Rehabilitation through affordable technology-environmental control

Rehabilitation is an integral part of the health care system as 10% of the total population come under the handicapped category. The author is in the rehabilitation field and working with physically handicapped people. These people are suffering from various locomotor problems like arthritis, paraplegia, poliomyelitis, multiple sclerosis and amputation. They are sometimes confined to wheelchairs or are bedridden. They find difficulties in: 1) mobility (indoor and outdoor); 2) “access” to various controls; 3) limitation of movements; 4) speed; 5) motor coordination; and 6) to do manual tasks like normal people. While working in a rehabilitation centre the author came across practical problems faced by the wheelchair-bound disabled. Problems like switching on and off the light or fan. A study was undertaken to develop a low cost environmental control system to solve this problem