Recently, while touring a client’s medical product museum, my colleague Allison Yale and I were taken by the appearance of the antique wheelchair pictured. As Allison pointed out, now you know how they came up with the term “wheel-chair.” Compared to today’s advanced wheelchairs, this one looks like it could cause more harm than good, due to its unyielding support surfaces. But, I figure it represents one of the best of its day, helping otherwise immobile individuals get around. Fortunately, today’s wheelchairs reflect better human factors. Popular models have cushions that help to prevent pressure sores, adjustable foot and arm supports to accommodate different size people, and built-in restraints to help people with muscle weakness to stay upright. It leads one to consider how wheelchairs – if we’re still using that term – will appear 50 years from now. Already, mobility aids such as Johnson & Johnson’s iBot are standing on two wheels and climbing staircases.