Wheely-X usage example | Image provided by Kangsters
Kangsters, an able-tech company based in Pangyo Techno Valley, announced that its wheelchair exercise solution, ‘Wheely-X,’ has been named one of Time’s “200 Best Inventions of 2024.”
Developed to help wheelchair users overcome obstacles and slopes that hinder outdoor cardio exercise, Wheely-X functions like a treadmill by allowing wheelchair wheels to spin freely indoors, providing a simple way for users to engage in aerobic exercise. Kangsters also developed an app with the immersive game content to make exercise enjoyable and systematic, enabling sustained activity. Wheely-X’s innovations have earned it the Edison Award grand prize in 2023, the CES 2024 Innovation Award, and now a place in Time’s “Best Inventions of 2024” in the Accessibility category.
Time magazine highlighted that “through Wheely-X and its app, wheelchair users can engage in racing games, wheelchair yoga, and more. These exercises help users tackle uphill movements and transfers independently. This product was also showcased at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and is currently available to individuals, welfare centers, disability sports centers, gyms, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools.”
Kangsters’ CEO, Kang Kim, expressed, “We are honored to be recognized by Time. At Kangsters, we believe everyone should experience the thrill of physical exertion. Aerobic exercise is essential for wheelchair users who spend most of their time seated. Wheely-X offers them a way to lead a healthier, happier life with their loved ones.”
Recently, Kangsters launched an extended game solution called “Wheely-X Play,” featuring eight games, including wheelchair athletics, skiing, and gliding, gaining positive responses from wheelchair users, disability organizations, and public institutions. Wheely-X has been selected as an official event at the National Disabled e-Sports Championship in Korea, with ambitions to expand into the Paralympic e-sports scene globally and to promote a barrier-free culture.
Time highlights groundbreaking products and services each year, selecting 200 items across 28 categories, including Accessibility, Home Appliances, Artificial Intelligence, Beauty, and Robotics. Alongside global leaders like LG, Samsung, and Graphene Square, Kangsters’ inclusion on this list reflects its recognized international competitiveness.
Pangyo Techno Valley is a global integrated R&D hub focused on IT, BT, CT, and NT, integrating Research (R), People (P), Information (I), and Trade (T). As Gyeonggi-do’s representative innovation cluster, Pangyo Techno Valley was established to secure national new growth drivers such as technological innovation, human resource development, job creation, and enhancing international business competitiveness. As of 2023, 1,666 companies employ 78,751 people, and it has positioned itself as the most innovative hub in South Korea, with sales amounting to 167.7 trillion KRW (125.5 billion USD).
Furthermore, the Techno Valley Innovation Division of the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) holds monthly events such as the Pangyo Evening Meet-Up, Pan-Pan Day, and the Pangyo Startup Investment Exchange “In-Best Pangyo” to maximize the value of Pangyo Techno Valley. They also support the Pangyo Overseas Promotion Program to publicize information about Pangyo’s companies, products, and services to domestic and foreign investors and the media, thereby facilitating foreign investment.
