Opening doors: Portal's hands-free door device wins innovation awards

BYU students have created a hands-free device that automatically opens doors for wheelchair users without a need for a handicap button. “It's the first time that a door will actually be more accessible to someone in a wheelchair than to an able-bodied person,” said creator Morgen Glessing, an entrepreneurship major in the BYU Marriott School and CEO of Portal.
Portal's device attaches to the motor on automatic doors so that the door opens automatically as a wheelchair user approaches and doesn't close until the user is safely through. Wheelchair users need only download an accompanying smartphone app and have their phone in a pocket or in their backpack to activate a door once they reach a 5-foot radius.
Glessing and fellow BYU students Samuel Lew, Josh Horne and Jake Parry created their device, named Portal, after they learned the challenges wheelchair users have with automatic doors. The team interviewed 254 wheelchair users over several weeks and discovered that the large, silver door-opening buttons most people assume are simple to use are actually often problematic.
They also learned
• Nearly 80 percent of those they surveyed have trouble with handicapped-enabled doors
• 1/3 buttons are out of ADA code; they are too high or too low or difficult to access
• Some wheelchair users don’t have the physical strength to push the buttons
• Published research shows at least 1/10 buttons don’t work
• Buttons can be on the wrong side of the door, causing the door to close before a wheelchair user can enter
“When you talk to someone in a wheelchair about their daily life and struggles, you learn so many things an able-bodied person never realizes,” Glessing said. “Our wheelchair-using friends simply want to go about their day as you and I do.”
Thanks to major support from a Crocker Innovation Fellowship and mentoring from the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology and the Ballard Center, the students’ ideas evolved into a working device and a viable business model. The current device is a microcomputer that hardwires directly into the door motor and then communicates to anyone with the smartphone app via Bluetooth.
Along the way, the Portal team has won praise and several awards, finishing first place at the BYU Student Innovator of the Year Competition (and $6,000), the BYU Business Model Competition ($5,000) the BYU Mobile App Competition ($3,250) and the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge ($40,000) hosted by the University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. They were also a National Finalist at the TCU Values and Ventures competition.
More importantly, Portal has earned praise from wheelchair users who have demoed the device - some of whom have friends meet them at every doorway throughout the day to gain access to buildings.
“The biggest thing that I absolutely love is that I don’t have to worry about the door slamming on me and making a big scene,” said recent BYU grad and wheelchair user Kylie Webster. “It’s embarrassing for people like me when that happens. Now I don’t have to worry about it being open in time and I don’t have to worry about going out of my way to push a button.”
Glessing said the Portal device will be on 150 doors across five institutions by the end of April. If everything goes as planned, they will have the product on 1,000 doors at at least 10 locations by the end of summer.
“It’s been rewarding because we’re not only create a sustainable business, but we’re creating a business that directly improves the quality of someone’s life,” he said.

[@benjaminrjacob]

Really cool! Great application of science and compassion

[@daverobison8269]

Love how the University is constantly coming up with great new things for humanity!

[@Johntb100]

Thanks 4 knocking down a barrier.

[@scottclark1440]

I love these messages. Thank you BYU!

[@danielhaynes2064]

BYU always seems to be at the front on technology.

[@jenniferhunt7086]

What a wonderful way to study and serve! Keep making the world a better place!

[@drsohm]

Wonderful the innovation that comes out of the Y

[@scubaguymi]

Very cool tech. Making the world more accessible is a blessing to so many.

[@Johntb100]

God Bless Morgan Glessing.

[@megangriffin-tk8xi]

This is amazing! Thank you for making ggthe world a better place

[@brendadavis756]

Great Solution!

[@janinetaylor4658]

Love this! Such a worthwhile innovation!

[@gregricks9742]

Great Job!

[@lavia0125]

It is a good tool, where I can find this and buy ?

[@mattbsavage]

Great idea!

[@sistermandajones]

Wonderful job! Congrats

[@danwooten255]

Is there a web site for this product?

[@PNewman]

Inspiring!

[@TylerHeaps]

Really cool!

[@ruchty07]

I love this!

[@KennyMcNett]

Nice! Do you see this also being used by delivery workers? Parents with strollers? What about people that don't need it but like the convenience?

[@Fahrenheit4051]

They can probably download the app too. Another example of assistive technology helping everyone.

[@7ajhubbell]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 😂🙏🏼💜

[@tpull]

That's amazing! Have you applied for a patent? How can I bring this to Canada?

[@justinphelps947]

Any contact information available for these guys??? Or if any of the team are reading this - reply - and I’ll tell you my contact info; and explain why this could be life changing for my 9 year old daughter!!!
Also- I Love seeing minds actually put to use to solve problems that HELP PEOPLE instead of just the next new gadget to make $$$!!!
Thanks for your time!

[@sa2urn929]

Had this Great Idea, then found this video. Someone already had the idea.

[@GGrantLundberg]

Seems so simple yet it's a major hurdle to overcome. Fantastic project!

[@annapulsipher3048]

Love all the good that BYU does!