Part-Time Genius 9 Helpful Facts About Assistive Technology
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Mar 17, 2026 They explore quirky historical assistive devices like ear trumpets and the world’s biggest collection. They trace wheelchair breakthroughs from hand-cranked to foldable designs. They highlight tech such as talking books, a camera-to-vibration portable reader, robotic dining arms, multi-control faucets, AAC systems, and how curb cuts and captions created broad accessibility gains.
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Talking Books Originated For Blind Listeners
- Audiobooks began in the 1930s as Talking Books created for blind people using longer-play records.
- The American Foundation for the Blind and the U.S. government produced recordings like Shakespeare and Washington's Farewell Address in 1934.
Watchmaker Built The First Self-Propelled Wheelchair
- Stefan Farfler, a 17th-century German watchmaker turned paraplegic, built the first self-propelled wheelchair in 1655 using hand-crank gears.
- His design resembled a recumbent tricycle and used geared front wheels drawing on his watchmaking skill.
Modern Foldable Wheelchair Came From Users
- Herbert Everest and Harry Jennings redesigned wheelchairs in 1930s California to be lightweight and foldable.
- Their X-frame folding design became the basis for the standard hospital wheelchair used widely today.