10,000 power wheelchair users worldwide connect to Permobil smart wheelchair technology
Manufacturer Permobil has confirmed that 10,000 users of its power wheelchairs worldwide have chosen to activate a live internet connection to their power chair.
According to the manufacturer, connected chairs benefit their users by providing them with valuable real-time information via the MyPermobil app on the status of their chair’s battery, distance travelled, and power seat function usage.
It also provides their local service technicians with data transmitted automatically to a Fleet Management portal allowing for remote diagnosis. All of which help Permobil reduce the incapacitating ‘downtime’ that power chair users experience.
Peter Jidesjö, Executive Vice President Services, and global head of MyPermobil and Fleet Management commented: “At Permobil, the focus is on a wheelchair’s ‘uptime’ – how much time can the person use their chair, rather than simply minimizing the ‘downtime’ of a chair,” said.
“Connected chairs provide service technicians alerts about the wheelchair in near real-time which can be used to prevent technical problems and speed up service maintenance.
“While reliable and intelligent information provided to the individual users like travel range estimates and battery charge status give an individual more freedom to do what they want in life.
The 10 000 people in 16 different countries who have activated connectivity on their Permobil power chairs is a clear endorsement that this is what our users want.”
Permobil’s smart wheelchair has become even smarter with the Voice Assistant feature in the MyPermobil app which allows users to communicate with their power wheelchairs via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The manufacturer recently strengthened its product portfolio and competitiveness in the market after entering into an agreement to acquire light wheelchair manufacturer, Panthera.