Back in the 1970s, Garrett Brown invented the Steadicam. The Steadicam is a tool that has revolutionized the field of filmmaking. His latest creation is a device known as his Zeen, which helps users with mobility impairments not only move around, but also stand and sit.
“I was with my father when he gracefully declined in 2013,” Brown says of the origins of his invention. (and admired neither), there was this huge gap between them.”
More specifically, pedestrians help users maintain an upright posture and wheelchairs allow them to sit comfortably, but neither helps transition between these two states.
That’s where Zeen comes in. Named after draisine, who was a pioneer of modern bicycles like balance bikes, the Zeen is designed for those who still have a bike. Several Uses at least one leg, but cannot stand or walk on its own.
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In Zeen’s default configuration, the seat sits at chair height like a wheelchair. Users simply kick their feet between the front wheels, similar to how they move when sitting in a wheeled office chair.
When the user wants to stand, two gas springs lift both the seat and the occupant to an upright position. No motor required. The user can walk while supported by the seat (which has a saddle-like nose) and the handlebars/armrests. Seat belts provide protection against falls and the lift mechanism can be locked at any height.
Users can not only walk, but also “glide” by allowing Zeen to coast between each step. Of course, it also has brakes. All four wheels rotate, allowing the user to make further turns on the fly. When you sit down, simply squeeze his two levers on the handlebars to disengage the lift mechanism, allowing your weight to gently push the seat down.
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Brown says the Zeen itself can tilt the scale 40 pounds (18 kg) and adjust the springs to lift users weighing between 90 and 250 pounds (41 to 113 kg). According to a recent report from CBS News, he has already built 100 devices for clients including Pope Francis.
Zeen is now in commercial production and available from the company’s website for US$3,800. The video below shows it.
Source: Scene
