| George Johann Klein invented the electric-powered | | | | by originating the concept of the electronic wheelchair. |
| wheelchair in the 1950s. Considered as the most | | | | Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on August 15, 1904, |
| productive Canadian inventor of the 20th century, his | | | | George Klein became an Officer of the Order of |
| other notable inventions include the microsurgical staple | | | | Canada in 1968 and was later inducted to the |
| gun, the ZEEP nuclear reactor, the Canadarm, and the | | | | Canadian Science and Technology Museum Hall of |
| Weasel all terrain vehicle. Klein was working for the | | | | Fame (in 1995) because of his work on the electric |
| National Research Council of Canada when he came | | | | wheel chair and other noteworthy inventions. He died |
| up with the electric wheelchair which was meant for | | | | on November 4, 1992 in Ottawa at the age of 88 |
| injured World War II veterans. | | | | years. |
| In 2005, the first successfully working electric | | | | His inventions, however, keep him alive in the memory |
| wheelchair was welcomed back to Canada during the | | | | of people all over the world, especially of those who |
| official launch of Klein's biography in Ottawa. The chair | | | | are enjoying the independence and mobility that he |
| had been given to the government of the United | | | | made possible through the electric wheelchair. Today |
| States in 1955 in a gesture to demonstrate the | | | | there are many adaptations of this kind of wheelchair, |
| commitment of Canada to help disabled individuals all | | | | which has been customized to the different needs of |
| over the world. It is now displayed at the Canada | | | | individuals. Rear, centre, front wheel and four wheel |
| Science and Technology Museum. | | | | drive variants are presently available. |
| The electric wheelchair has been dubbed as Canada's | | | | Originally meant for quadriplegics and invalids who can |
| Great Invention. Its development was spurred by the | | | | not self-propel a manual wheelchair due to certain |
| influx of veterans of the Second World War who had | | | | disabilities, the electric-powered wheelchair is now also |
| become disabled by injuries sustained in battle. The | | | | prescribed for persons who have cardiovascular |
| concerted efforts of the National Research Council of | | | | conditions. It can be designed for use indoors or |
| Canada, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, and | | | | outdoors, or for both. There are portable models and |
| Canada's Department of Veteran Affairs resulted in | | | | full featured "rehab" models. There are kinds that have |
| an electric motor propelled wheelchair that was | | | | on-board chargers while others have separate |
| actually useful. | | | | chargers. |
| Before the advent of this type of wheelchair, | | | | The electric wheelchair is controlled by means of |
| quadriplegics had no way to move around by | | | | joysticks or other kinds of devices such as chin |
| themselves. A little earlier, Canadian Paraplegic | | | | controls or puff/sip scanners. These controllers can |
| Association founder John Counsel had successfully | | | | regulate not only the chair's speed and direction but |
| lobbied the Canadian Government for the mass | | | | also other functional movements, such as recline, tilt, |
| purchase of manual wheelchairs. This helped | | | | seat elevation, and leg elevation, that make its |
| paraplegic veterans but not quadriplegics. Dr. Klein, in | | | | occupant able to perform certain motions and activities |
| collaboration with medical practitioners, patients, | | | | that would not have been possible otherwise. |
| engineers, and scientists, then moved into the breach | | | | |