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Reply To: | * EASI: Equal Access to Software & Information |
Date: | Fri, 12 Jan 2001 11:36:31 -0500 |
Content-Type: | multipart/mixed |
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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).
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