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Annette’s Websites of the Week- Naidex National 2012

May 4, 2012 at 2:36 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: Annette's Websites of the Week, Disability, easy access gardening, Exhibition, Flo walking frame, iHus Access, Lepmis Games Access Solutions, Mobile Garden, Naidex National 2012, REthinkthings

Naidex National 2012 has been a focus point this week because of the annual exhibition at The NEC in Birmingham. Having already posted my highlights from Naidex I thought it would be a nice idea to finish the week with a Naidex themed websites of the week.

www.naidex.co.uk – If you visited Naidex this week you no doubt came back with a list of products that you want to research online. Thankfully the Naidex website is set up with a simple A-Z category system that makes searching for products and suppliers stress free.

Along with directing visitors to everything featured at the show- exhibitors, products, industry experts- I like how www.Naidex.co.uk includes a live Twitter stream which made following the expo throughout the week easy and fun.

If you’re planning on visiting Naidex National next year I’d recommend visiting the site to get a feel for what you can expect from the show- check out the printable PDF’s of ‘Show Features’ including The New Product Showcase which I’ve found really useful.

www.rethinkthings.co.uk- Rethinkthings is home to one of my highlights from this year’s Naidex the stylish ‘Flo’ walking frame. The website is full of quirky products which all have a similar artistic style to the Flo. Plus the site includes a blog that explains all of Rethinkthing’s products in greater depth which is definitely worth a read.

rethinkthing logo

www.lepmis.co.uk – The Orthros by Lepmis was my favourite product from Naidex 2012 because I was bowled over by how much joy the one handed video gaming joystick gave to its fans. A small but informative site, www.Lepmis.co.uk hosts a variety of different products which are all adapted to make video gaming accessible to disabled fans so it’s definitely worth book marking if you’re a gamer who currently has difficulties handling generic controllers.

www.mobilegarden.co.uk –As I’m sure you can tell from my Highlights post yesterday Naidex is hugely diverse so it’s a delight to say that accessible gardening was also on display from The Mobile Garden who has come up with an in or outdoor gardening solution.

Their invention, a circular rotating planting tray, allows gardeners to plants vegetables, flowers and plants from their wheelchair or the comfort of a chair. It’s a lovely product which I’m sure all keen gardeners will be interested in especially as summer is just around the corner. I’d recommend visiting the website where you can watch a demonstration video which explores how the mobile garden works in its entirety.

www.ihusaccess.com – The Independent Living Home Show was hosted by iHUS who specialise in creating living spaces which are accessible to you. Their website includes an impressive portfolio of work which is exquisite and shows how homes can be adapted with additional living space.

Although I know that renovation is a big step for most people we have worked with customers who’ve used the Bath-Knight in speciality adapted Granny Flats, our latest was featured on Grand Designs. I think the iHus website is a great one to keep on file for future options and inspiration.

Naidex National 2012 Highlights- New Product Showcase

May 3, 2012 at 4:50 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Tags: Classic Canes, Flo, Grip Par Golf Glove, Gripeeze, Mobility Products, Molten Rock, Naidex National 2012, New products, New Products Showcase, Off Road Wheel Chair, Orthros, REthinkthings, Scene&Heard App, The Blue Badge Company

New Product Showcases are always interesting to view because they give a great insight into where the industry is going. I’m delighted to say that I was really impressed with this year’s New Product Showcase at Naidex National and it’s great to see so much diversity in products which allow people to enjoy themselves through fashion, sport and technology despite having a disability.

A rundown of my highlights-

Classic Canes and The Blue Badge Company both caught my eye in the New Product Showcase because they’ve both added a fashionable twist to products which would usually be rather dull- walking sticks and Blue Badge display wallets. Classic Canes even featured a Union Jack folding walking stick which would perfect for The Diamond Jubilee or this summer’s Olympic Games.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see an eye catching piece of art which can be used to help solve a mobility difficulty. ‘Flo Standing and Walking Aid’ by REthinkthings is heavily inspired by Salvador Dali and at a glance gets you thinking about what it actually does. In fact it’s a cleverly sculpted walking frame that curves around the bottom of the leg for extra support whilst walking. Flo is a real statement of style which was fantastic to see and a definite highlight for me.

Sport is undeniably a great outlet for disabled and elderly people and I know that lots of my customers enjoy the thought of playing sport once again so it was nice to see sporting products featured in the showcase.

The Grip-Par Golf Glove by Gripeeze is a simple but effective piece of kit for golfers who want to get their swing back. Built with a strap system, the glove locks your grip enabling you to securely grip a club without pain or tension in your hand or wrist, so you to enjoy 18 holes without suffering.

And for wheelchair users looking for adventure, Molten Rock’s off road wheelchair, which allows users to explore the great outdoors, was also included in the showcase. Working a lot like a mountain bike the off-roader travels over grass, mud and sand so you can travel wherever you like. A fantastic piece of equipment which I think will be a welcomed addition to the market.

Finally, technology has played a big role in the 2012 New Product Showcase; the expert’s choice was Scene & Heard, an iPad app which allows users to make images interactive. But let’s not forget about the one handed joystick, Orthros, which creates accessible gaming for all and is a real favourite of mine from Naidex National 2012.

Did you visit Naidex National this week and if so what was your favourite product in the showcase? Please do let me know by leaving a comment below.