When looking at various control interfaces for power wheelchairs, the traditional joystick is one that is often first thought of. For people who have limited use of their upper extremities, a traditional joystick will not work. A multi joystick is a type of interface that is multifunctional and requires reduced force. The technology was designed for people with limited muscle power or for people who have neuromuscular diseases (“Alternative Drive Controls”, n.d.). For example, it can be used for people with tetraplegia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or multiple sclerosis (“Multi Joystick”, n.d.).
The multi joystick functions as any other joystick would to maneuver a power wheelchair. For moving in a specific direction, the joystick needs …show more content…
The technology is built in a compact and discrete housing with two jacks for switch input. It is easily set up with the mo-Vis Configurator software for correctly positioning the joystick. The device has the ability for custom configurations to meet the needs of the client from the parameters of the software. Also, the connections of the device have protective covers to avoid dust or moisture getting inside of the device. Another benefit is that it can be mounted on any location on the wheelchair (“Alternative Drive Controls”, n.d.). Having a separate interface makes the joystick adaptable to a patient’s individual needs. The technology also includes a clamp that allows for easy mounting on the wheelchair. This is a lighter version compared to the standard joystick and is ideal for chin, lip or finger use. The multi joystick is Omni compatible with its SUB D9 pin connector. Overall, its flexibility, functionality, ergonomics, and discretion are all advantages of this product (“Multi Joystick”, …show more content…
The effectiveness of this study was evaluated by comparing a pre and post functional power wheelchair driving skills data of the participants in the study. The skills were measured by the Power Mobility Program (PMP) with descriptive analyses. The PMP contains 34 tasks designed to evaluate power wheelchair mobility skills. There are 17 items that evaluate functional skills and the other 17 evaluate basic driving skills. Overall this program is an instrument that is performance-based and uses a scale from 0 to 5 to assess each participant (Winkler et al.,
The multi joystick functions as any other joystick would to maneuver a power wheelchair. For moving in a specific direction, the joystick needs …show more content…
The technology is built in a compact and discrete housing with two jacks for switch input. It is easily set up with the mo-Vis Configurator software for correctly positioning the joystick. The device has the ability for custom configurations to meet the needs of the client from the parameters of the software. Also, the connections of the device have protective covers to avoid dust or moisture getting inside of the device. Another benefit is that it can be mounted on any location on the wheelchair (“Alternative Drive Controls”, n.d.). Having a separate interface makes the joystick adaptable to a patient’s individual needs. The technology also includes a clamp that allows for easy mounting on the wheelchair. This is a lighter version compared to the standard joystick and is ideal for chin, lip or finger use. The multi joystick is Omni compatible with its SUB D9 pin connector. Overall, its flexibility, functionality, ergonomics, and discretion are all advantages of this product (“Multi Joystick”, …show more content…
The effectiveness of this study was evaluated by comparing a pre and post functional power wheelchair driving skills data of the participants in the study. The skills were measured by the Power Mobility Program (PMP) with descriptive analyses. The PMP contains 34 tasks designed to evaluate power wheelchair mobility skills. There are 17 items that evaluate functional skills and the other 17 evaluate basic driving skills. Overall this program is an instrument that is performance-based and uses a scale from 0 to 5 to assess each participant (Winkler et al.,