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The iBot 4000 mobility system produced by Independence Technology (Endicott, NY), a Johnson & Johnson company, is a wheelchair that can climb stairs, travel across difficult surfaces, and shift into a two-wheel mode that can lift disabled users to eye level.

Before taking possession of an iBot, new users initially had to go through three days of extensive training on the mobility system at one of Independence Technology's regional training centers. Independence Technology recognized that the time required for this onsite training was expensive and a hardship for many of its disabled customers. The company wanted to reduce the number of days required for onsite training from three days to one, thereby decreasing their customers' time away from home and the added expense related to the training.

Interact Medical (South Bend, IN) worked with Independence Technology to create an educational program that would effectively pretrain customers on the operation of the iBot while in the comfort of their own homes. Together the firms developed an interactive CD-ROM that visually demonstrates the iBot's features and operation. Interact developed lessons that tested the user's understanding and knowledge of the operation while taking the person through realistic 3-D simulations of both indoor and outdoor environments. Finally, all the user's actions and tests on the training CD are recorded so a detailed report can be printed and sent to the onsite instructor. The instructor then tailors the user's one day of onsite training to specifically address the individual's needs.

As a result, the time and cost associated with iBot training has been dramatically reduced. The CD allows new users to quickly learn the operation of the system in their own homes and at their own pace. The CD also allows users to look up and review specific operation steps following their onsite training.

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