I would say that we are already in this position in regards to the larger
off road chairs and scooters which require a larger turning radius and door
openings that older chairs. We are really looking seriously at a 72" turning
radius, 60" isles, and 36-38" interior door openings.

Ron Stewart

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Chapin
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 1/12/01 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: Interesting news article

Just some observations.

The article implies that some of the high cost can be recovered by not
having to build all the ramps and other  accomodations required for
traditional wheelchairs.  For that to work, however, either everybody
needs
to switch to the new wheelchair or were going to end up with two classes
of
wheelchair users.  And who and how the chairs will be paid for will
determine how well the costs can be recovered.

This also has the possibility of requiring a redefinition of some ADA
standards.  For instance, there may have to be new requirements of the
design of stair landings so one of these chair can get through the door
at
the top.  At the moment we don't worry about what happens when a lone
person
in a wheel chair gets to the top of the stairs.

Finally, I don't know if you've been following the ongoing story on GMA,
but
they've been talking about IT.  IT is Kamen's new invention.  Nobody
knows
what IT is, but the people who've seen it say IT is big.  One engineer
said
it came in somewhere between the Internet and workable cold fusion in
terms
of its impact on society.  In a couple of years everybody will have a
couple
of them.  I was originally skeptical since most big inventions are not
recognized as such when they first come out.  But that wheelchair was
very
impressive.  You've got to wonder what else he's been doing.

-----
Paul Chapin
Curricular Computing Specialist
Amherst College
413 542-2144
(The attached vfc file is a virtual business card.  If you don't know
what
that is, ignore it).


 <<Paul D. Chapin (E-mail).vcf>>