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Wheelchairs mean so much to those with restricted mobility. Thanks to wheelchairs those with restricted movement can become more portable and regain their independence. There are two most important types of wheelchairs and they are the manual wheelchair and the electric wheelchair. Manual Wheelchair The manual wheelchair has been in use for years and has gone through many changes. The constant feature has been that the chair is self moved by pushing on the hand rims that surround the wheels. The user in effect pushes the wheels around and around to get from a place to place. Further more, the footrests to a manual wheelchair can be taken away and the owner can walk the chair forward with his feet. Electric Wheelchair Electric wheelchairs are of course powered by batteries. These wheelchairs are bigger, heavier and stronger because they must be able to hold up the additional mass of the motor and the battery. Electric wheelchairs also differ in their sophistication. Some are simple and use typical batteries and joy stick controllers. Others use microprocessors and robotic circuitry which make possible the wheelchair to lift up itself on to wheels so it can go up stairs. The level of sophistication is shown in the price of an electric wheelchair. The prices can vary from $2000 all the way up to $30,000. The most advanced electric wheelchair today is the iBOT. The iBOT is so technically sophisticated that it can go up up stairs, glide across gravel and even raise so the user can reach high shelves. The iBOT can even self adjust its stabilization to balance for use on four wheels and two wheels. A unique software package called iBALANCE receives data via different sensors and gyroscopes, allowing the iBOT to maintain balance during certain maneuvers. For example during curb climbing the chair stays level while sections of the chassis tilt to climb the curb. Most people will not be able to obtain such a costly wheelchair as the iBOT. The normal cost for an electric wheelchair today is about $7000. This is for a wheelchair from a known brand and certified dealer. It is not recommended to buy a used electric wheelchair because you can never know if they have been broken or have worn out motors and batteries. Instead, purchase your chair from a certified dealer so it comes with full coverage for servicing. Electric wheelchairs use different types of propelling systems. One method is the rear wheel drive wheelchair. This is the most widespread. This kind of wheelchair has good speed but changing directions can be tricky. Another kind is the middle wheel drive wheelchair. These are easier to turn and they are fairly efficient , but they can be unstable with unexpected stops and starts. They are not as fast as the rear wheel drive wheelchairs. While selecting an electric wheelchair, take time off and evaluate capabilities and prices. Ask for further details from wheelchair dealers so you can make an informed decision. The author is the owner of The WheelChairs web site . For more information on WheelChairs types go to http://www.the-wheelchair.com/
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