MIT’s levered wheelchair extends freedom to Third World

[kpete]

Source: Boston Globe



Some students go to MIT to plumb the mysteries of the atom, or of outer space, or to press the limits of computer science.

Amos Winter went another way: He’s trying to revolutionize the wheelchair. Specifically, he wants to make that most familiar aid to the disabled work in the Third World, where roads are bad, money tight, and the need immense.

A doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, Winter calls his invention the Leveraged Freedom Chair - leveraged because it is powered by hand levers.

Abdullah Munish has another name for it. “I call it my little angel machine,’’ he said.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2010/03/08/mit_engineer_designs_wheelchair_that__takes_on_third_world_conditions/

[tosh]

1. Now, that's cool!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That is a fascinating article!

I applaud Amos Winter's efforts.

[Ocracoker16]

3. pretty neat

[Journeyman]

4. Excellent. . . always impressed when people work towards improving other's lives. . .

[WhiteTara]

5. thanks for the good news

it's always wonderful when someone actually thinks outside themselves and the idea is to help others. He is a little angel machine himself.

[PfcHammer]

6. I htink I've seen some incumbent bicycles that work on that principle

[Fumesucker]

9. Recumbent, not incumbent.. n/t

[gvstn]

7. Great idea! Great post!

Thanks for posting this article. Very interesting and nice to hear that a young man got so interested in using his skills to help others.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was a great start to getting the disabled to be seen as part of the community and has helped many by making things like ramps and handicapped accessible bathrooms commonplace. We've still got a ways to go but are very lucky compared to many other countries. That Mr. Winter chose to use his skills to address problems in countries where his ideas will make him few dollars but improve lives is very admirable. Kudos to him!

[truthisfreedom]

8. Goes to show you can always vastly improve some simple mechanical design

Truly excellent!

[canetoad]

10. That is truly

a life changing invention. Great stuff.

[Hekate]

11. KnR. This is great.

:D :applause: :toast: