New technology helps disabled people to dance

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New technology is allowing a disabled Bay area man, Dwayne Scheuneman, to pursue his passion for dancing.

Scheuneman broke his neck in a swimming pool diving accident more than a decade ago, and the accident left him a low-level quadriplegic. But that didn't stop him from pursing his passion.

"Not only is it my experience with dance that I enjoy, but I really love bringing dance opportunities to other people who wouldn't typically have such choices," Scheuneman said.

The new robotics technology is called the rolling dance chair, and is based on the principles of the Segway. Instead of manually moving the chair, body motion helps move the chair smoothly.

"That was the idea," said dance professor Merry Lynn Morris. "We said, 'Can we create something that mirrors the lower body of a dancer?' So then it's part of their movement as opposed to them having to manipulate an outside control."

The rolling dance chair is still in development, but Scheuneman said it will one day free up his ability on the dance floor and also to do much more.

"I believe a lot of this technology will cross over outside of the dance world and help people in their day-to-day lives with disabilities," Scheuneman said.

The rolling dance chair is the product of a collaboration between the USF's College of Engineering and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

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