Comments on: Artist Explores the Deep in Underwater Wheelchair http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2012/08/artist-explores-the-deep-in-underwater-wheelchair/ Keeping You Current Sat, 25 May 2013 13:28:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: SCG http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2012/08/artist-explores-the-deep-in-underwater-wheelchair/comment-page-1/#comment-1677 SCG Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:53:24 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/?p=3257#comment-1677 This is absolutely incredible. I am in the mobility care business and this is the first I am hearing of this. I love to hear about people who despite their disabilities don't give up on doing what they want/dream of doing. I also love that companies are listening and are trying to accommodate these dreams. This is something I will be looking into further! Wheelchairs and diving.. I love it. This is absolutely incredible. I am in the mobility care business and this is the first I am hearing of this. I love to hear about people who despite their disabilities don’t give up on doing what they want/dream of doing. I also love that companies are listening and are trying to accommodate these dreams. This is something I will be looking into further!
Wheelchairs and diving.. I love it.

]]> By: Marc Smith http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2012/08/artist-explores-the-deep-in-underwater-wheelchair/comment-page-1/#comment-657 Marc Smith Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:51:04 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/?p=3257#comment-657 Hello, Marc Smith here from All Time Medical. I came across your site while doing some research and got to see your inspirational website. I thought it might interest you to know that we've just made a infographic entitled "Paralympics: Inspire a Generation" I think it is something you and your readers will appreciate. Here's a link to it, the embed code is under the infographic. http://www.alltimemedical.com/article.html?id=72 Thanks! Marc Smith Hello,

Marc Smith here from All Time Medical. I came across your site while doing some research and got to see your inspirational website. I thought it might interest you to know that we’ve just made a infographic entitled “Paralympics: Inspire a Generation” I think it is something you and your readers will appreciate. Here’s a link to it, the embed code is under the infographic. http://www.alltimemedical.com/article.html?id=72

Thanks!

Marc Smith

]]> By: Kevin T. Keith http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2012/08/artist-explores-the-deep-in-underwater-wheelchair/comment-page-1/#comment-574 Kevin T. Keith Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:57:12 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/?p=3257#comment-574 Mesmerizing. Just beautiful, and she seems to be so fully engaged with the experience. But an underwater wheelchair is a very strange way to go about this. It's designed for an entirely different purpose, and most of its hardware is not functional underwater. (The wheels are useless, and the seat is not needed in a neutrally buoyant environment.) There are several long-standing organizations devoted to training and assisting disabled SCUBA divers. They use standard SCUBA equipment, modified as necessary - not land-based mobility devices. (The effect of buoyancy actually increases mobility for some disabled divers.) There are now well-developed programs for training such divers, and providing them with trained in-water backup divers for safety. Here is a good place to start: http://www.hsascuba.com/ Mesmerizing. Just beautiful, and she seems to be so fully engaged with the experience.

But an underwater wheelchair is a very strange way to go about this. It’s designed for an entirely different purpose, and most of its hardware is not functional underwater. (The wheels are useless, and the seat is not needed in a neutrally buoyant environment.)

There are several long-standing organizations devoted to training and assisting disabled SCUBA divers. They use standard SCUBA equipment, modified as necessary – not land-based mobility devices. (The effect of buoyancy actually increases mobility for some disabled divers.) There are now well-developed programs for training such divers, and providing them with trained in-water backup divers for safety.

Here is a good place to start:

http://www.hsascuba.com/

]]> By: marykate clark http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2012/08/artist-explores-the-deep-in-underwater-wheelchair/comment-page-1/#comment-570 marykate clark Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:58:50 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/?p=3257#comment-570 I would not have thought that the seated position would be ideal for underwater exploration, but it does appear to work well for her. Still she cannot get up close to things that are beneath waist level. I would expect future designs to be more streamlined, with an extended bodily position.. and waterproof dual joystick hand controls perhaps. So one could descend to the sea floor and touch the sand... and maneuver in a manner more seal-like. Or like a submarine jetpack.. I think it's wonderful regardless. I would not have thought that the seated position would be ideal for underwater exploration, but it does appear to work well for her. Still she cannot get up close to things that are beneath waist level. I would expect future designs to be more streamlined, with an extended bodily position.. and waterproof dual joystick hand controls perhaps. So one could descend to the sea floor and touch the sand… and maneuver in a manner more seal-like. Or like a submarine jetpack.. I think it’s wonderful regardless.

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