Generally, only very high-end wheelchairs have shock absorption built in, necessitating wheelchair-accessible entrances to buildings. “It’s difficult and painful to use a wheelchair to cross the street, with the chair’s rider feeling the strong impact of a chair going off the sidewalk and onto a curb,” said Barel. “With a SoftWheel-equipped chair, a wheelchair user can cross streets or go down steps without feeling the impact.”
@Michael Lau Presumably yes, since part of your energy will go into moving the hub within the wheels. But since they're springs, you'll get most of that back, so it's probably close enough to a wash to not matter much. Especially on a purely A-to-B type bike like a folder. Edison Ong April 18, 2013 06:40 AM

You’ll notice your loopwheel has more movement, vertically and laterally. As soon as the springs are loaded, they compress and further change their concentricity. This is what gives you wheelchair comfort and shock absorption. A Loopwheel is designed to absorb shocks, reduce jolting and cushion your body against vibration. You’ll notice more sideways movement than with a spoked wheel, but you’re trading rigidity for greater comfort.
Things turn even further in the favor of the ASW system if you factor in punctures, blowouts, tire fires and how long a truck has to be out of service each year while those monster tires get changed. ASW treads are bolt-on, bolt-off chunks that can be changed with very little gear, without even jacking any wheels up, and done in sections during shift changes and lunch breaks so the truck's never out of service due to tires. They can also ship much more cheaply, since the whole assembly can be broken down into bits that easily fit in a regular shipping container.