What are Waterbeds?
Waterbeds consist of mattresses that are filled with water instead of air. There are typically two types of waterbeds: a hard-sided waterbed, in which the water-filled mattress is contained by a wooden frame and rests on a plywood platform; and a soft-sided waterbed, where the mattress sits inside a foam frame on a wooden platform base. The soft-sided waterbed resembles a typical bed, and is designed to accommodate traditional furniture. Though not much is known about early waterbeds, there is evidence that they were used by sick patients in infirmaries from as early as 1871, and were briefly noted in a book by Mark Twain. In 1883, an English doctor patented waterbeds as an invention that could provide comfort to sick patients and prevent bedsores; however, his invention had significant problems with water leakage and temperature control, and did not become popular with the general public. The prototype for the more modern waterbeds was created in 1968 by Charles Hall, who was a design
