Integrated control of mobility, manipulation and the environment

The process of rehabilitation following severe trauma is an evolutionary one which is guided by recovery from the initial shock, both psychologically and in purely medical terms, by the early introduction of the possibilities of future life in the physically impaired state, and by the delivery of the necessary support in human and equipment terms. To prevent the physical disaster from becoming a permanent psychological one as well it is important that the different milestones in the rehabilitation process are recognised and that support is provided at the appropriate level at each stage. All the different forms of support obviously interact with the victim and most of them interact in some way with one another. There is a need, therefore, at all stages for coordination and integration. Above all disabled people need to control the various devices at will with a single integrated system. The ways in which such coordination can be achieved, especially with regard to control via computer, are considered. As an example is taken the case of a person with a high cervical spinal cord injury