in understanding their disability and

the options available to them. Due to this knowledge,

some wheelchair users have multiple chairs and put

a great deal of effort in selecting these chairs. An

example we were given in one of our interviews is that

our interviewee would look at the what kind of chair she

would need 5 years from now, as opposed to just today.

The manual wheelchair market is fairly homogeneous

in nature, and aside from shape, size, weight, and

some basic functional aspects, the majority of manual

wheelchairs are the same. Most feature a low height,

two large wheels, two caster wheels, a cushioned seat

and back, and are propelled by using the arms to push

the wheels forward. This similarity is broken by a few

select products, but they are a rarity among the general

wheelchair population.

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Government financing is always subject to change

which may effect funding for veterans and those

on social security, a segment in which 3/4 of

wheelchair users fit

Cheaper wheelchairs are on the market;

consumers may not view the added cost of our

chair as a reasonable expense

New insurance regulations may lead to some

uncertainty with payment coverage

Given the homogeneous and well grounded

nature of the wheelchair market a unique product

offering may be perceived as odd, ineffective, or

as a gimmick intended to merely sell chairs.

Most wheelchairs are pretty basic & suffer from

the same problems: large size, hard to maneuver,

limited storage, etc.

Chairs that are meant to transfer still take up

a great amount of space when being stored in

a vehicle

Aesthetically pleasing wheelchairs are few and

far between. Offering one that delivers in both

form and function could be a great competitive

advantage and would help boost brand

recognition and equity

Disabled persons tend to do a great deal

of research into their disabilities & products

that serve them. A product that is unique will

stand out, and the added function may lead to

recommendations by other wheelchair users

Low manufacturing quantities may lead to higher

manufacturing costs per unit

Susceptible to the demands/coverage criteria of

insurance companies

Semi-niche market that excludes 98% of world

population

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

Captive market

Chairs are covered by many insurance companies/

plans as Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Veterans have their chairs paid for as part of their

disability coverage

Engaged market with high interest in product

offerings

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Entering the wheelchair market can be fairly complex

due to multiple barriers to entry including multiple

competing brands, high research and development,

manufacturing and production costs, complex approval

processes with the Veterans Association and insurance

companies, and relatively low budgets and funding.

The approval process with the Veterans Association

and Insurance companies will be a large hurdle that

will need to be overcome as quickly as possible. If our

product ends up costing a large sum of money, then

it will be likely that our customers will need financial

assistance, and this lack of approval will lower our

overall market significantly. Meanwhile, being that

our product will be tangible, it will require

development and manufacturing. These processes

are very costly and time consuming, and a lack of

funding will limit production, and subsequently the

success of our product.

Hurdles

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their production to an external manufacturer, then a

tight relationship with that supplier can lead to higher

production quality and, once again, first priority with

production. Insurance companies are crucial for not

only funding authorization, but they can also be used as

pseudo-salesmen by recommending your product

to those who they insure. This early exposure will

reduce stress from your customer because they will

know that the chair is covered by their insurance,

and will not have to put in the extra time to research

it for themselves. Lastly, we have public wheelchair

associations. During our research, we came across a

large number of wheelchair advocacy groups, sports

teams, fitness facilities, and other community outreach

events. By having connections with these

organizations, a company can have their product

showcased in front of their primary market, with little

extra marketing necessary. This added exposure will

not only have the potential to increase sales, but will

also be a great way of getting input from those who

you wish to sell to. As a manufacturer and designer, you

need to consider the inputs of these people, and what

better way than to get their direct criticism or praise for

your product?

Success in the manual wheelchair market is very reliant

on partnerships, and being involved with the right

people will keep you moving forward. Such partners

include material and labor suppliers, insurance

companies, and public wheelchair user associations.

Each one of these partners provides a unique and

valuable benefit that is essential to success in the

manual wheelchair industry. Wheelchairs must fit high

quality standards, and the best way to ensure that these

standards are met is to ensure that the materials used

are of high quality and that the construction of the

chair is structurally sound. Being involved with materials

suppliers can ensure not only a high quality product,

but also faster shipping times, and perhaps even first

priority when new orders are placed. These extra

benefits can reduce costs for a company, which can

allow for either higher profits or the ability to use that

money elsewhere. Should a company plan to outsource

Necessary Partnerships

There are many wheelchair brands that offer a variety

of different mobility solutions. Two of the most known

are Quickie and Invacare. Other brands include Drive,

Spinlife, Tilite, Colours in Motion, and LifeCare

Medical Inc.

Understanding Current Competitors

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This brand is all about returning independence to

people who are disabled. The logo features a stylized

Q to represent fast and agile movement, and the

typeface is bold and strong. This appeals to people

who want to stay active as well as people who simply

want a more efficient wheelchair. The wide variety of

chairs offered helps to keep their customers satisfied

in all of their needs.

Invacare’s brand puts a strong emphasis on helping

disabled people do things that they may not be able to

do otherwise. This brand is focusing on the emotional

aspect of disabilities and using that to attract their

target audience. The logo features a blue ellipse, which

abstractly resembles a wheel in motion. The bold and

strong typeface with tight letter spacing communicates

the idea of support as well as unity.

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Drive focuses on quality of life and functionality in their

products to prepare users “for the road ahead”. Their

logo uses a slanted typeface, hinting at speed and moving

towards the future. The name “Drive” also hints that

people will be able to take control and drive their own

lives with these products.

This company puts a large emphasis on having great

customer service as well as having a large selection of

products. They want to make it easier for the user to find

and purchase what they are looking for. The logo features

a slanted typeface with a circular swirl shape. Both of

these work together in communicating motion and moving

forward in life.

LifeCare Medical’s target audience is primarily the elderly.

They emphasize on investing in safety and peace of

mind, and offer many products that aid in the care of

the disabled. The tagline “Large enough to serve, small

enough to care” emphasizes that they care about each

individual customer. The logo features a classic handicap

symbol, which is familiar to users, especially older ones,

and gives the feeling of trust and comfort. The typeface is

very legible and strong.

Tilite’s only focus is manual wheelchairs, and their target

audience is active people, primarily younger people,

who want to have the greatest amount of mobility and

independence. They want their users to feel unique and

special, so they offer numerous types of customization

for wheelchairs such as tattooed titanium, multiple color

choices, and custom sizing. Their logo is clean, modern,

and simple with strong colors, which appeals to the

younger crowd as well as active people in general.

Colours in Motion strives to enhance the lifestyle of the

disabled as well as the surrounding population. They

design and manufacture very specialized rigid wheelchairs

for an international market of disabled customers. They

target people of a wide range of ages. Colours has a goal

of changing the way the public sees the disabled as well

as how the disabled see themselves. Their logo is a simple

stylized C that is sharp and strong. The letter stands alone

but has a strong base underneath it, symbolizing disabled

people’s independence when they use these products.

There are many types of products and technologies to

aid in the mobility of disabled people. Numerous

types of wheelchairs exist in today’s society, including,

but not limited to, manual and power chairs. Manual

wheelchairs range from lightweight folding chairs to

sport wheelchairs and hand cycles to heavy-duty chairs.

Power mobility options include power chairs and

scooters. Not only are there many types of chairs to

fit the needs of numerous people, but there are also

different sizes of chairs to best fit each individual’s

needs. There are many types of accessories that also

aid in the assistance for people with disabilities.

Understanding Existing Solutions

These include various products to help transfers such as

boards or lifts, furniture that is tailored to the disabled,

walkers and crutches, braces, bath and hygiene aids,

anti-tip bars or wheels, safety belts, tilt and/or recline

features, support for limbs and neck, drink holders, and

much more.

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A basic manual wheelchair design includes a seat,

footrests, and four wheels (two caster wheels in the

front and two large wheels in the back). The larger

wheels generally have hand rims about 3⁄4” in

thickness, and they usually have a diameter that is

slightly smaller than the wheels. Some wheelchairs also

have two push handles at the top of the back to allow a

second person to maneuver the chair.

Other manual wheelchair designs are often variations of

this basic design, but can be considerably customized

to fit the needs of certain users. Customizations may

include seat dimensions, height, seat angle (known

as dump or squeeze), footrests, leg rests, front caster

outriggers, adjustable backrests, and controls.

There are two major designs of manual wheelchairs:

folding or rigid. Rigid chairs are preferred by active

users due to the permanently welded joints and many

fewer moving parts. This decreases the energy needed

Comparisonsto move the chair because it eliminates many points

where the chair would flex as it moves, while also

reducing the overall weight of the chair. Instant-release

rear wheels and backrests that fold down flat are

typically featured in rigid chairs, allowing the user to

break it down quickly for storage in a car.

Ultralight materials such as aircraft aluminum and

titanium are often used in rigid models. Another

innovation in rigid chair design is the installation of

polymer shock absorbers, such as FrogLegs, which

cushion the bumps a chair rolls over. These shock

absorbers may be added to the front wheels, back

wheels, or both. Another option of rigid chairs is to

have a camber, or tilt, that angles top of wheels in

towards the chair to allow for better propulsion by the

user. This is common in sport wheelchairs to

improve stability.

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There are many benefits for these mobility solutions.

Without wheelchairs, it would be very hard for people

with disabilities to get where they want to go.

They would lose a lot of independence and have to

count on others for assistance all the time. Most of

them would have to be carried around whenever they

need to go somewhere.

While there are many positive aspects of mobility

solutions for the disabled, there are also weaknesses.

People in wheelchairs still lack independence and are

not able to do all the things that able-bodied people

can. While many wheelchair users are able to do most

things themselves, there are still times where they

need assistance. Often, these people will feel like they

don’t fit in and get in the way. Most of the world is

not designed for the disabled, and it is very hard or

impossible to maneuver in certain areas. Even though

wheelchairs are a great improvement for the way

disabled people travel, there are still many things that

can be improved upon.

Pros and Cons

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There are a myriad of technologies utilized in the

manual wheelchair market to make life for wheelchair

users better. These technologies range from the

simple to the complex, depending on the problem

being tackled. Among the most notable byproducts

of modern technology are the new extremely light

weight, yet remarkably strong materials that are

utilized to create the frames of some of the more

high-end wheelchairs. The light weight makes the

wheelchair much easier to maneuver and easier to

move forward. Moreover, for wheelchair users who

are more independent and constantly on the move,

Understanding the Technology there have been attempts to create wheelchairs that

take up minimal space and are easily stored in the

hopes of removing the need for assistance. This has

led to wheelchairs that have wheels (often the most

cumbersome part of the wheelchair) that can easily

detach from the chair, allowing for easy storage,

while still being completely safe, secure, and reliable.

Additionally, the aforementioned arduous task of

transferring out of the wheelchair has also been tackled

with technology, albeit simple technology. Transfer

boards have been employed in order to remove the

need to complete the transfer in a single bound, but

rather make it possible for the user to less strenuously

move out of the wheelchair.

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Evolution of Technology

For an extended period of time, the top manufactured

wheelchairs were made out of steel, since it was

relatively strong, cheap, and easy to manufacture. In

fact, steel alloys are still the most commonly used for

wheelchairs. However, with the arrival of aluminum

alloys, titanium, and other composites onto the

wheelchair market, steel is no longer the material of

choice for high-end wheelchairs. In the late 1980’s

the first patents were filed for detachable wheels

for wheelchairs. This technology is among the most

important for many wheelchair manufactures that try

to provide users with wheelchairs that can be easily

stored. Before this technology, the wheelchair could

not be expected to fold to a size remotely smaller

than that of the large cumbersome wheels. Even the

simpler of the technologies has seen some innovation

over the years. Transfer boards have acquired new

shapes, for instance, that take into account the troubles

wheelchairs themselves might pose when transferring.

For example, some transfer boards are curved in order

to allow transfer from wheelchairs with rigid armrests,

which make sideways transfer - for many users – a near

impossibility. Transfer boards also now contain material

underneath that is considered to be “non-slip” as well

as built in sliding seats that run from one end to the

other, making the transfer process less strenuous.

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For Manual Wheelchairs, it is common for the parts to

be made with metal extrusion. Different materials may

be used for each chair, and each will perform

differently because of these differences. Extrusion can

only form straight beams, so in order to shape these

tubes a secondary bending process will be needed.

Stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium are the most

common materials used for wheelchair production.

None of these materials will rust, and this extends

the life of the material and helps with durability. Each

material has many different sub-types, and depending

on the application of use a different sub-type may be

Production Methods

used. Cost for each material is determined using Cost

Per Foot pricing, and may vary due to economic factors

such as the demands of the product.

After the metal extrusions and bending, parts are then

welded together to allow for the proper strength,

and are then prepped for the addition of non-metal

materials including the wheels, seat and backrests.

Human workers do these final assemblies.

There are exciting new innovations occurring in the

wheelchair market that have brought forth promising

technology. The most remarkable being the application

of neuroscience to wheelchairs. Two separate groups of

scientists and engineers have created wheelchairs that

can be controlled with thoughts, essentially. A research

team at NASA has figured out a way to turn sub vocal

speech into commands for a wheelchair. Moreover, a

team of researchers at California State University has

figured out how to turn brainwaves into commands

for a wheelchair. Although the technology is still in its

infancy, it shows great promise. Not to be outdone by

Emerging Technologies

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electrical wheelchairs, the manual wheelchair market

has also seen technological milestones recently. Most

recently, a brand new material has been introduced to

the wheelchair market that is extraordinarily strong and

very cheap: cardboard. Folded in the correct way and

treated with the right organic materials, cardboard has

recently proved itself as a reliable material. It is also

interesting to note that the wheel has literally been

reinvented in the manual wheelchair market. The wheel,

which for many years had to be detached to allow for

easy storage, has itself been made foldable, making

the wheelchair surprisingly compact. Such wheels

are not yet being used by wheelchair users, but the

concept is promising.

Transfer Board

Detachable Wheels Foldable Wheelchairs

Foldable WheelsCardboard Frame

Utilitote Carrier

Lighted Casters

Drink Holder

Wheelchair Gears

Lightweight Frame

COMMON

RARE

EXPENSIVEINEXPENSIVE

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The inconvenience that wheelchair users experience is

constantly seen in society. Wheelchair users are always

seated, and this places them at a height that is not

optimal for social interaction or interaction with societal

artifacts such as soda dispensers at restaurants and

items on store shelves, to name a few. This disparity

in height compared to the average person not only

limits the general convenience in a wheelchair user’s

life, but also manifests itself in negative equity for the

user. They are always below the view of others, and

this leads to them being looked down upon. This fact

along with the aforementioned limited reach can leave

the user feeling as though they are not normal, and can

negatively impact their mood.

Understanding Society and the Environment

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In the last few decades, some social issues have been

resolved, including the automatic opening of doors, the

installation of ramps to substitute the use of stairs, and

the widening of walking paths. These improvements

have afforded wheelchair users with better interaction

with the physical environment, and job regulations

have made employment more available. Despite these

advancements, there are still many ways that both

society and the wheelchair can improve in order to fit

together harmoniously. Many items are still out of reach

of wheelchair users; many spaces don’t allow enough

room for wheelchairs to turn; and some jobs could be

more accommodating to wheelchair users.

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In the last few decades, some social issues have been

resolved, including the automatic opening of doors, the

installation of ramps to substitute the use of stairs, and

the widening of walking paths. These improvements

have afforded wheelchair users with better interaction

with the physical environment, and job regulations

have made employment more available. Despite these

advancements, there are still many ways that both

society and the wheelchair can improve in order to fit

together harmoniously. Many items are still out of reach

of wheelchair users; many spaces don’t allow enough

room for wheelchairs to turn; and some jobs could be

more accommodating to wheelchair users.

Change Over Time

Wheelchairs are made primarily of recyclable materials

and are easy to recycle after a chair has reached the

end of its useful life. Production of wheelchairs does

not require highly advanced technology and can easily

be done utilizing our current technology. The only

problem could be the lifespan of wheelchairs. Manual

chairs are prone to needing replacement after only a

few years, and can be damaged or destroyed, with the

ultimate outcome being disposal.

Environmental Issues

BRAINSTORMING

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Product Opportunity Gaps

Brainstorming Lists

Idea Pages

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During our research, we found plenty of product

opportunity gaps in the wheelchair market that hinder

the convenience of wheelchair users. Amongst these

gaps, not all apply to our area of focus. Here we have

the most applicable gaps along with their descriptions.

Product Opportunity Gaps

Nothing allowing user to grab items above them

Users can buy small grabbing tools, which are only

capable of holding items weighing 1-2 pounds.

No easy transfer as part of the chair

Transfers into a vehicle or other chairs are multistep

processes and require the wheelchair user to compact

and stow their chair after transfer.

No way to efficiently store the wheelchair when in

the car

When stored in a vehicle, wheelchairs can take up as

many as two to three spaces within the car, limiting the

number of other occupants that can ride in the vehicle.

37

No way to move feet out of way when sitting at a

table/desk

When seated at a restaurant table, there is a high

chance of hitting the table support when seated.

No way to stow away chair when lounging on

sofa/bed

After transferring from their chair to their sofa, the

chair must go somewhere, and this often results in it

sitting in the area next to the sofa, thus resulting in the

unnecessary use of space.

No way to keep hands clean when using the chair

In order to propel a wheelchair, the user must make

constant contact with a push-bar near the tire of the

chair. This close proximity to the tire leads to the user

getting their hands dirty, and often resulting in the use

of gloves.

Nothing is offered that helps with the actual motion

of the chair

Every manual wheelchair on the market is propelled

using a tire-based push system. This motion is unnatural

and very bothersome to the elbows and shoulders of

the user.

No way for users to interact with others at eye level

Wheelchair users are at a lower height than the rest of

society. This low height limits reach and has a negative

effect on interaction with others.

Brainstorming Lists

In order to come up with our final three ideas, we spent

an extensive amount of time brainstorming and coming

up with possible solutions to the problems we saw

in the manual wheelchair market. This brainstorming

yielded plenty of great ideas, thanks to the help of

a free-flowing brainstorming process as well as our

esteemed classmates and guests. Now we present our

brainstorming questions and some of our results.

38

Headrest cushion with pillow inside

Sleep Number style cushions

Cover to make environment dark

Privacy from outside world

Wheelchair that rocks back and forth

Pressure adjustments

Neck support pillow

Repetitive/soothing sounds

Heating/cooling pads

Reclining wheelchair

Longer chair design

Side flaps to make bed wider

Built-in water bottle

Chair that connects to a bed

Inflatable sleep equipment

Reading light

Interchangeable cushions

39

Cut off external noise

Electrical brain stimulation to trigger sleepiness

Food storage

Sleep goggles

Massage chair functionality

Lie flat armrests

Programmable positioning

Built in fan

Relaxing smells

Armrest nightstand

Seat that extends to make transfer to a bed easier

Alert system

Lock into floor of car for sleeping on the road

Seatbelt

Stabilization system

Sleep cycle detection

What are all the ways we can make it easier for a wheelchair user to sleep in their wheelchair?

40

Increase visibility

Helmets

Hazard Sensors

Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication

Backup camera

Wider roads to allow for a wheelchair lane

Attaching wheelchair to car/bike

2-piece car/chair combo

Path charting GPS system

Transforming tires/cushions based on environment

Engaging roll cage at time of an accident

Preventative technology

Ability to change wheel thickness at will

Gears

Hydraulics

Chair that transforms into a car for the road

More power options and horsepower

Arachnid legs

Leaning in moves chair forward, Leaning seat back

moves it back

Dyson style orb “wheel”

What are all the ways by which we can make it easier and safer for a wheelchair user to be on the road with other vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes, etc.)?

What are all the ways by which things in nature move from Point A to Point B?

41

Ants use pheromones as non-verbal communication

Dolphins and bats use echolocation

Kangaroo pocket/Ticks with stuff on backs use Storage

Isopods and armadillos turn into balls

Snakes and worms slide

Birds fly or glide in wind

Squirrels glide

Monkeys swing

Dolphins, fish, people, octopi, and water strider

bugs swim

Ducks waddle and fly in V for less air resistance

Jesus lizard uses fast speed and large feet

Cats pounce

Moles burrow

Bees carry pollen

Venus flytraps

Flowers open and close/turn towards the sun

Salmon jumping or swimming upstream

Capillary system/capillary action

Heart pumps

Digestive system

Starfish uses lots of little feet

Sponges and turtles utilizes currents

Gravity

Different ways to jump: muscle tension, tendons,

extension, contraction, ant that smashes jaws into

ground, frogs use tongue

Leaves and feathers float in the wind

Humans walk

Light and sound waves

Cats and scorpions fit in small spaces

Cats carry by scruff

Ant highways and bridges

Crawl

Idea Pages

42

After brainstorming many ideas for wheelchair

solutions, we moved on to sketching out ideas for how

to make things work. These are a few of the solutions

we came up with.

CompactingIdeas

43

StandingIdeas

Transfer Ideas

44

45

Brake Ideas

46

AccessoryIdeas

47

PROPOSED CONCEPTS

50

52

58

72

86

Three Chosen Concepts

Sketches

C3 - Cardboard Compacting Chair

Up - Elevation-Changing Chair

Chair2 - Seamless Immediate Transfer

Three Chosen Concepts

50

C3

Current wheelchairs are made of sophisticated

lightweight metals, such as titanium, making them

wonderfully light, but also incredibly expensive. C3 is

made of 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard that

has been strengthened and compacted to provide an

incredibly strong, yet affordable wheelchair. Along with

its innovative cardboard construction, C3 also compacts

into the size of a small suitcase for easy storage in the

car, allowing for more friends and more fun!

51

Chair2

Wheelchair users are refined to their chair for the

majority of their day, making it hard to sit in a

restaurant booth, on a sofa, or in their car without

first transferring out of their chair. Chair2 is a radical

innovation allowing users to transfer themselves, along

with their chair, onto other seats. This convenience

makes restaurants and social gatherings more casual

by allowing the user to fit in with everyone else. Chair2

improves transfer into a vehicle by reducing the process

and freeing up space in the vehicle for more occupants,

and as we all know, the more the merrier!

UP

Being in a wheelchair greatly reduces the height of the

wheelchair user, thus limiting their reach and affecting

how they interact with others. Up allows wheelchair

users to quickly and freely adjust their height at a

moment’s notice, resulting in a broader field of reach

and more equitable social interaction with those around

them.

Sketches

52

53

54

55

56

57

C3 - Cardboard Compacting Chair

When buying a wheelchair you look at multiple factors

including size, weight, and strength. This often ends

with you buying a bland, ordinary chair that costs way

too much, but with C3 you get a unique and affordable

chair. C3 is an innovation in the wheelchair market that

is made of 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard,

resulting in a lightweight, strong, and inexpensive

wheelchair that conveniently collapses for storage

in a vehicle. C3’s cardboard construction makes it

strong enough to withstand the strain of constant

use, inexpensive to buy and repair, and incredibly

easy to transfer into your car. During day-to-day life,

C3 functions just like any other wheelchair. Its light

weight makes it easy to move around, while its durable

cardboard frame is capable of withstanding any strain

that it may encounter. C3’s simple lightweight folding

mechanism makes it the ideal chair for transfers. Once

in your car, you simply fold the chair by lifting the

handle and place it in your vehicle. When compacted,

C3 is about the size of a small suitcase and takes up

only one seat in your vehicle, unlike the two or more

seats taken up by current chairs. With this extra space

in your car you will have more space for friends, family,

and fun! Oh, and did we mention that it’s green?

59

Current wheelchairs on the market can cost anywhere

from $600 for a basic, throw-away chair, to upwards

of $3,000 for a chair that can withstand the trials of

everyday use. This high cost can be too much for some,

especially if they are paying for it outright and without

assistance from an insurance company. Introducing

an affordable, yet capable chair into the wheelchair

market will allow for better mobility among users, while

affording all users the luxury of a quality chair.

The Problem

GIVE IT THE

GREEN.

LITE.

Color Scheme

60

Typography

Headings

Akzidenz-Grotesk Pro Bold; 12-14pt; Tracking -5

Subheadings

Akzidenz-Grotesk ProLight; 10-12pt; Tracking 25

Body Text

Akzidenz-Grotesk Pro

Light; 8-10pt; Tracking 25

Light Green

Pantone P 157-15 C

C:42 M:0 Y:87 K:12

Dark Green

Pantone P 156-18 C

C:62 M:0 Y:100 K:49

White

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0

Light Gray

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:60

Dark Gray

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:90

Logo Usage

61

62

Renderings

63

64

User Experience Storyboard

CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to be folded

WHEEL RELEASE Allows the wheels to be removed

FOOT RESTAdjustable foot rest

HANDLEAllows user to carry

65

RELEASE BUTTONUnlocks chair to allow for foldingMakes carrying easier

RELEASE BUTTONReleases wheelsNo need for tools

HANDLEHandle in back when chair is foldedAllows user to easily carry chair

66

C3 is an innovation in wheelchair construction and

design that is marketed to paraplegic wheelchair users

who are self-capable and between the ages of 15

and 59. C3 is made of 100% post-consumer recycled

cardboard that has been compacted and shaped to

create a chair that it is strong, stylish, and wonderfully

affordable. C3 will be sold to our customers through

both direct sale through our own website as well

as through online retailers and will allow for extra

revenue through spec upgrades, accessories, and color

options. In order to produce C3 and deliver value to

our customers while remaining profitable, we will need

Business Model Summary

67

tangible resources like a production facility, metal, and

seat materials. Intangible resources will include patents

and financing approval from insurance companies and

the VA. Due to its unique cardboard construction, a

steady supply of uncompromised recycled cardboard

will also be needed to produce C3. Research and

development will be essential in ensuring that C3 is

light, easy to compact, and strong enough to be used

everyday. This is especially important given the natural

frailty of cardboard, and our need to make it as strong

as its metal alternatives. Because so much research and

development is needed to make C3, it will constitute

much of our initial costs, while establishing our

production facility will be another high initial cost.

68

PROVIDE

MOBILITY

LIGHTWEIGHT EASY TO COMPACT DURABLE COMFORTABLE WEIGHT

CAPACITY

Minimal parts

Minimal moving parts

Lightweight frame

Parts fit together

One motion folding Smooth Motion Doesn’t get caught on surroundings

High Quality Materials

Quality Design Low wear and tear

Distribute Pressure Evenly

Center of Mass Between Wheel and Caster

Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way over time Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply

Function Tree

69

Specification Sheet

D/W Requirement

Geometry

W Seat Width: 12” – 16”

W Seat Length: 12” – 16”

W Wheel Diameter: 24 in

W Weight < 28 lbs

W Caster size: 3” – 6”

Forces

D Support at least 265 lbs

Materials

D Rigid Frame seat

W Cardboard Composite

Safety

D Holds after 5000 uses

Energy

W 99 % of energy goes into motion and not

moving parts

Cost

W Under $1000 dollars a chair

Operation

D 1 push and release wheels

D Smooth moving parts

W 1 motion steps

70

Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3

Compacting

Movement

Morphological Chart

UP - Elevation-Changing Chair

It isn’t fun sitting in a chair everyday. Along with

pushing yourself to get around, you also have less

reach, less view, and social interactions can feel a bit

demeaning. It would be a lot better if you could be

higher up, right? Well, Up is an elevating wheelchair

that is intended to fix these problems by offering

a simple, one-step raising process that allows you

to easily reach high shelves, counters, and cabinets

without having to stretch long distances or use a

grabber tool. Up’s easy raising feature also allows you

to quickly raise yourself to the height of those around

you so that you can talk with them at eye level.

This combination of benefits ensures that you have not

only more convenience, but also more self-confidence

in your daily life. While it may be true that height

adjusting chairs already exist in the market, they are

very cumbersome and involve multiple steps to raise

and lower. Up is the size of your average wheelchair

and can be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds

due to its simple one-step process. This speed allows

you to simply ‘pop up’ and grab something from a

shelf or talk with a cashier at your local store or bank.

Simple, fast, and convenient.

73

Up addresses a problem faced by all wheelchair

users: lack of height in daily life. When resigned to

a wheelchair, users lose a fair deal of height, with

some going from ~6 to 4 feet tall. This lowered height

results in an inability to reach items that they would

otherwise have been able to reach, and makes social

interactions far less pleasurable due to a lingering

feeling of inequality, and a perception of being looked

down upon. Being able to reintroduce height into a

wheelchair user’s life would allow them to reach things

that they haven’t been able to reach in some time, and

would make social interactions much more enjoyable.

The Problem

reach easy

Color Scheme Typography

Headings

UniversMedium; 11-13pt; Tracking 10

Subheadings

Univers Condensed Light; 10-12pt; Tracking 25

Body Text

Univers

Light; 8-10pt; Tracking 10

Light Blue

C:60 M:0 Y:10 K:30

Dark Blue

C:100 M:0 Y:10 K:70

White

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0

Light Gray

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:40

Dark Gray

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:75

74

Logo Usage

75

76

Renderings

77


78

FOOT RESTUser rests feet here when chair raises up

CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to rise up

ARM RESTUser uses for support to raise the seat

79

CHAIR LOCK RELEASE User presses button to unlock the rising deviceUser then pushes down on the arm restsDevice will rise as users push themselves up

Up is an elevation-changing wheelchair that is marketed

to paraplegic wheelchair users who are self-capable

and between the ages of 15 and 59. Up increases in

height, thus letting users benefit from extra height

so that they may reach high items and interact with

other at eye level. Up will be sold to our customers

through both direct sale through our own website as

well as through online retailers and will allow for extra

revenue through spec upgrades, accessories, and color

options. In order to produce Up and deliver value to

our customers while remaining profitable, we will need




the VA. Research and development will be essential in

ensuring that Up is stable when elevated and that the

elevating process is quick and easy. Because of this

need for research and development, much of our costs

will be incurred designing Up and its lift mechanism of

Up, while establishing our production facility will be

another high initial cost.


80

81

COMFORTABLE

82

Function Tree

PROVIDE

MOBILITY

EASY STAND SMOOTH MOTION HOLD USER STAY STABLE

One Motion

Assisted Lift

Hydraulic system assist drop motion One Large Central Hydraulic Two Small Side Hydraulics

Prevents Drop While Standing

BeltsStrapsGuards

Wide wheel base

Locked wheels

Distribute Pressure Evenly

EASY TO MOVE

WEIGHT CAPACITY

Light Weight Minimal Parts Lightweight Frame

Roll Wheel Forward

Lever Back and Forth

Strong Hydraulics


Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way too much over time

Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply

Distribute weight to wheels Warp seat to distributes the weight sideways Stay comfortable Small seat width Narrow Wheels

83

Specification Sheet

D/W Requirement

Geometry




W Weight < 28 lbs


Forces


Materials

D Rigid Frame seat

W Aluminum (SAE 6061)

Kinematics

D Hydraulic System: Support 265 lb

Safety


Energy


moving parts

Cost


Operation


W 1 motion steps

84


StandingChair

StandingMechanism

Solution 4

Leg Rests

Morphological Chart

Chair2 - Seamless Immediate Transfer

Being a wheelchair user you sit in your chair every

day. You travel about in it, you shop in it, and you

interact with the world all while in your chair. Well, this

can be a bit inconvenient because the world just isn’t

designed for wheelchairs, no matter how hard it tries.

You can’t sit in a restaurant both; riding the bus means

that you have to be strapped in; and getting in your

car requires you to get out of your chair and stow it

somewhere in the vehicle. Chair2 is designed to address

these problems by allowing you to simply slide your

chair onto other seating locations that you encounter

in the world everyday. These locations include the

aforementioned restaurant booth, bus benches, and

car seats, along with any other seat you can possibly

imagine. This innovative and unique feature of Chair2

will add convenience and normalcy to your life by

allowing you to go places that you never could before,

and with such ease that it will become second nature.

Now you can sit in that booth table you never could;

you can ride the bus like everyone else; and when you

go for a drive you can get in your car with ease and

have more room for friends and family.

87

The average wheelchair user transfers upwards of

15 times during their day, and this can be to various

different locations including their car, sofa, or other

various seating locations. The process of transferring

involves many steps, and given the number of times

wheelchair users transfer each day, it can put a

great deal of strain on them over the course of the

day. Finding a way to reduce or even put an end

to transferring in general would make the lives of

wheelchair users much easier and would allow for more

convenience as they go about their daily lives.

The ProblemFIT IN ANY CHAIR

Color Scheme Typography

Headings

Avant Garde T. Bold; 13-15pt; Tracking 0

Subheadings

DinCondensed Medium; 10-12pt; Tracking 50

Body Text

Din

Regular; 8-10pt; Tracking 25

Red

Pantone P 54-8 C

C:0 M:97 Y:80 K:42

Dark Gray

C:62 M:0 Y:100 K:49

White

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0

Light Gray

C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:50

88

Logo Usage

89

90

Renderings

91

92


CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to compact for transferring

WHEEL LOCK RELEASE Pressing button allows wheel to fold

CHAIR LOCK RELEASE User presses buttons and rolls backwards to transfer onto a chairUser can also roll backwards into a car

93

CHAIR LOCK RELEASE Allows the device to compact for transferring

WHEEL LOCK RELEASE Pressing button allows wheel to fold

94

Chair2 is a unique wheelchair design that is marketed

to paraplegic wheelchair users who are self-capable and

between the ages of 15 and 59. Chair2 allows users to

slide themselves and Chair2 onto other seats, including

restaurant booths, benches, and car seats, thus adding

a great deal of convenience and normalcy to their

lives. Chair2 will be sold to our customers through

both direct sale through our own website, as well as

through online retailers, and will allow for extra revenue

through spec upgrades, accessories and color options.

In order to produce Chair2, and deliver value to our

customers while remaining profitable, we will need




the VA. Research and development will be essential in

ensuring that Chair2 is easy to use and compact, and

does not damage the slide target. This is important

given the potential damage that can occur from sliding.

Because so much research and development is needed

to make Chair2, it will constitute much of our initial

costs, while establishing our production facility will be

another high initial.


95

96

STAY STABLE DURING FOLD

Function Tree

PROVIDE

MOBILITY

SUPPORT WEIGHT

SEAMLESS FOLDING DURABLE

Distribute weight evenly


Find design that puts minimal stress on moveable parts

Rigid Seat Strong material that won’t give way too much over time Easily replaceable seat – detach & reattach quickly/simply

Distribute weight to wheels Warp seat to distributes the weight sideways Stay comfortable Small seat width Narrow Wheels

Prevent moving parts from getting caught with surroundings

Avoid damage due to incorrect folding Avoid high friction in moving parts Employ simple folding mechanisms

High quality materials

Quality design Low wear and tear

Create stable platform

Prevent slipping

STAY RIGID (WHEN NOT FOLDING)

Locking mechanism

Design that prevents users energy from going into the moving parts

FOLDING WHEELS

Fold into oval shape

Detach at one point

Go from large circumference to small circumference

Use motion of moving into car to fold wheel

Wheel should find itself in a reasonable position (next to lap)

TWO WHEEL SYSTEM

Gear ratio that works

Large wheel on top of small wheel

LIGHTWEIGHT

Minimal Parts Design

Lightweight frame

97

Specification Sheet

D/W Requirement

Geometry




W Weight < 28 lbs


Forces


Materials

D Rigid Frame seat

W Chromium-Molybdenum Alloy Steel (AISI 4130)

Safety


Energy


moving parts

Assembly

W 5 < large parts

Cost


Operation

D 1 push and release wheels


W 1 motion steps

98

Morphological Chart


Folding Wheel

WheelRe-Location

Solution 4

CONCLUSION

102

103

A Final Word

Moving Towards the Future

A Final Word

While the wheelchair was a great invention that has

allowed millions of people to be mobile when they

otherwise wouldn’t, its generic form and basic set of

features leaves much to be desired. Wheelchair users

are resigned to paying thousands of dollars for a chair

that limits their reach, their general convenience, and

their freedom to be who they want to be. As we select

our final concept and move forward with our design

process, we will continue to tweak, refine, and enhance

our product so that we can fit the needs of wheelchair

users while also ensuring a healthy business venture.

102

103

Moving Towards the Future

In the many months ahead, we will dedicate ourselves

to our task of reestablishing wheeled convenience.

We will press on through countless all-nighters, many

intense discussions, multiple prototypes, and copious

amounts of energy drinks. The next four months are

the real deal, and it is imperative that we work as a

team, combining our intellects, our emotions, and

our passions toward helping wheelchair users, and

designing a product that fits their needs. Come May we

will deliver, and we will deliver big.

THANK YOU!

Team pacr would like to extend a great thanks to

those who have helped us with wheelchair research,

brainstorming, and idea generation. We would also

like to thank our sponsor, Vantage Mobility

International, because without them we would not

have been able to get to the point we are at as of the

completion of this book. We hope that you enjoy this

book and all of the hard work that was put into it!

Documents

pacr Innovation Proposal