Snow Wovel

http://www.wovel.com/

Inventor: Mark Noonan

Product Website: http://www.wovel.com/

How does it work? 

This product (a shovel on a wheel) is quite simple to use, but requires practice for some. The first step to take is to push the snow with the product, like pushing a stroller. Then, push the handle down to get rid of the snow wherever you please. The product must be assembled before it can be used.

** “A study at the University of Massachusetts found back strain from the Wovel is roughly akin to walking, reducing the risk of lower-back injury from shoveling snow by 85 percent.”

Disadvantages: More expensive than a shovel, and must be assembled.

Advantages: Ergonomic, convenient, and three times faster than a shovel.

For those who live in snowy climates, this product proves very useful: it saves time, and most importantly it significantly reduces the risk of back-injuries, and related heart injuries.

Sources:  

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/nyregion/21towns.html?ref=ergonomics#

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1939342_1939395_1939660,00.html

http://www.wovel.com/Products/default.aspx