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Industrial Design Case Study: An Electric Wheelchair Controller

The LiNX, by 4design and Dynamic Controls

By Rain Noe - September 27

in Design Business | UX

Dynamic Controls, a manufacturer of wheelchair control devices, worked with Australian ID firm 4design to bring their LiNX to market.

"Linx is the very first touchscreen wheelchair controller. A carefully considered approach to both the user interface and the product design meant that users ranging in dexterity can benefit from the superior speed, customisation and ease of use a touchscreen offers. The system combines advanced technology with modern design to deliver an enhanced user experience."

"Collaboration was the key to this project. Working closely with the Dynamic Controls team, 4Design ensured every detail was carefully considered. The wheelchair controller features swipe and tap only operations, adjustable brightness, large touch zones and configurable left and right-handed operation."

Features

- Robust aircraft grade aluminium frame for unsurpassed durability

- Simple and intuitive controls

- Swipe or tap operation with large target zones

- Joystick designed to allow easy access to the touchscreen

- Modular design allows for alternate control systems integration

- IR and Bluetooth built-in capabilities

- Contemporary design language and materials palette

- Customisable touchscreen user interface

The Good Design Awards called the LiNX " a robust piece of industrial design that has been perfectly executed."

You can see more of 4design's work here.

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Dee An

2 months ago

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And yet we're not shown any images of the touchscreen UI.
Does the touchscreen register false touches if it is covered in rain drops? (As capacitive mobile telephone touch screens can do?)
Research into automotive controls is suggesting that touchscreen controls are often a poorer choice compared to tactile buttons and knobs... to what extent is this research applicable to this use case?
Wheel chair users have manual dexterity across the whole range from unimpaired through to not being able to use their hands at all.
Microsoft and Sony both have modular systems of game controllers... could this device benefit from some mounting points on its frame so modular hardware buttons etc could be fitted to meet the wants and needs of its individual users?

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- Roly S
  
  Dee An
  
  2 months ago
  
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  My thoughts also. I'm yet to be convinced that touchscreens are better than tactile options for any personal transport that you ride on/in. As a display, sure, but for any actual control, my guess is the joystick is all you're using.
  
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Niklas Y

2 months ago

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This seems to be a product released in back in 2017...

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