...for people with back or hip problems. No back support at all, so many elderly and/or disabled will simply fall off.

Then there is the problem of people who can't walk at all. From a normal chair, you can get them to an upright position, then sit them down into a conventional wheelchair. How are you supposed to safely and comfortably move them forward onto the seat on this machine? It would be much the same as trying to sit them on a small motorcycle.

"Not exactly the best design..."

So how about, duh... not selling it to people who would have problems using it?

But I know I won't be the only one to be claiming for a new keyboard after reading:

"riders mount Rodem from behind"

Yup, agree with 1st poster. Might be comfortable to ride, but for people relegated to a wheelchair, sitting up all day is a struggle, and leaning back for a rest is a requirement. Leaning forward provides no neck support, and is also not exactly the most confortable for the female riders. Further, that SEAT is not going to be good news to be on for a long day sitting in it, and it also completely ignores anyone who might be in a wheelchair due to a leg injury (aka, leg in a cast, hip in a cast, etc, typically cast as a straign, not bent, leg).

I agree with Alan B, this looks like FAIL writ large for the large proportion of traditional Wheel Chair users.

It's almost as the designers forgot about the rider....

Maybe it would make a good TV show: Super-hyped Chair Wars!!

don't accelerate too quickly...

Looks a bit like those kneel seats (http://www.bluehen.com/images/Jobri/kneeling_chair/wood_accent/kneeling_chair_wood_main.jpg) which while great in theory are about as comfy as a bed of nails (actually less so those are quite relaxing)

As Alan suggested, where's the back support? What's to stop users falling off when it automatically handled slopes, or turns to avoid running grandchildren? Also consider the price difference. £67 for a freely delivered wheelchair with back support, or £4500 for something which has no back support, and a battery that could run out going up hill.

Well intended, no doubt. But fail.

Just turn the seating around and paint it yellow...

Still, it's a good one-revolution-of-the-wheel towards a better motorized wheelchair that doesn't look like it belonged on the set of The Lawnmower Man.

forget about leaning back and dozing. a back rest is required.

Agreed. This thing reeks of "I broke my leg and hated my wheelchair. I wish my wheelchair was cooler."

Lack of back support was my first thought, too.

Plus, if this thing can't scrape the shins of children, what's the poor invalid grandmother going to do when those little hellions come over for their annual forced visitation?

....coz old people are really good at balance and stuff.

Still, that kid seems to think its a laugh, so it's not that bad.

Coming soon to a Wal-Mart near you...

I'd be concerned about putting weight onto the chest for long periods in elderly people.

Until they give the "wheel"chair the ability to climb stairs or negotiate rough terrain, and NOT require that the entire world be paved to allow "handicap access", then it's still the same fucking thing they invented in 1300 BC.

I'm wondering if you hit an immovable object and your MID-section slides forward... ouch!

Will I be able to hook up my iPod or GPS to it? Put some spinners on it? The colour's shit-house. Do it up.

If Davros had had one, the Daleks would have looked totally different.

So how do you sit at a table to eat in it.

so when a mugger saiz stop you have no choice LOL

Wow, didn't know ElReg harboured so many armchair experts in wheelchair ergonomics.

With a strong tradition in research and heaps of phd's around, you'd expect Japan to do better than the commenters here but oh no, they've seen it at a snap and understood its failures.

Just because it doesn't resemble the wheelchairs you've been using lately?

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That said, the flashy "aerodynamical" design is a bit silly in this context. Though not an actual disadvantage.