
AI-Powered Cushions That Heal: How Kalogon Is Redefining Mobility and Comfort
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Dr. Tamara Nall
What if mobility wasn't just about movement, but freedom? What if the way we sit could unlock dignity, independence, and access for millions of people worldwide? Today on Lead with AI, I'm joined by Tim Balls, an award winning engineer and the founder of Callaghan, a company redefining mobility through intelligent seating technology. Tim's journey began with a bold idea to give wheelchair users their independence. Back in 2014, he invented the first smart wheelchair, a breakthrough that earned Intel's IoT device of the Year award and the endorsement of Stephen Hawking. Since then, he's led innovations in wheelchair suspension, all terrain mobility, and AI powered comfort systems. But Tim's work goes beyond tech. Through his nonprofit Freedom Chairs, he's bringing life changing mobility to underserved communities, all for free. If you care about where innovation meets impact, this conversation will move you. Let's get into it. Welcome to lead with AI. I'm Dr. Tamara Nall. In each episode, we will take you behind the scenes with visionary leaders shaping the future of AI across public and private sectors. Join us as we explore groundbreaking projects and innovations that are transforming industries and making a real impact on people's lives. Let's dive in. Hello, everyone. I'm Dr. Tamara Nall, your host for, for the Lead with AI podcast. And today I'm excited. We have Tim Balls, who is the CEO and co founder of Callaghan. And welcome, Tim, how are you?
Tim Balls
I'm doing wonderful. How are you doing?
Dr. Tamara Nall
I am doing excellent. I've been really, really excited and waiting for this discussion. So let's just get into it.
Tim Balls
Let's do it.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Amazing. So, Tim, first of all, just tell us a little bit about yourself.
Tim Balls
Yeah, so myself, I'm a mechanical engineer. I. I've been working for over 15 years to, you know, serve people with disabilities, starting with a nonprofit that I founded. And I'm all about, you know, bringing the best of technology to everyone.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Amazing. And so let's start off by talking about what and who are you at your core. I feel like every AI product starts with a deeper vision. So how did you become passionate about accessibility and the products that you deliver? And what made you realize that there were needs that existed that you could meet?
Tim Balls
Yes. So. So for me, it all, it all started back in high school where I noticed a student who would pull the recycling behind his, his manual wheelchair. And one day I saw that the recycling bin was too heavy for him, so he had to have someone basically come rescue him and wheel him back to class. And, you know, I asked, you know, why didn't he also have A power wheelchair as well. And his teacher told me that it was denied because he can move, like, 100 yards under his own strength. That didn't feel right. And so I traded a moped for a wheelchair on Craig List. I tripped it out for him. It totally changed his life. And then I had all these other people coming to me needing wheelchairs as well, because their insurance had denied them, or, you know, because of one reason or another, they didn't have insurance. And so since then, I've refurbished and given away well over 150 wheelchairs. And that's kind of why I became an engineer and specifically why this population is one that I serve.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, my goodness. That's amazing. And this was in high school?
Tim Balls
Yep, it was for me. Now it's. It's. It's literally a little over 15 years now.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow. Wow. And for you. For you to kind of have that compassion at such a young age is amazing.
Tim Balls
I have great parents that always taught me empathy. And, you know, that you shouldn't wait for someone to ask for help. If you see a problem and you're able to solve it, then that's what you should do.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, my goodness. That's amazing. And then when did you actually move from just like, helping in kind and with support to commercializing and institutionalizing the company?
Tim Balls
Yes. That's really interesting. You know, for me, one, I never had the. I wasn't smart enough to build the nonprofit in a way. You know, I just. People kept coming to me. Neat. And I just kept refurbishing wheelchairs. It wasn't some grand vision or plan, but as I would work on these wheelchairs, I would see that this technology was so far behind what consumers without disabilities were seeing in their everyday life. And so I was like, hey, you know, it's. It's my. My life's goal to try to bring technology up to speed in this. In the space. So I actually built one of the world's first smart wheelchairs and even got to do some. Some work with that where Stephen Hawking endorsed it. Yeah. And then from there, I was like. I was like, great. You know, I've helped increase the technology, and then I went to SpaceX so I could learn how do you disrupt really hard to disrupt industry so I could create my own company in the space to try to solve more problems. And that's when we realized, you know, seeding for people with disabilities is something where there is a huge issue that if we didn't solve it, we didn't know that it ever would get Solved.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow, that's amazing. And then what products do you have where there's AI infused and in the actual product itself?
Tim Balls
Yeah. So all of our smart cushion products do use AI. What we really start with is what is the problem we can solve and what are the best tools in the world to solve it. And there's this great newer tool, and it's kind of been infused in the product, in some of our core algorithms, even for how the product responds to your body.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow. Wow. So what's that holy smokes moment? So when is that jaw dropping moment? When people first experience your. Your products, your. Your cushions and realize that this really changed everything for them.
Tim Balls
So everyone is used to sitting on these seats that are designed to fit everyone. That's not possible. Someone who weighs 80 pounds is female versus someone who weighs 400 pounds and male. They're the right cushion support for them is never going to be the same. But we've got to create seating that can accommodate all these different shapes and sizes. And so when you sit down on our seat and you suddenly start feeling it shift and move and you feel it like that, like, wow, that this cushion just suddenly fit itself to me. I don't have to fit myself to a seat. And most people have never experienced that in their life. And so whenever they feel the cushion doing that and adapting to their body, that's your holy smokes, wow. Moment.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow. Oh, my goodness. That's amazing. That's amazing. So break it down for us a little bit. If we were to open up the hood or open up the brain of your cushions, what would we find? What actually happening?
Tim Balls
Yeah, so what we're doing is we're using, we have these air cells, and these air cells were able to, to use sensor data to read sort of what's happening with them. And so we effectively can look at the shape of your body and how you're supported and then infer. And then we have algorithms that use some basic machine learning and AI that actually change the way that we're increasing or decreasing air in each of those bladders based on your unique body. So think about it. Where without these tools, you couldn't truly have a custom algorithm for everyone. The fact that, you know, we're able to use machine learning and AI to tune the algorithm to someone's body is one of the ways that we can now truly make a product that fits everyone's individual body rather than being a one size fits.
Dr. Tamara Nall
All right, and you said when it kind of like scans the body or views the body, is it A scanner. Are we entering dimensions? Kind of. How does that work?
Tim Balls
Yeah, so. So there are a couple different ways that our technology kind of manifests depending on the market. Okay. So for someone who uses a wheelchair, we can see how you carry the load of your body with the back pressure whenever you first sit down. And so that's like the. We see the pressure on all of our different, you know, our air cells. And then with that we can see like, oh, you're putting more on the left, the right, or you're carrying more load, like more out to your hips or, or your ischial tuberosities in the middle. And then we can be like, ah, this must be this shape of your body. We adjust and see how that changes how your load is carried and that's how we're able to shape to you. Now, if you're someone who uses a wheelchair, there are certain things we can't scan or know with our sensors. And so that's where there's other inputs for the data. And so there's an application where if you have like a pressure injury in a specific area, you can actually tell the cushion that and it'll take that into account along with your data that it's reading and put that together to, to change the way the cushion interacts with your body.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow. Oh, my goodness. That. That is absolutely amazing. And so if I have your cushion, do I have kind of like this online account and then I can log in and see everything that's related just to me and my cushion.
Tim Balls
So we want to make it super simple. So right now you, like, you download the app, you connect via Bluetooth, almost like it's a pair of headphones. And.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Okay.
Tim Balls
And it pulls the data, and most of the data and the processing is actually done on the unit itself. That way, if you have a clinician or something or a different person sits down, they can connect and then, and then have the seat change to them.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, wow. So the cushion can work. Like I can literally sit in the seat and it'll adjust to me and then someone else can come. It recognizes that it's someone's different, it's somebody else, and it'll. And it'll adjust.
Tim Balls
Exactly. So like for someone who uses a wheelchair, it's typically the same push person in the seat who doesn't need to do that too much. But for like our, our seating that we use for, for pil, we don't know if it's going to be a different pilot flying that plane. And also the pilot doesn't have Time to mess with an app. They need to be focused on what they're doing. And so that's where the cushion does all that by itself. You don't even have to think about it. It just works.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Got it. So what are all the different. So we have those in wheelchairs and accessibility. We have pilots. What other kind of, I guess, verticals are there?
Tim Balls
Yeah. So there's. So think about long duration, like seats, like if you're going to, if you're going to go across the Atlantic or Pacific, you know, even think about like premium economy seats, let's say, where you can't lay flat, you're going to be hurting when you arrive. We can reduce those negative health effects without you having to fully lay flat or get up and move around. And that's, that's something that's truly game changing. Look at like motorcycles. We've even had some stuff for some like, like lay down applications for like Nicus, for example. So there's really a think about this. The most common activity in the world is sitting.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Right?
Tim Balls
And we do sitting better than anybody. So we can change, we can change the lives of anyone who must sit for long periods of time and, and often can't get up and move around, whether it's a job or a disability.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Got it. So let me ask a stretch question. If I'm a gamer and I play games all the time, I could get.
Tim Balls
One of your cushions one day. Yes. We don't have anything for that application yet, but it's certainly one where we see a lot of opportunity to be able to keep you in the game and help you perform at your best.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, wow. Okay. Well, that's great. Talk to us about a real world example that where one of your customers use one of your cushions and you got chills where you like, you know what, We've arrived. We're making a huge difference. And it just sent chills. And you were like, yes, this is, this is my will for what I'm supposed to do. This is my purpose.
Tim Balls
The real world magic, the times where it just like gives me chills. That happens, you know, two, three times a week. Normally it happens where the sales team sends a message of, hey, I just got this story back from one of our reps. You know, whether it's earlier this week, someone saying the first time that they've been able to sit without pain for like 30 years, whether it's someone being able to go like, tell me they'd be able to go on their first road trip to see their grandkids and they thought they'd never were going to because the pain, pressure sore. We've got another individual that we've even got a case study on who she had to, had to stay on bed rest for like two or three years. Her doctor had said he tried everything to solve, solve this wound and he, he wasn't sure what else he could try. And after switching to our cushion, the, the wounds now completely healed.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh my.
Tim Balls
And oh my gosh. The most, one of the most incredible moments of my time at Calagon was going out to a work lunch and having someone call over to me, be like, oh, you're not going to say hi? And then seeing that customer and being like, wait, you're, you're, you're out of the hospital. And she's like, yeah, the progress is going so well that the doctor is letting me get out to go have lunch with my friends again.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow.
Tim Balls
And absolutely, like, that's why we do it. And you know, that's, that's why most of the team is, is here. We're very mission driven. And those, those chill moments, I'm so fortunate to have those on a weekly basis.
Dr. Tamara Nall
That is amazing. I got, I got chills just listening to those examples. That is absolutely, I mean it's like healing. It's not just like sitting, it's actually healing people. And that, that is absolutely amazing. My goodness. Now, you know, this obviously is a powerful tool. What ethical lines are you watching and how do you protect the human in all of this?
Tim Balls
Yeah, that's something that we care so much about that there's, there's likely more we could do to have the cushion interact with you. But we want to be very careful that the way we're implementing things is safe and from an efficacy focused perspective. That's actually why there's a lot of data that we could collect that would probably be valuable to us that we haven't started collecting yet. Because it, us collecting it is not necessarily driving value to the customer in all cases. It's not that it would hurt them, but if we're taking your data and we're not driving you additional value for those data points, is it right for us to take that data and not compensate you with an improved product or something like that? That's one of those things that's tough. I think when we, when we also look at the way everything down to how we market, we see so many people in our industry who doesn't have representative populations involved with the product creation or with the product marketing. And so we make sure that we actually bring in, you know, models who are legitimately people with disabilities, many of them who use our product to be able to show it. And that's something that all those little. And by the way, not only bring them in, but pay them. Because very often people aren't compensating people with disabilities to give their time and their ideas for how you can build these products. And that's something that is infused in all of our business to make sure that we are protecting the human and we're also respecting that human.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Wow. Oh my goodness. That's amazing. I love that, I love that. Actually use your customers in your marketing and your commercials and your ads, et cetera. That's great. And pay them. That's amazing. So let's think about the big future. Let's Fast forward to 2030. What does a future powered by your tech feel like to the everyday person?
Tim Balls
Yeah, so the goal there is like, you know, our company motto right now is live an active seated life. That the more we advance in society, the more that we see people sitting. And our goal is to allow you to be in whatever position is the most important, most beneficial for you in that scenario, but then reduce the negative health effects of that. So whether it's on a long commute in a self driving car, self driving cars are going to mean longer commutes. When that happens, we want to make sure that you don't also have less mobility when you arrive. You know, people traveling long distances. If you can't afford to do lay flat business class seating, I'd love for you to be able to have our technology still have you arrive ready to be effective, ready to enjoy whatever your travel reason is. And so I think the real goal is for our technology to not be intrusive too. So by 2030, I'd love for you to sit on a cushion and you have an expectation that you're sitting on Caligon's technology, but you don't need to know it or be reminded about it. It just needs to work so that you can live your life how you want.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, that is amazing. And is the product, is it for B2C and B2B?
Tim Balls
Yes. So depending on the markets, we'll sometimes have sales channel partners. We don't do. We do a lot of either B2B or B2B2C. Okay. Yep. So in the wheelchair market, we have sales channel partners who are able to make sure that our cushion is fit properly for their wheelchair and able to, you know, just ensure that. Ensure that the Overall seating configuration meets that user's needs.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Okay, got it. Now, I mean, our listeners are going to be wild. So what's one thing they can do to try, build or explore this week to taste a little bit of Caligun's AI magic?
Tim Balls
That's a great question. So if you're someone who utilizes a wheelchair, ask your local ATP to try it. We've got demos all around the country where you can go sit and experience our technology firsthand. That's probably the best way to do it. Right now there are. We don't have any direct to consumer products yet just because the different, you know, regulated markets we work in. But, but that's something we're working towards. Hopefully soon you I'll be able to say, go fly on this airline and, and then you'll be able to experience our technology.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Okay, got it. So that is for somebody who like wants to fly or motorcyclist, et cetera. You'll have that. Now if I am someone who needs this for accessibility, I can go to Mighty P Contact. But then also you mentioned B to B2C. How do I figure out which companies represent that B?
Tim Balls
Yeah. So we have a huge number of channel partners, just about every major dealer in the country and 99% of products for people with disabilities in the assistive technology space go through a dealer that's likely already distributing our products.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Right?
Tim Balls
Yes. So, yeah, so there's tons of companies here and ATP stands for Assistive Technology Professional. There's a website where you can actually look up all the ATPs in your area as well through what's called RESNA. R E S N A.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Okay, good. R E S N A. Because I can imagine they're going to be people who are listening. That's like, oh my gosh, you know, my aunt, my grandfather or somebody has been in bed and they immediately are going to want to go out and see how they can get that. And so they would just go that website.
Tim Balls
Yep. They can also hit our contact form and we can connect them directly with dealers that we work with in their area. If they already have an ATP they love using, they can reach out to them and reach out to us. So we have a contact form. We've got a phone number that you can call and we'd be happy to. To help educate you and get you a chance to experience technology for yourself.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Great. And that's a natural transition to how do people get in contact with you and learn more about your products.
Tim Balls
It's a look at that segue. So, yeah, we, we are, we are quite responsive on both our, our, our phone lines and through our contact us form. You're typically going to get a response in 24 hours or less. But yeah, we're, we're. The cool thing too is we are physically here in Melbourne, Florida. We do almost all of our manufacturing here. Literally we manufacture the product one like one wall away from where I'm sitting. Our engineers are also on the other side of the wall building the technology and working with production to ensure that we're, we're making the greatest products possible. So, you know, if you're, if you're interested and you happen in Melbourne, Florida, let us know. And I might get to say hi myself.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, that's great. And the website, so we can get to the contact form and all of that. Any social media handles any of that?
Tim Balls
Yeah, so it's www.calagon.com and we're typically either like at Calagon or at Calagon official on almost all the social medias.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Got it. Okay. And spell that for them.
Tim Balls
K A, L, O, K, G, O.
Dr. Tamara Nall
N. Perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect. Man, that is just so exciting. I already have some people that I have in mind, so that's really, really exciting. Now we're now moving into a segment that I call from one genius to another. And that's where the previous guest comes up with a question to ask you. So Tim, your question is how can artificial intelligence be leveraged to power underserved populations, particularly those who have been excluded from the tech revolution, such as communities across Africa?
Tim Balls
So I look at AI in a very interesting way here. I don't know which it'll be, but either AI is going to be a great equalizer or it's going to go the other direction. And I think it really all depends on if we implement it thoughtfully. Because in our case, AI is making it so that we can take these populations that capitalism wouldn't have ever been able to justify us making a custom algorithm for every single person. That just wouldn't be feasible.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Right.
Tim Balls
But now we can. And so that's something where I think it is actually able to empower, you know, these underserved populations. I think the same thing for Africa. If we can bring the cost down of different technologies and bring the access to those technologies and access to information, that's the fastest way to pull people out of poverty. And so if we do, if we manage AI appropriately and how we build it out, I think it will be absolutely world changing in a very positive way for underserved populations. But I think if we do it incorrectly, it's probably going to widen that gap. I'm an optimist, so I believe it's going to do. I think it's going to make the world better.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Yeah, no, I totally agree with you on that. And I've had this discussion with folks. I said AI, there's so much talent everywhere. There is so much talent everywhere. And particularly when you think about underserved communities or particular countries that might have not had the tech access. And so now we can take all that brain powder and you can level the playing field. And that's what I'm excited about. I'm excited about that one little girl or that one little boy who now through AI is able to share their talents and their innovation and their tech with the world. And that is very exciting. So hopefully it's going to be on the optimistic side and be the equalizer, which is what I think too.
Tim Balls
Absolutely. And we're going to keep working to do our best to help influence that outcome.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Yes. Now also in our research, I know you have a non profit. You want to talk a little bit about that?
Tim Balls
Yeah. So I run a small non profit that's based out of Indiana called Freedom Chairs. So we're not as big as we used to be just because I spent a lot of time obviously running Caledon. But we'll typically do four to five wheelchairs a year. We'll donate at least. I'll go up to Indiana, I'll refurbish them, get them ready, and then as the needs come in, I'll coordinate to get people a wheelchair. So if you're in and around Indiana, specifically like the Indianapolis Decatur area and you do need a wheelchair, feel free to, feel free to reach out and we'll see what we can do to help you.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, that's amazing. Thank you for that. Very, very amazing. So now we have rapid fire. So what's the most overrated tech trend right now?
Tim Balls
I think the way we talk about AI makes it feel overrated, but I think that's the other thing is I think it's also underrated, but not in the ways we talk about it. So that's, that's a difficult answer, but I'd say the way people talk about AI makes it overrated, but the way it's leveraged is probably underrated. We don't realize how much it's actually going to change yet.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Got it. So that kind of goes into the second rapid fire, which is under hyped AI breakthrough. So is it related or is that something different?
Tim Balls
Oh, I, I would say it's something different. I would say the underhyped. Is that the individuality we're going to be able to get? I think it really is the how it's going to be able to level the playing field and ensure that people have custom solutions to them, not the solutions that fit the average mass of society.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Oh, I love that. I love that answer. One book everyone should read on the future.
Tim Balls
This is a, this is a tough one on the future. I feel like there's so many, you know, for me, if you're looking at like, you know, like, like entrepreneurship, there's so many great books. But if you're looking at specifically on the future, I think, or just a.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Great book, I do say on the future. But if you just want to do a great book, that'd be helpful. That's good too.
Tim Balls
I'll do my most recent read.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Okay.
Tim Balls
I think my, I think on the Future actually would be the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell because that's understanding how major shifts in society happen. I think if you understand that that's huge. A recent, really interesting book I read was recommended by a friend of mine called the Third Door. So for any entrepreneur types, it's one that I had, it's my first time ever being recommended it and it was a pretty, pretty interesting and entertaining book.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Got it. Got it. Okay. The Third Door.
Tim Balls
Yep.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Great. I'm gonna go read it after this and get it after this. What's the boldest AI prediction you believe in?
Tim Balls
I. This is rapid fire, but I'm too thoughtful on these.
Dr. Tamara Nall
You're not the first. It actually, I would say, I would say 90% of people drag it out versus Bam, Bam, Bam. So it's fine.
Tim Balls
You know, I truly believe like self driving cars are going to happen within the next, you know, five to eight years. And where I'm excited about that is for people like, like my grandparents or people who aren't able to drive. And I think access act. I think, yeah, I think the access that's going to bring to populations that don't have the freedom to travel today, that's what I'm really. I think that's going to absolutely change the world way more than, you know, people getting a couple more minutes back to be able to, you know, pop in the laptop or take a nap. I don't really care about that. I care about the access it's going to bring to people that today don't have access.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Love that all of your answers really speak to your heart about everything. And so that. That is amazing. Well, Tim, was there anything that I didn't ask that you thought I would or should? Anything you want to share. This has been a very exciting discussion. I'm excited for everyone who's listened.
Tim Balls
So I would ask you, what do you think is the most overrated tech trend?
Dr. Tamara Nall
You know, honestly, based on everything, it's all of the AI agents that are being developed and whether you can build an AI agent. But is it really, really making a difference at scale and to your point about customization and being able to produce something that is very individualized. So there are a lot of people talking about agents. I'm very happy because it does create this whole entrepreneurial bust, if you will, going on. But I think there are a lot of people talking about agents themselves and what they are, and I kind of think that's where I am on that one.
Tim Balls
I think. I agree. I think there's going to be very specific tasks that AI is going to be great for. But, but a generalized agent to act as like a true assistant. I, I see it being better than what we saw with like Siri and Alexa, but I don't see it getting to where the hype is, is claiming is going to be.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Right. Right. Yeah, that's kind of where. That's kind of where I am. Nothing against those that are creating them. Good for you. I just would ask that they kind of make sure that they're forward thinking, trending thinking as they develop the agents.
Tim Balls
I agree. I agree. Well, thank you so much for taking the time.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Absolutely. Thank you. And thanks for what you're doing for the world and it's truly inspirational. And just learning your story about how you started is absolutely amazing. So thank you so much.
Tim Balls
All right, thank you so much for your time.
Dr. Tamara Nall
Awesome. Thanks for tuning in to be with AI. I'll see you next time as we continue exploring the cutting edge innovations shaping AI across the public and private sectors. Until then, keep leading with AI.
Podcast Summary: Lead With AI – "AI-Powered Cushions That Heal: How Callaghan Is Redefining Mobility and Comfort"
Released on May 13, 2025
In this compelling episode of Lead With AI, host Dr. Tamara Nall engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Tim Balls, the award-winning engineer and founder of Callaghan. The discussion delves into how Callaghan is revolutionizing mobility and comfort through AI-powered cushion technology, transforming the lives of wheelchair users and beyond.
Tim Balls brings over 15 years of experience as a mechanical engineer dedicated to serving people with disabilities. His journey into this field was sparked in high school when he observed the struggles of a fellow student using a manual wheelchair. This incident ignited his passion for accessibility, leading him to refurbish and donate over 150 wheelchairs through his nonprofit, Freedom Chairs.
[03:46] Dr. Tamara Nall: "That's amazing. And this was in high school?"
[03:49] Tim Balls: "Yep, it was for me. Now it's literally a little over 15 years now."
Motivated by the technological lag in mobility aids, Tim founded Callaghan with the mission to integrate advanced technology into seating solutions. In 2014, he invented one of the world’s first smart wheelchairs, earning Intel’s IoT Device of the Year award and the endorsement of the late Stephen Hawking. His subsequent innovations include wheelchair suspension systems, all-terrain mobility solutions, and AI-powered comfort systems.
[04:21] Tim Balls: "I traded a moped for a wheelchair on Craigslist. I tripped it out for him. It totally changed his life."
Callaghan’s flagship products are smart cushions that leverage artificial intelligence to provide personalized support and comfort. These cushions utilize air cells and advanced algorithms to adjust in real-time, adapting to the unique needs of each user.
[05:32] Dr. Tamara Nall: "So all of our smart cushion products do use AI."
[06:07] Tim Balls: "When you sit down on our seat and you suddenly start feeling it shift and move and you feel it like that, like, wow, that this cushion just suddenly fit itself to me."
The smart cushions are equipped with sensors that collect data on the user’s body shape and pressure distribution. Machine learning algorithms process this data to adjust the air in each bladder, ensuring optimal support tailored to individual needs.
[06:58] Tim Balls: "We use sensor data to read sort of what's happening with them. We effectively can look at the shape of your body and how you're supported and then infer... use machine learning and AI to tune the algorithm to someone's body."
While initially designed for wheelchair users, Callaghan’s cushions have versatile applications across various industries. They enhance comfort for long-duration seating in airplanes, improve support for motorcyclists, and hold potential for gaming and other scenarios requiring extended sitting.
[10:09] Tim Balls: "We can reduce those negative health effects without you having to fully lay flat or get up and move around. That's something that's truly game changing."
Tim shares profound stories illustrating the life-changing impact of Callaghan’s cushions. From alleviating chronic pain to enabling individuals to embark on long-awaited trips, these narratives underscore the profound benefits of the technology.
[12:16] Tim Balls: "We have another individual that we've even got a case study on who she had to stay on bed rest for like two or three years. Her doctor... after switching to our cushion, the wounds now completely healed."
Callaghan places a strong emphasis on ethical AI usage and human-centric design. The company is cautious about data collection, ensuring that any data gathered directly benefits the user. Additionally, Callaghan actively involves individuals with disabilities in product development and marketing, compensating them fairly for their contributions.
[13:28] Tim Balls: "We make sure that we actually bring in models who are legitimately people with disabilities, many of them who use our product to be able to show it. And by the way, not only bring them in, but pay them."
Looking ahead to 2030, Tim envisions a world where Callaghan’s technology seamlessly integrates into everyday life, providing unobtrusive support that enhances mobility and comfort without drawing attention. The goal is to ensure that increased societal sitting does not compromise individuals’ health and mobility.
[15:20] Tim Balls: "By 2030, I'd love for you to sit on a cushion and you have an expectation that you're sitting on Callaghan's technology, but you don't need to know it or be reminded about it. It just needs to work so that you can live your life how you want."
Callaghan operates through both B2B and B2B2C models, partnering with major dealers and Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP) to distribute their products. This approach ensures that their cushions are properly fitted and accessible to a wide range of users.
[16:34] Tim Balls: "In the wheelchair market, we have sales channel partners who are able to make sure that our cushion is fit properly for their wheelchair and able to, you know, just ensure that the overall seating configuration meets that user's needs."
In a dynamic rapid-fire segment, Tim shares his candid thoughts on current tech trends and AI's future impact:
Most Overrated Tech Trend:
[23:13] Tim Balls: "The way we talk about AI makes it feel overrated, but the way it's leveraged is probably underrated."
Most Underrated AI Breakthrough:
[23:34] Tim Balls: "It's the individuality we're going to be able to get. AI can provide custom solutions that fit individual needs rather than average mass society solutions."
Recommended Book:
[24:02] Tim Balls: "The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and The Third Door for entrepreneurs."
Boldest AI Prediction:
[25:07] Tim Balls: "Self-driving cars are going to happen within the next five to eight years, providing access to populations that currently lack the freedom to travel."
The episode concludes with Tim encouraging listeners to experience Callaghan's technology firsthand through local Assistive Technology Professionals or by contacting the company directly. He emphasizes Callaghan’s commitment to making advanced seating solutions accessible and impactful.
[19:58] Tim Balls: "It's www.callaghan.com and we're typically either like at Callaghan or at Callaghan official on almost all the social medias."
Dr. Nall expresses profound admiration for Tim’s dedication and the transformative potential of his work, highlighting the inspirational nature of the conversation.
[27:37] Dr. Tamara Nall: "Thank you so much for what you're doing for the world. It's truly inspirational."
Callaghan Contact Information:
AI-Powered Innovation: Callaghan’s smart cushions exemplify how AI can be harnessed to create personalized, life-enhancing solutions for individuals with disabilities.
Human-Centric Design: Ethical considerations and active involvement of users in the design and marketing process ensure that technology serves its intended purpose without compromising user dignity.
Future Impact: The integration of AI in everyday seating solutions has the potential to significantly improve quality of life, making mobility and comfort accessible to a broader population.
Community and Accessibility: Through both nonprofit efforts and commercial endeavors, Callaghan is dedicated to expanding access to advanced mobility solutions, reinforcing the role of technology in fostering independence and well-being.
This episode of Lead With AI not only showcases innovative technology but also underscores the profound human impact that thoughtful AI integration can achieve. Tim Balls’ journey and Callaghan’s mission serve as a beacon of how AI can be leveraged to empower underserved communities and redefine comfort and mobility for millions worldwide.