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Stability Strength and Safety Electrical System Suspension System Accessibility and Maneuverability Other Features Genesis of the DesignJim Finch, at the age of 14, was paralyzed at the C-1 level in 1978 by a hit and run drunk. Over the following several years, his family and particularly Tom Finch, his father became very disenchanted with the technical development and safety of all power wheelchairs available. Jim, on the other hand, was very tired of being left stranded by broken wheelchairs. His father and stepmother Janet went on a worldwide hunt for a better-powered wheelchair. As Jim grew into adulthood, his father taught him engineering and Texas Rehabilitation Commission provided education for him to get a degree in computer science. Jim uses voice to operate his computer and does most of the more difficult mechanical engineering. Jim's brother, Tom III provided all the computer and software backup as Jim started to find a more spirited way to build a powered wheelchair. Tom develops printed circuit technology. His father was completing his 30th year of aircraft design and it seemed to be a good time for the family to attack the problem with vigor. Since Tom III and his father made significant contributions to the aircraft industry including several patents, and since all powered wheelchair engineering departments were using technology previously developed in Aviation, Automotive, and similar very large industries, it seemed that they should go around the bottleneck and develop technology directly for the powered wheelchair industry. The first result was the transmission-steered WmegaTrac®, a powered wheelchair base that was instantly recognized as the best in the industry by a wide margin. Several patents have been awarded on the various technologies in the WmegaTrac® with more in work. Adjustable and powered seating under the FirstClass® name and other power bases are in various stages of development and certification. |
