Everyday, wheelchair users navigating across city streets, campuses, and pathways face obstacles due to inaccessible routes and changing terrain. Now, with SmartWheels, they can rely on real-time, personalized route directions. The power of the SmartWheels system is that the wheelchair itself becomes an internet-connected sensor suite for the user. The wheelchair utilizes terrain-sensing technology, which determines the type of surface underneath the wheels as well as grade, elevation, and surrounding curbs and obstacles. Users can enter additional information about the environment to provide context to the collected data. SmartWheels is an integrated system comprised of a SmartWheels Sensor Kit, smartphone app, and crowd-sourced accessible maps for any browser. The Connector Kit can be installed on any wheelchair and provides Internet and sensor capabilities directly to the wheelchair. After installing the Connector Kit, the person can track his or her route data, plus get or give recommendations for improved routes. SmartWheels is a brain collective of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) students at the University of Washington and we seek to solve real-life accessibility problems. Luke Easterwood, Susan Oldham, Annuska Perkins and Tristan Plank designed SmartWheels as part of an Interaction Design class taught by Kelly Franznick of Blink Interaction at UW.

1. 3 million people in the U.S.
use wheelchairs

2. over 1 million people use
other mobility devices

3. wheelchair users numbers are
expected to increase 5% annually

4. Team Wheels : Luke Easterwood, Susan Oldham, Annuska Perkins, Tristan Plank

5. The problem
cross slope
running slope

6. our users
students using a
manual wheelchair
students using a
power wheelchair

7. our Vision
Wheelchair users will have:
§§ A rewarding experience
§§ Accessible, efficient and safe journeys
§§ Connection to a community
of wheelchair users
§§ Smart, connected device
§§ Easy system to install, use and maintain

8. Our solution : The smartwheels Ecosystem
OpenStreet
Maps
Secure User
Database
Bluetooth
SmartWheels
App
User
Sensors &
Processor
SmartWheels
Communication Kit
SmartWheels
installed on chair

9. the Smart Kit : collecting data
ARduino UNO
Microcontroller
Rotary encoder
Tracks wheel rotation
WiFi Shield
Connects to Internet
Vibration Sensor
Detects surface quality
SmartWheels Sensor Kit
Putting it all together
Triple-axis Accelerometer
Measures motion, slope and tilt

10. Smart visualization
Route Distance (in miles)
route 1
Route 2
«««
««««
Route 3 nr
.2 .4 .6 .8 1.0 1.2 1.4
Route Times (est. minutes)
«««
Route 2 ««««
route 1
Route 3 nr
2 4 6 8 10 12 14

11. smart crowdsourcing

12. interactions : mobile app

13. interactions : voice
starting a route
Take me to HCDE 536!
3 Routes found to
HCDE 536.
route alert
Route 1 looks good.
Your building is next
one on your right, in
300 feet.
Route 1 selected.
Ready?
Start Route!
Closest accessible
entrance is on the
south side.
Give me more options.
The next closest is on
the west side.
Locating accessible entrances
There will be a 5° slope
for 105 feet.
Pin a Location for comment
Find any
alternate paths.
Yes, turn right onto
the path in 20 feet.
Pin this location.
Location pinned.
What is your comment?

14. our ideas for the future
share
expand
connect
empower
multiplatform
refine