Exhibit: "Wheelchair Marathon"
Venue: "Sport" Show, Ontario Science Centre
Location: Toronto, Canada
Date: Summer, 1990
Client: Ontario Science Centre
Contributors: Matthew Bates in the employ of OSC (programming), OSC design and fabrication (housing, electronics)

Client's Requirements: Disabled sports, in particular wheelchair sports, are well organized, very competitive and popular, like abled sports. Many many thousands of athletes are involved in various programs in Canada and throughout the world. The Ontario Science Centre wanted to bring about a level of awareness in the public as part of the "Sport" show. Wheelchair racing is probably the most organized of the disabled sports. People are asked to have an on the spot 50 meter wheelchair race.

Fulfillment: The wheelchairs were fixed to run on metal rollers fitted with rotating sensors. A microprocessor decoded the signals, determined speed and distance and updated the displays. Visitors are presented with speed, distance and maximum speed information for themselves and their opponent.

Interesting Features: Besides being an interesting and invigorating activity this exhibit bridged the subtler taboos associated with sitting in a wheelchair, quite a powerful experience.