If you're like most people, giving a simple thing like a caster and its function isn't even given a second thought - perhaps it's not even given a first thought to begin with. But the places that these wheels are used are many, and they make life so much simpler just because of how they help people function.

For example, people in the medical field rely on these small wheels to get patients around and quickly. A bed can be moved while it is still occupied by unlocking the casters at the bottom, and just pushing the bed to where it needs to go. The same is true for other areas of the medical field as well - having all equipment on carts with wheels allows doctors and nurses to move the equipment to where they need it.

These handy wheels are most likely being used right now as you read this as they are attached to most all desk chairs. Allowing freedom to move away from the desk, still in your chair, to grab something behind you and also position yourself more comfortably at your desk.

They are also used on shopping carts, allowing you to mover around stores with ease. They have an automatic swivel that makes the object the wheels are on align itself to the direction it is moving.

Those that are in wheelchairs benefit greatly from casters as they are able to easily turn around in a relatively small space. Without this type of wheel, a large area would be required to turn around and go the other direction, much like a car would need. With the ability to "turn on a dime", casters make it possible for big movement in a small way.

So the next time you sit down or are in a grocery store, notice how many things actually run on these handy types of wheels.