Carleton University student wins award for device to help wheelchair users
A Carleton University student has received international recognition for his innovative invention designed to assist wheelchair users.
Nicco Timpano, a Carleton University industrial design graduate, was inspired after witnessing a woman struggle to get out of her wheelchair while reaching for a grocery item on a high shelf. His solution is called the UpLift, a compact wheelchair attachment that helps users sit, stand, and maintain balance.
“I wanted something that people can have with them at all times at the wheelchair,” says Timpano.
The UpLift replaces the wheelchair's armrest, providing crucial support for individuals with limited mobility and offering a safer way for people to move and regain their independence.
The UpLift, a device attached to a wheelchair that helps users stand and maintain balance, was designed by Nicco Timpano, a Carleton University industrial design graduate, earning him a prestigious James Dyson Award. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)
“They can use it to help get up, do whatever they need to do, and get back down with ease without having to ask people for help or injure themselves,” he says.
Timpano’s invention has earned him the James Dyson Award, which is given to university students for innovative engineering solutions to real-world problems.
“It’s a huge, huge honour to have this award. To be nominated for such a great award and to even be in the same sentence as Dyson,” he adds.
Faculty at Carleton’s School of Industrial Design are equally proud of Timpano’s achievement.
“There are some projects that could have been designed at any time in the past. And this is one of those things. It's making some really smart choices and design decisions while understanding the users and what the real needs are,” says Rob Watters, an associate professor at the school. “It’s not really relying on high technology. It's stuff that could have been done before. So, it's brilliant.”
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Chantal Trudel, the director of Carleton’s School of Industrial Design, also praised Timpano's work.
“What he's come up with is ways that can support people to engage in daily living activities, which is just wonderful. And really community-focused design. So, we're thrilled with what he has done.”
Timpano says this is just the beginning. He hopes to further develop the UpLift beyond the classroom.
“Right now, it's a school project, but I still want to develop it more and more into something that is real, something that I want to see people using from day to day. I want to be able to help people,” he says.
Timpano now advances to compete on the international stage, where a panel of Dyson engineers will narrow the field down to a top 20. The global winner will be chosen by James Dyson himself.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Say it to my face': Singh confronts heckling protester on Parliament Hill
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confronted a protester for calling him a 'corrupted bastard' on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
Bride's family speaks as West Vancouver woman sentenced for driving SUV into wedding party
Sixty-five-year-old Hong Xu, who drove her SUV into a crowd of people celebrating a wedding at her next-door neighbour's house in West Vancouver on Aug. 20, 2022, has been sentenced under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without due care and attention.
Why it's 'very hard' to find work in Canada
Vacancies have steadily fallen since the glut of nearly one million open posts in 2022. At the time, one in three businesses had trouble hiring staff due to a labour shortage. Since then, vacancies have dropped.
Hezbollah hit by a wave of exploding pagers and blames Israel. At least 9 dead, thousands injured
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs jailed by judge after sex trafficking indictment
Sean 'Diddy' Combs headed to jail Tuesday to await trial in a federal sex trafficking case that accuses him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes protected by blackmail and shocking acts of violence.
Canucks' Dakota Joshua reveals he is recovering from cancer
Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua revealed Tuesday he underwent cancer treatment over the summer, and will not be ready to play when the team's training camp begins later this week.
Two people charged in murder of Halifax teen; police believe remains have been found
Halifax Regional Police believe Devon Sinclair Marsman, who disappeared in 2022, was the victim of a homicide and two people have now been charged in his death.
What is racketeering? The crime, explained
Sex trafficking, cheating scandals and mob activity may appear very different. But all fall under the broad umbrella of racketeering.
Man from Phoenix, Ariz., missing after truck plunges off Yukon bridge
Whitehorse RCMP say a man from Phoenix, Ariz., is missing after the truck he was travelling in went off a bridge and plunged into the Yukon River.