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The March of Technology
vitus979 writes: "Sorry for the bad pun, The New York Times (free reg. required) has a very interesting article on the next generation of computerized prosthetic legs. Just like any other cutting edge tech though it's not cheap, weighing in at between $40,000-$50,000 USD. Next stop, full cyberlimbs. :)"
Go go gadget springy leg thingys.
Check out the avi of these legs.
Considering how expensive these things were less than 30 years ago, $40k isn't bad! Just think, a similar setup cost Steve Austin a good part of $6 Million!
Seriously, though, I'm kind of surprised NY Times didn't include a link to Otto Bock's website for more info.
"Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
Here's an old one...
The Meat Puppets - Backwater
And when I wake up in the morning
To feel the daybreak on my face
There's a blood that's flowin'
Through the feeling, with a knife
To open up the sky's veins
Some things will never change
They stand there looking backwards
Half unconscious from the pain
They may seem rearranged
In the backwater swirling, there is
Something that will never change
And when I shoulda been gone a long time
Laughs and says, I find ways
Just when we're sheltered under paper
The rockets come at us sideways
Some things will never change
They stand there looking backwards
Half unconscious from the pain
They may seem rearranged
In the backwater swirling, there is
Something that'll never change
Hey, I'm blind
Good, fine
Roll the time
On whose dime
And when I wake up in the morning
To feel the daybreak on my face
There's a blood that's flowin'
Through the ceiling, with a knife
To open up the sky's veins
Some things will never change
They stand there looking backwards
Half unconscious from the pain
They may seem rearranged
In the backwater swirling, there is
Something that'll never change
Some things will never change
They stand there looking backwards
Half unconscious from the pain
They may seem rearranged
In the backwater swirling, there is
Something that'll never change
Is if they would have written the story had this guy not been in the WTC on 9/11.
Remember, there were no nuclear weapons before women were allowed to vote.
Reading this story, I really have to wonder if it's about to be followed by a story about people who switched to riding Segways around, thereby saving $40,000.
Tarsnap: Online backups for the truly paranoid
Now legs are what can solve this. They are much more natural in a non-flat environment.
Let's just hope that the software to drive 'em becomes open source... It would be a shame to have a pair of legs that crash (pardon the pun-ism) and have to be rebooted (damn... another one) a couple of times a day. Kind of a new definition for "downtime" wouldn't you say? I guess if you mated this product with the Segway you could call it the Legway. Must be the late nite at the office causing all the witless humor!
Ligaguinggligagiggagoogoogwillgo
Because Microsoft are a profit making company, it stands to reason that they have to have the 's' replaced with '$'. Brechtian wit there, rape-fodder. Why not '$un', or even 'VA L¥nux?' No wait, that last one doesn't make money. I really hope YOU lose your legs. Then who'll be laughing?
"Why did they cancel my favorite Sci-Fi show? I downloaded ALL the episodes!"
Made out of scrap, and goes out of control trying to mate with everything. Kind of like Microsoft Windows Hardware Detection.
The bitter lessons of a veteran coder: http://bitterprogrammer.blogspot.com
Apparently, the device requires a Microsoft Windows equipped computer to modify/calibrate settings. Anybody know if WINE is an operational replacement? What about writing an open-source alternative?