Home GRASP GRASP/China Hong Kong designer in race to find backing for wheelchair plan

Hong Kong designer in race to find backing for wheelchair plan

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Chun Kwok-tung built the Easiseat from scratch but needs investors if it is to go mainstream
Stories of people leaving their run-of-the-mill jobs to start a business, whether to seek a change in life or chase unfulfilled dreams, are nothing new. But Chun Kwok-tung found a more meaningful purpose than most. The 36-year-old architect stepped away from his profession two years ago to designing smart furniture and home appliances, incorporating carpentry, technology and ergonomics – all of his leisure interests. He created screen doors with shutters that are activated by motion, and beds controlled by a mobile phone app that slide out for easier storage and cleaning. However, it’s his latest invention that might prove a real winner. Called the Easiseat, it is a wheelchair that moves laterally, diagonally and even rotates at a fixed spot – perfect for manoeuvring small spaces and tight corners inside Hong Kong’s compact homes. The idea came after he witnessed the daily frustrations encountered by his mother, who suffers amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurological disease which prevents voluntary muscle movements. Other than its agility, Easiseat’s seat panel also retracts at the touch of a button and slides the user onto the toilet seat at home, making an otherwise exhausting chore fast and simple.

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