Software designer's passion for hardware improves quality of life for others

By Tech Sgt. Darlene Foote

Reprinted with permission from We Media Inc.

A Standard Systems Group section chief's knack for tinkering with hardware has changed two people's lives here at Maxwell Air Force Base in Gunter Annex, Ala. SSG's Software Factory Windows-DOS Section Chief Hadley Bean is an inventor of sorts. His most recent creation is what he calls a "fitness treadmill" which allows wheelchair users to exercise, much the same as a walking treadmill does for others.

"The precision and durability of this machine is simply amazing," said Rick Hinder, a software program manager, for whom the treadmill was designed. "When I brought two rollers in and showed them to Hadley, I never would have even imagined he would design something like this."

The all-metal stand, which only weighs 100 pounds, consists of three elements: brakes, tension and height. According to Hinder, this allows him to employ an exercise program without any assistance, something he's not been able to do in the past.

"It's a full exercise unit, allowing me to exercise my upper body, back, stomach and cardiovascular system - It's like riding around a track in a stationary mode," he said.
Hinder broke his neck in car accident when he was 16 years old. Because he lives alone, he said being able to function without assistance means a lot to him.

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The "Fitness Treadmill"

"This gift has given me a sense of independence that I didn't have before," he said. People who've seen the apparatus that Bean designed tried to get him to consider putting a patent on it or sell it for mass production.

"There's nothing that even comes close to this that exists on the market," Hinder said. "It's easy to use, lightweight and durable."

Bean, however, says the design is a one-time good deal. "I only did this because it enabled me to make someone's quality of life a little better," he said. According to Bean, the project couldn't have been done without the community's help.

"The cost to make this was minimal because people were so willing to help," said Bean. After Bean created a design in PowerPoint, Robin Roberts, a local machinist transformed it into a computer file that drives an automated metal cutter; J&P Machine shop cut the metal, Ernest Folks, P&A Auto Body Shop donated an emergency hand brake and Carl Cain, Carl's Hardware, donated the hardware.

"This was definitely a community effort that epitomizes the relationship that exists between the base and community here in Montgomery," said Bean.

This new treadmill isn't Bean's first creation. He also created and built a keyboard elevator that allows another SSG member to do her job comfortably. Due to a back injury, Sandi McBride, former Software Factory specialist teams chief, is required to stand 10 minutes of every 30. Bean said he formed the keyboard elevator creation when he noticed McBride trying to stand and type with her keyboard on top of the monitor.
According to McBride, Bean designed and built the keyboard elevator within two weeks. "Hadley is simply a godsend," McBride said. "In a time and environment when most people are thinking of themselves, he's a person who's always thinking of others and what he can do to help them. I think of him as a quiet genius."

"These creative engineering efforts are just two examples of many Hadley's done here on his own time and expense during the past 30 years," said Ken Heitkamp, SSG's technical director and Software Factory director. "His actions clearly demonstrate the unique initiatives we do to improve the work environment for military and civil service personnel with the Standard Systems Group."