tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post7450511314937448107..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: Waking Man Circa 2012: Exoskeletons By Extensionwilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-71142300400919546472011-12-03T07:01:33.781-08:002011-12-03T07:01:33.781-08:00Matthew, Her death is a social travesty. Stunning ...Matthew, Her death is a social travesty. Stunning that the social supports for people with disabilities are so grossly inadequate. I am so sad. I did not agree with most of what she wrote but the woman could write.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-43336190669236485222011-12-03T06:01:02.112-08:002011-12-03T06:01:02.112-08:00My God. I'm so sorry to hear that. What a wast...My God. I'm so sorry to hear that. What a waste of a life.Matthew Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675719484819810707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-7619599029737770012011-12-03T05:43:51.830-08:002011-12-03T05:43:51.830-08:00Cait, As always thanks for the kind words. The des...Cait, As always thanks for the kind words. The design is poor and requires a great deal of programing and practice before use. <br /><br />Matthew,Thanks for the link. I discovered Life; Paralyzed by Christina Symanski last night. What a morbidly depressing take on paralysis. Of course this is easy for me to note as I do not have the myriad of medical issues that she has endured nor is my injury as high as hers. I was shocked to discover she died December 1. She refused all food and hydration and died in hospice care. This is stunning to me. A real shock. She was a wonderful writer and artist. I will put up a post about her writing and decision to end her life soon.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-14336182282640251482011-12-03T00:39:55.096-08:002011-12-03T00:39:55.096-08:00There is an article here written by a C4 quad, who...There is an article <a href="http://lifeparalyzed.blogspot.com/2010/10/gadgets-gizmos-technology.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> written by a C4 quad, who says this is invention is only useful for those with upper body control (i.e. not her) who can get themselves into the device and control it with their arms. Many quadriplegics cannot even stand upright, even in a standing frame - their blood pressure will start to drop when they are raised.<br /><br />There might be some therapeutic use for it as it enables someone to bear weight and exercise muscles (more than in a static standing frame), and there is a psychological benefit in being able to stand upright and look others (who aren't in wheelchairs themselves) in the eye at their own level. But as a way to get around or a wheelchair replacement, forget it.Matthew Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675719484819810707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-89011611818041435642011-12-02T15:54:26.381-08:002011-12-02T15:54:26.381-08:00I think it's time to look at the exoskeleton f...I think it's time to look at the exoskeleton from an engineer's viewpoint. This contraption is ridiculously impractical, ludricriously expensive, and a logistical nightmare as well. First of all, the inventors of this gizmo intend it to be worn, but like most hi-tech gadgets, it isn't waterproof. What's the wearer supposed to do when it rains, besides pray that they don't get electrocuted? Not wear it outside? Highly impractical. Second, this gizmo is far too heavy to serve the purpose for which it is intended. All the reports I have on this contraption state that it weighs at least 50 lbs. It's unreasonable to expect a paraplegic or any other person with mobility issues to get up & move around carrying something that heavy. Third, the battery life is only 30 minutes despite the significant size & weight of the battery pack. What are you going to do in 30 minutes? It takes longer than that to put the thing on. These failures on what are very simple, basic issues clearly indicate that the design is fatally flawed. Then, there's the 6-figure price tag, ensuring that almost no one but the one percent would be able to afford this contraption, which is probably just as well, since it's ridiculously impractical & clearly a badly engineered piece of junk that isn't going anywhere except the scrap heap. What a waste of time & money! <br />Bill, as usual, you have written a wonderful column & made many excellent points. Bravo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-9457496199325635792011-12-02T11:58:36.550-08:002011-12-02T11:58:36.550-08:00sbcallahan, Veterans are the only people in Ameri...sbcallahan, Veterans are the only people in America that get extensive and comprehensive rehab. Older folks are hurt the most, particularly people that have had strokes. A few weeks of rehab and it is off to a nursing home. This is nothing short of criminal<br /><br />Management, I will admit there is is a limited medical benefit to an exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is not a viable option for paralyzed people as you claim. It is simply too costly and is yet another high end gimmick for the cure industry to dangle in front newly paralyzed people who are too naive to realize it uselessness. As for celebrating technology, I would be happy to do so when I see every person that uses a wheelchair actually gets a wheelchair that is suited for them instead of a cheap clunker insurance is willing to pay for. Sorry, the exoskeleton is a massive waste of limited resources.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-60323056180894419892011-12-02T09:11:53.486-08:002011-12-02T09:11:53.486-08:00Although I respect your perspective, I have anothe...Although I respect your perspective, I have another that is much more optimistic. I work on exoskeletons to give disabled people an option to add to their wheelchair, not a replacement for it. With all the money that is poured into technology that allows people to listen to music, play games, watch TV, etc. why not celebrate those that are using the same technologies to give paralyzed people the option to stand and walk if they so choose.Management Development Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18199115513858484617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-63706626772951250272011-12-01T20:01:10.647-08:002011-12-01T20:01:10.647-08:00guess that is why I like the military medical syst...guess that is why I like the military medical system even though it is socialism. we gave the same service to everyone and yes I mean regardless of rank. need surgery? you got it, if you didn't there was no profit in doing it so it wasn't done. just preaching to the choir here though, still gets my blood boiling thinking about it!sbcallahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07749234003205077740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-37606704578552695712011-12-01T15:18:11.914-08:002011-12-01T15:18:11.914-08:00Phil, There sure is a down side to capitalism that...Phil, There sure is a down side to capitalism that Americans have historically resisted to acknowledge. A profit driven health care system is inherently flawed. I truly feel bad for newly paralyzed people. They are set up to fail the way the system is structured.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-37223730254863048102011-12-01T14:54:26.861-08:002011-12-01T14:54:26.861-08:00Well written, Bill and makes perfect sense. There...Well written, Bill and makes perfect sense. There is not profit in providing supports and assistance to the disabled. There is much profit potential in creating a robocop type exoskelton....Helping people stay in their homes with assistance does not create an IPO ...what a world!Phil Dzialohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04150881545903849250noreply@blogger.com