A few new ones.
What's an iBOT? It's a revolutionary Mobility System invented by Dean Kamen. Kamen also invented the more widely known Segway. The iBOT is unlike any other wheelchair. Its unique functions allow me to go places I've never been before, and do things I've never done before.
About Me
Are you on Facebook?
Please show your support in getting the iBOT back into production by joining Save the iBOT.
Followers
Links:
- My youtube videos
- What to do when you have a flat
- How to switch the clusters
- The story behind my paralysis
- A bit of info on Spinal Cord Injuries
- Comment from a reader: The iBOT is a gimmick (LOL!)
- Comment from a reader: I mean they literally scare small children (another LOL)
- I've always loved to explore
- Rant
- Frustration leading to sarcasm
- Finally getting the iBOT!
- My first day with the iBOT
- iBOT improvements I hope for
iBOT - A wheelchair that climbs stairs, travels over uneven terrain
and sand, and can put the user at
eye level to an average standing adult.
DEAN KAMEN - The inventor of the
iBOT. Kamen also invented the Segway.
DEKA - Dean Kamens's company. The
iBOT was designed by engineers at
DEKA.
J&J - Johnson and Johnson. The
company producing and marketing
the iBOT.
IT - Independence Technology.
A division of J&J. Provides
tech support for iBOT users.
-----------------------------------
and sand, and can put the user at
eye level to an average standing adult.
DEAN KAMEN - The inventor of the
iBOT. Kamen also invented the Segway.
DEKA - Dean Kamens's company. The
iBOT was designed by engineers at
DEKA.
J&J - Johnson and Johnson. The
company producing and marketing
the iBOT.
IT - Independence Technology.
A division of J&J. Provides
tech support for iBOT users.
-----------------------------------
I 've been using a manual wheelchair to get around since I was 8 years old. In September 2007, I got my first power wheelchair. This is no ordinary wheelchair though. The iBOT can climb curbs and stairs. It can travel over terrain such as sand and gravel. It can raise me so that I am eye level with an average standing adult.
I am writing this blog to share this
exciting time in my life with my
family and friends. I'm also doing
it to raise awareness. Not many
people know about the iBOT. I've
found that most people in the
medical field have never
even heard of the iBOT before.
I've also found that many
wheelchair users themselves
have never heard of it. There
are currently only about 400
iBOT users. I would like to
see this number go much much
higher. Unfortunately, the cost
of the iBOT is $26,100. That's
a price a lot of people cannot
afford (including myself - I got
lucky and purchased mine used).
I know many wheelchair users
who would love to have an iBOT,
but they simply cannot afford to
buy one. Most insurance companies
will not pay for even part of the
iBOT. They say the iBOT is a "luxury".
I wish everyone who wanted an iBOT,
had an iBOT.
As wonderful as the iBOT is, there
is definite room for improvement.
This blog is about the good AND
the bad.
*Please note: Everything in this blog is my opinion, unless otherwise stated. I am not being paid to promote the iBOT.*
For more information, please visit http://ibotnow.com/
I am writing this blog to share this
exciting time in my life with my
family and friends. I'm also doing
it to raise awareness. Not many
people know about the iBOT. I've
found that most people in the
medical field have never
even heard of the iBOT before.
I've also found that many
wheelchair users themselves
have never heard of it. There
are currently only about 400
iBOT users. I would like to
see this number go much much
higher. Unfortunately, the cost
of the iBOT is $26,100. That's
a price a lot of people cannot
afford (including myself - I got
lucky and purchased mine used).
I know many wheelchair users
who would love to have an iBOT,
but they simply cannot afford to
buy one. Most insurance companies
will not pay for even part of the
iBOT. They say the iBOT is a "luxury".
I wish everyone who wanted an iBOT,
had an iBOT.
As wonderful as the iBOT is, there
is definite room for improvement.
This blog is about the good AND
the bad.
*Please note: Everything in this blog is my opinion, unless otherwise stated. I am not being paid to promote the iBOT.*
For more information, please visit http://ibotnow.com/
10 comments:
Looks like a nice day at the beach, and the dogs had a great time. You sure can take the bumps!
It was a very nice day... unlike today. I don't know about your place, but we got completely dumped on today. Ah, just the beginning of the many dark, wet, and cold months ahead.
Looks like your helpers there were having a lot of fun! (I'm referring to the ones with the tails.)
I wanna be a dog.
On the day I test drove my new iBOT I buried it in mud up to the axles. My trainer had suggested taking it over to a pond and driving to the water's edge. So we spent some time with the garden hose and rags cleaning it up. It was fun, though. Anyway, it's been a long time since your last post. Are you there?
That sounds like fun! I haven't done any major mud in the Bot yet. I did get stuck in very soft sand once. While it was a bit frustrating, it was oddly quite fun. I guess I was just so happy that I was actually on soft sand.
I'm so glad the iBOT can be hosed down. I've done that many times... sand, mud, dog poop. When I first got the bot, I didn't want to hose it down because I thought it might do some damage. But IT told me that it's sealed so tightly that there's nothing to worry about.
I'm alive and well! Thanks so much for checking on me. On top of being very busy, I haven't been in a blogging mood. I go through phases.
Do you have an iBOT, or have you just done the test drive? I ask because if you do have one, I'm wondering what you think about the stair climbing feature? For me, I've decided it's pretty much useless. I'll blog about it someday soon.
I have owned an iBOT for two months and haven't used the stair climbing mode yet. It would have to be a pretty good looking set of stairs and if there was such a thing it would probably be in a building with an elevator. I look forward to your comments.
I do use the 4-wheel-drive a lot. Yesterday I spent an hour raking leaves and hauling them to the compost bin. It was great to be able to get down in the ditches and pull leaves away from my culverts. I do not plan to go back to the pond anytime soon, at least not without company. Irv
Do you use the balance function much Irv?
Hey, Shannon - to answer your question, I don't use balance mode a lot but the need hasn't come up often. I have used it at the grocery store and the library to reach higher shelves. I was at the Walker a couple weeks ago to view the modern art and I put it in balance to get a normal person's perspective. (Still didn't help.) In one gallery I drew more attention than the art. I have also used it in my house to rearrange my book shelves. So, it is a function that really comes in handy sometimes but not all the time. I would add that the ability to raise the height while in 4WD is helpful when filling the bird feeders I have hanging from a telegraph pole.
Irv
The Walker in Mpls? I don't think I knew you were from MN. Maybe I did, but my memory is terrible. Anyway, I used to live a few blocks from the Walker.
I know what you mean about drawing more attention than the art. I often feel that way. I went to the science museum last week and one of the volunteers opened the entrance door for me and said that they had been admiring my chair while I waited outside for a friend. She said they thought that I should be an exhibit.
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