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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M69234/01
Title: IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THOSE WITH IMPAIRED MOBILITY (I-AIM)
Principal Investigator: Blythe, Professor PT
Other Investigators:
Bartlett, Dr K Bell, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Card Europe Newcastle City Council
Department: Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Organisation: Newcastle University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 July 1999 Ends: 31 August 2001 Value (£): 135,700
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Transport Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project involves two departments at Newcastle University, along with colleagues in the telematics design industry and Newcastle City Council. It will draw upon the knowledge of those whose remit it is to analyse and test the requirements of special needs people in order to integrate this knowledge with the design industry. The main objective is to develop a generic device that may be fitted to wheelchairs to control functions remotely, both in the domestic and public environment, that is user-friendly for many types of disabilities. It is proposed that three types of control will be provided (buttons, joystick, voice activation). Once developed, the device will be tested on sample groups across the full age range. It is anticipated that the development and testing of such a device will improve quality of life in terms of accessibility and social inclusion for many mobility impaired people, in their home lives and in their ability to lead a full and active public life. The wheelchair device will be practical and beneficial to users in that it will communicate with existing architecture, particularly transport and transport related facilities. This is cost-effective as such facilities may be modified at low cost.
Key Findings
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk