Thrust 2: Modernizing and Democratizing the Wheelchair Input Mechanism
Thrust 2 will expand adoption of the Wheelchair Digital Interface (WDI). The WDI API is a modern, two-way communication standard for power wheelchairs built on widely-accepted Human Interface Device (HID) protocols. The purpose of the open standard is:
- To allow faster development of new accessible wheelchair alternative controls, by removing the need for 9-pin printer cable adapter circuits currently required to adapt to today’s proprietary TRACE/DB-9 alternative drive inputs.
- To make current, commercially-available adaptive gaming and computer interfaces available for power wheelchair operation.
- To allow two-direction communication between the power wheelchair and controllers.
The benefit to society will be a modern, digital drive interface that is (1) open source and allows for (2) faster, more personalized wheelchair control innovation, (3) easier integration of commercial off-the-shelf solutions for complex rehabilitation, and (4) new methods of feedback and interaction with the wheelchair control system.