The Untold Story of the Fidget Spinner
The worldwide hit fidget spinner, which has kept millions of kids' fingers busy, was invented in the US by a dedicated mom named Catherine Hettinger. However, she hasn't received any money from the toy. Occupational therapists have long used similar distractors to help people concentrate. The initial aim of the spinner was to assist those with autism or hyperactivity to focus and feel calmer. A mother and daughter team co-invented an initial non-mechanical version. The shape evolved over time. Scott McCoskery created a metal spinning device called a "Torqbar" around 2014 to deal with his own fidgeting tendencies. Some teachers claimed the spinners distracted students from their schoolwork. They quickly lost popularity and sales after peaking in May 2017. There have been various patent applications related to the fidget spinner.
The fidget spinner has become a global phenomenon, but its story is full of twists and turns. From its humble beginnings as an invention by a mother and daughter or by Scott McCoskery, to its rise and fall in popularity, the fidget spinner's journey is both fascinating and complex. The initial purpose of helping people concentrate and the various claims and controversies surrounding it make it a topic worth exploring.
