Understanding the Difference Between Robust and Resilient Wheelchairs, and Why it Matters - Erik Kondo
Wheelchairs that are sturdy and don’t break easily are Robust. Wheelchairs that are easy and affordable to repair are Resilient....
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- Sep 21
- 2 min
Why Are Low Cost and Functional Manual Wheelchairs NOT Widely Available? - Erik Kondo
If we are to believe the marketing of the Legacy Wheelchair Industry, there can be only two types of manual wheelchairs, either very...
- Sep 16
- 5 min
Wheelchair Wheels, Part I - Erik Kondo
Wheelchair wheels and tires are one of the most critical aspects of manual wheelchair performance. Yet, this is also an area that is not...
- Sep 12
- 3 min
Why Are Wheelchairs So Expensive? - Erik Kondo
Active manual wheelchairs in high income countries typically cost between $5,000 and $10,000+. This is a lot of money. Therefore, many...
- Aug 15
- 3 min
Going to “The Beach” as a Wheelchair User – Erik Kondo
Ah, there is nothing like a relaxing day at The Beach. Well, that is if you can walk without difficultly. For wheelchair users, going to...
- Jun 22
- 3 min
On Using Abled-Bodied Subjects in Wheelchair Propulsion Research – Erik Kondo
If you can walk in typical fashion, I would like you to imagine what it would be like to walk without having control of your trunk...
- Jun 17
- 3 min
Inappropriate Assistive Technology Disease (IATD) – Erik Kondo
We are all familiar with the stories of the amazing things that assistive technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to do. What is...
- Apr 24
- 4 min
DIY Urban Trike Wheel - Erik Kondo
There are a number of detachable trike wheels available to purchase for active wheelchairs. These devices typically cost about $600 or...
- Apr 6
- 5 min
The DIY Trailwind - Max Fan and Erik Kondo
The purpose of the Trailwind is to provide power-assist for manual wheelchairs on rough terrain. It is NOT intended as full motorized...
- Mar 26
- 5 min
Cheap Wheelchairs Part III: Survival of the Cheapest – Erik Kondo
When we typically think of evolution, we think of “survival of the fittest”, where evolution is the process of something getting better...
- Mar 21
- 3 min
Cheap Wheelchairs Part II: The Throwaway Wheelchair Cycle – Erik Kondo
In Cheap Wheelchairs Part I, I discussed how the cheapest wheelchairs manufactured in China and sold wholesale on Alibaba.com are also...
- Mar 16
- 3 min
Cheap Wheelchairs, Part I: You Get What You Pay For - Erik Kondo
There are millions of manual wheelchair users in the United States. The majority are using standard manual wheelchairs. These wheelchairs...
- Feb 13
- 5 min
Wheelchair System Archetypes - Erik Kondo
Once you recognize that the mobility outcomes produced by a person using a wheelchair is the result of the interactions of a Complex...
- Jan 29
- 3 min
The Wheelchair System - Erik Kondo
The mobility performance of a person using a wheelchair is the result of the output of a complex adaptive system made up of the...
- Jan 25
- 4 min
The Tradeoff Between Wheelchair Comfort and Mobility – Erik Kondo
The primary purpose of a manual wheelchair is to provide mobility for replacing walking in the environment. The more active a wheelchair...
- Nov 14, 2023
- 5 min
Wheelchair Profiteering, Part VII: Here is How I Would Do it (If I had No Ethics) – Erik Kondo
Let’s imagine I own a large and influential wheelchair manufacturing company. And my goal is to make the most amount of money possible...
- Nov 10, 2023
- 4 min
Wheelchair Profiteering, Part VI: Exploring Solutions – Erik Kondo
Pointing out problems is fairly easy. Coming up with realistic solutions is much harder. So, lets take a look at a meaningful solution. ...
- Nov 9, 2023
- 1 min
Wheelchair Profiteering, Part V: Unneeded Upselling – Erik Kondo
Profiteering by Upselling Unneeded Assistive Technology This type of profiteering happens when the upselling is for items that the...
- Nov 9, 2023
- 2 min
Wheelchair Profiteering, Part IV: The Joy of Double Dipping – Erik Kondo
I am continuing on the theme from Part III which discusses how Ultra-Customization is used by the For-Profit Wheelchair Industry to...
- Nov 7, 2023
- 6 min
Wheelchair Profiteering, Part III: The Strategy of Ultra-Customization – Erik Kondo
In Part II, I expanded on the money making strategy of Ultra-Commoditization. While this strategy is effective, it pales in comparison to...
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