The electric chair was introduced by Thomas Edison's company in 1887, however they had to proove to the press and to the public that this is a quick way and a painless way of dying compared to hanging. He prooved this by doing public executions of animals. In 1889 most states switched from hanging to the electric chair. It is still used today as an alternative that is offered in some states to death row inmates. It can take anywhere from 20 seconds to 8 minutes to kill someone in it.