Finally — Hands-Free Pokémon GO is Possible (for a Price)


Hands-free-Pokémon

Thanks to Komodo OpenLab’s Tecla Shield, it’s now possible for power wheelchair users to play hands-free Pokémon GO. Soon those willing to pay $349 for the product can wander into traffic or fall off cliffs chasing the elusive Pikachu just like everyone else.

Pokémon GO is a game for mobile devices that allows players to hunt and catch Pokémon in real life. Once the app is opened, the Pokémon, cute little cartoon critters, will begin to appear on your phone as if they are right in front of you. You then throw a Pokéball in hopes of catching them — the game’s catch phrase is “Gotta catch’em all!” Pokéstops — places to get free balls and other goodies — have popped up worldwide, especially in crowded areas and parks. It’s not uncommon to see complete strangers showing their catches to each other at Pokéstops across America, from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

But the game requires some hand agility to open the app, swipe the screen and tap buttons, and that has left out many with disabilities. This is where Tecla Shield comes in. Installed directly onto the wheelchair, the product allows power chair users to access iOS, Android phones and tablets hands-free via Bluetooth. This means they can play mobile device-based games like Pokémon GO.

Since Pokémon GO is designed to track a person’s steps, the Tecla Shield allows the app to track the roll of a chair. A single or dual switch is also available for those who use sip-and-puff chairs or who have less range of motion in their hands.

The Tecla team tested the product’s ability to interface with Pokémon GO numerous times before performing field tests with wheelchair users in late July, which yielded successful results. Check it out below:


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