Overreliance on familiar, manual, one-arm-drive wheelchair technology

Approximately 2% of the UK population are wheelchair users (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BBSRC], 2013). However, while wheelchair technology is relatively well-established, there is not a great deal of variation in the wheelchair market, and this can create difficulties for individuals whose needs are not met by presently available models. Wheelchair design and overall functionality has greatly improved over the past several decades, but there is still a need for new technology and innovative designs, and for new designs to be used.