Developing a chairable computing platform to support power wheelchair users

Power wheelchair users often use and carry multiple mobile computing devices. Many wheelchair users experience motor impairments that affect their hands, arms, neck, and head. Additionally, a power wheelchair user's ability to interact with computing technology may be physically restricted by the wheelchair's frame, which can obstruct movement or limit reach. We believe these accessibility issues can be overcome by designing new systems to take advantage of the physical abilities of the user while leveraging the wheelchair's frame to create assistive systems. We also hope to make progress toward limiting social barriers that hinder technology adoption. This could potentially improve the overall benefit of emerging technologies for people with varying abilities. With this research I aim to develop an interactive wheelchair-based computing platform designed to support the unique and dynamic needs of power wheelchair users while also creating new interaction possibilities.