A Brief History of the Wheel Chair

I thought it was time I examined briefly the history of the wheel chair since it is going to bring such a positive change to our life. I wanted to know who I am thankful too.  

The history of wheel chair

• The wheel chair is believed to have entered Europe about the 12th century, along with the wheelbarrow.
• In the early part of the 17th century, German mechanic and inventor Johann Hautsch made several rolling chairs.
• 1655 disabled German watchmaker Stephan Farfler made a three-wheeled chair that he could propel by use of a rotary handle on the front wheel. 
• About 1750 English inventor James Heath introduced the bath chair, intended for use by ladies and invalids. 
• Toward the middle of the 19th century, wheelchairs with wooden frames and seats and backs made out of cane were introduced.
• In the late 19th century, other modifications, such as wire-spoke wheels and rubber tires, were introduced.
• In the 20th century was the invention of the folding wheelchair,
• In 1932, disabled American mining engineer Herbert A. Everest and American mechanical engineer Harry C. Jennings introduced the cross-frame wheelchair, which became the standard design for tubular-steel folding chairs. 
• Following World War II, demand increased for electric wheelchairs. Early electric wheelchairs were essentially standard wheelchairs with motors attached, which came to be known as conventional power wheelchairs. Later, power-base wheelchairs, in which the motor and batteries were positioned beneath the seating component of the chair, were introduced. 

Now, with emerging technoglies the possbilites are limitless. I spoke to a company a while back who want to use Ipads to control power chairs. It is exciting seeing how a power chair brings life and happiness to its user. Faith daily watches the movie of herself in the power chair. It is only a few weeks until she can have another try at the Skippi power chair, though to her waiting that long must feel like a life time.

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