FOOT WRITING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 138, 6 March 1920, Page 11

FOOT WRITING

WONDERFUL MACHINE FOR THE AIiMI.ESS. A demonstration of the possibilities of an almost uncanny ice.chanieal substitute for lost limbs kas been given at the Ministry of Pensions in London. The invetor. Mr. George Thompson, an Edinburgh gasfitter, explained the working of the machine. The appliance, which can be fixed to any table, is worked by the feet, a knob being held between the. big and the ndioinint! toe. Levers connect with two "arms." one on each side of the table. Other appliances, fixed on a stand, are used for various actions. The "arms" move over to tho stand and pick out anv of the- appliances, such as a knife, pencil. or scissors. Mr. Thompson, without using his hands, cut up food and placed it in his mouth, drank from a cup, turned the leaves of books, pencilled a design on a sheet of Daper, and cut it out with scissors, picked up a pen and wrote leg. iblv. worked a typewriter, and played a dulcimer! One remarkable test was tho lighting of a cigarette. All the operations were carried out with marvellous •precision and delicacy. Another appliance invented by Mr. Thompson is the "foot-writer." A fountain pen is in a fixed position, and the writing is done by moving the table, on which paper is placed, at different angles. When a fresh piece of paper is required the writer, with his mouth, unclips a fastener and takes and puts on paper by a. vacuum tube made out of a penny trumpet, to which is fixed a rubber ring. Explaining the origin of the machines, Mr. Thompson said: "In 1912 a woman frieini_ lost her sight and could not write bv ordinary means. I. wanted to help her. and made a machine similar to my 'foot-writer.' In 1918 I saw a query in a mechanical iournal from a nian who had lost both arms in the war. . The man was trying to .write with his feet, and asked for some hints. I thought I could put him right with regard to that, and worked on constructing my machine. I .it once saw. that the machine for writing with the feet could he adapted tc many other uses." Surprise having been expressed that Mr. Thompson was a gasfitter, ho (juicily replied: "If you want-a new tiling in any trade you have to go outside that trade for it." ; "I have combed my hair with the machine" Mr. Thompson added, "and I ani sure boots could be repaired with it. I have not tried to slinvo with it, but 1 think it could be done if a Bafety razor were used." A demonstration with both machines was eiven by Mr. Thompson before tho Advisory Committee of the-Ministry and Sir Charles Kenderdine, the Director of Artificial Limbs, told a "Daily Mail" reporter that' the Ministry were much impressed with the invention. "It will probably be tested in one of our training FChools. and-if the Ministry approve, the machines will be supplied to armless men. We cannot do too much for these men." Sir Charles added.