tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post987436008257970987..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: You Cannot Kill a Bad Idea: The Exoskeleton Liveswilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-12222608774597427992011-06-10T15:37:38.309-07:002011-06-10T15:37:38.309-07:00This doesn't go with the post, but I thought t...This doesn't go with the post, but I thought this was fascinating. I wonder if there could be an application for it regarding wounds like the ones you had:<br /><br />http://www.bookofjoe.com/2011/06/behindthemedspeak-skin-gun.html#commentsBecshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057614535554183360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-84513397736617113642011-06-09T08:18:26.233-07:002011-06-09T08:18:26.233-07:00Here I refer to an invention that I think combines...<em>Here I refer to an invention that I think combines technology with an additional cool factor. The New York Times reported about a device that enables a high level quad to steer his or her wheelchair via a tongue piercing. The magnetic stud would allow a person to steer the wheelchair with their tongue thereby negating the need for a sip and puff wheelchair.</em><br /><br />A tongue control for a wheelchair has already been done -- Brooke Ellison uses one, and a friend of mine had one until 2009 or 2010 when it broke down, along with her power chair, coincidentally, and along with the company that made the device, so her next wheelchair had to be a sip-and-puff. The tongue device is a remote control fitted into the roof of the mouth like a dental retainer, and can be used for environmental control (e.g. switching lights and heaters on), and is particularly useful for someone with little or no head movement (such as some C1 quads). All that's needed is for someone to pick up the technology. No piercing required.Matthew Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675719484819810707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-69222200081090043362011-06-08T21:37:28.191-07:002011-06-08T21:37:28.191-07:00Well, I took a look at "eLegs" on YouTub...Well, I took a look at "eLegs" on YouTube. I think Nic's point about uses in rehab are good, although it seems a very cumbersome device for such a thing, aren't there other ways of producing similar results?<br /><br />The woman who tries the legs speaks of part of her "spirit dying" when she became disabled, which doesn't really help peoples perception of disability!<br /><br />And of course it wasn't long before military applications were mentioned in the video. Or that it came out of the HULC load carrier (the military application came first?). <br /><br />People, for better or worse have been interested in using science and technology, not for rehab, but for "human enhancement" for a very long time (turns up in sci-fi books and movies all the time). The belief that if we are somehow physically improved will lead to a happier better life? We all want to be super-heroes? I don't know.<br /><br />It seems quite sad to me that in general people believe that happiness or quality of life comes from certain physical aspects of ourselves or the possession of "stuff". <br /><br />This exoskeleton just seems impractical, and even though I'm sure the design will improve, the price won't.emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04195918097785592926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-42679365482072734922011-06-08T21:01:47.908-07:002011-06-08T21:01:47.908-07:00My engineering prof. always says that good enginee...My engineering prof. always says that good engineers solve problems. I can't see what problem is being solved here. No one wants this invention, which is a severe marketing flaw- not checking with your target demographic to find out if they want a product _before_ you develop it. This invention's design flaws are too numerous to list, so I'll just pick on a few. I would NEVER have turned in a project like the exoskeleton for engineering because it's so severely flawed.<br />In the first place, it's way too heavy. We're dealing with people who have minimal to no muscle strength in specified areas- how are they supposed to carry 50 pounds of gear? It's ridiculous. From an engineer's point of view, (I'll try not to bore everyone) this invention is going in exactly the wrong direction, however, it's not going there (or anywhere else, for that matter) quickly. Talk about going nowhere fast. <br />Clearly, advanced theoretical physics are a must here. If I had been on this project, _and_ ordered to design an external solution, I would've started with anti-gravity boots (a popular novelty item) and gone on to develop hip-high boots with full support up to the waist and a complete anti-gravity field generator, which would probably be around the waist. Battery technology exists which is sufficient to power the unit but may be worn discreetly around the waist and according to my research on other biomedical devices, it would be smaller than a deck of cards and weigh no more than an obnoxious belt buckle.<br />Another of the exoskeleton's failings, from a purely engineering point of view, is that it doesn't make it easier for people with disabilities to use the muscle strength or control that they have. Reports describe it as awkward, cumbersome, & difficult to use- all very serious design flaws. From what I've read, it takes 2 other people to help one person use the device. Clearly, a system like this doesn't promote independence & autonomy, which is what a system like this ought to do, or else what's the point of such a thing? In fact, my question, as one engineer to the others who designed this monstrosity is, what's the point of this thing anyway?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-40773553838163282812011-06-08T16:10:45.641-07:002011-06-08T16:10:45.641-07:00I could see how such a device might have its uses ...I could see how such a device might have its uses in the rehabilitation context - if it's used to help body/muscle memory with the act of walking/standing, in cases where a spinal cord injury isn't "total". There are a lot of SCIs where people regain function quite quickly.<br /><br />But that's the extent of that. To assume it could be an acceptable equivalent to *walking* is silly, at best.<br /><br />Walking is highly overrated anyway...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06269750360513886439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-49769488151192052382011-06-08T14:09:20.219-07:002011-06-08T14:09:20.219-07:00I went to the NY Abilities Expo and the exoskeleto...I went to the NY Abilities Expo and the exoskeleton was being pushed very hard. <br /><br />One manufacturer had a booth just as you walked in. Another had an attractive young teen girl walking around in an exoskeleton on her legs, assisted with crutches. For anyone not a lithe young teen, it looked like a lot of equipment to deal with.<br /><br />Again, exoskeletons and equipment like that will be more in favor with the DME people because you can't sell civil rights.Becshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057614535554183360noreply@blogger.com