Handiphone: a father invents a phone for his son with spinal muscular atrophy

Maxime was born in 2001, and he suffers from spinal muscular atrophy since his birth. Maxime uses an electric wheelchair and he’s really dependent on his parents. His disease allows him to control the joystick of his wheelchair, but he can’t hold a phone and contact his family by this way.
To give him more autonomy his father, Jean-Paul, created a new system called “Handiphone”. It allows Maxime to send text messages and call someone without making any movements. The phone reacts to the voice, which allows Maxime to control his phone.

To make the invention, Jean-Paul put the micro and the hands-free kit near Maxime’s head. Then he fixed the smartphone to the shelf of the wheelchair. He used electrical wires to connect the micro and the hands-free kit.
When Maxime talks to the micro, the information is sent to the hands-free kit. The latter delivers the message to the smartphone.

Jean-Paul decided to improve his solution by including a USB port connected to the battery of the wheelchair. This way, the smartphone and hands-free kit can charge at the same time.

Jean-Paul needed six weeks of work and a smartphone, a micro, a hands-free kit and electrical wires to create the Handiphone. He spent a hundred of euros.

Thanks to this innovation, Maxime keeps in touch with his family, friends and medical staff.

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/2s7rI4C