| It all started back in the mid sixties with a young | | | | benefit for handicapped and injured patients. A |
| engineer called Charles Yost. Sadly he died of | | | | number of advances were made to the original |
| pancreatic cancer in March 2005, however before | | | | design and special properties and structures were |
| then he enjoyed an exciting and fruitful career. | | | | incorporated that could combine various desirable |
| Charles Yost was working for an aerospace | | | | properties. It was subsequently used for |
| company on the development of new airline seats | | | | veterinary applications |
| that would absorb the stresses of an impact and | | | | Developments of the technology have appeared |
| thus improve the chances surviving a crash. For | | | | in motorsport such as Formula 1 and NASCAR |
| this he developed a modified viscoelastic polymer | | | | racing and motorbike saddles. Other sports that |
| that was able to absorb the force of a high | | | | have made use of the technology include horse |
| energy impact, yet remain soft much similar to | | | | racing and eventing, water sports, archery, golf |
| memory foam. The material was adopted for | | | | and football. |
| aircraft seating as it improved safety and was | | | | The technology was sold on to a Swedish |
| much more comfortable than conventional foams | | | | company who developed it for the major |
| as, due to its viscoelastic properties, it deformed | | | | commercial markets. As volumes increased prices |
| to match the contours of the body thus providing | | | | fell and the material is now readily accessible. Its |
| a good distribution of pressure. He set up a | | | | major application is for comfortable mattresses |
| company to produce and market the material in | | | | that combine support with the properties of |
| 1969. | | | | conforming to the body contours. Advances are |
| Apart from aircraft seating, the material was | | | | still being made to the properties of the material, |
| used initially in medical applications primarily for | | | | and laminate structures incorporating a range of |
| orthopaedics where it was used with great | | | | different foams are now available. |