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Japanese Deploying Powered Exoskeletons for Elderly

Posted by michael on from the tall-buildings-in-a-single-bound dept.

FoeNyx writes "The AFP is reporting that 30 Tokyo firms have planned to set up a joint-venture in next spring to market an 'exo-skeleton type power assist system' named HAL (Hybrid Assistive Leg) developed by Yoshiyuki Sankai, professor and engineer at the Sankai Lab, a Cybernetics specialized Laboratory of the Tsukuba University. When will the next generation be available?" The elderly with their exoskeletons and the bionic nurses will make quite a sight at Japanese nursing homes.

44 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. Good News / Bad News by JamesSharman · · Score: 5, Funny

    The good news is this will give far more mobility to the elderly.

    The bad news is that the computer runs Linux** and as such the elderly will need to pay SCO $699* every time they go for a walk

    *Introductory price only, increases after October 15th, 2003
    **This is a joke, it probably doesn't

    1. Re:Good News / Bad News by cerberusss · · Score: 5, Funny
      the computer runs Linux
      It'll be quite a sight when someone hacks it and takes command. Imagine a 80-year-old Japanese lady running at 80 mph through Tokio, all the while randomly kicking through people.
      --
      8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
    2. Re:Good News / Bad News by tiled_rainbows · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, thae bad news is that it doesn't have any weapons and can't turn into a fighter plane.

      --

      evil math within Nature's Cubic Creation!
    3. Re:Good News / Bad News by zzztkf · · Score: 2, Funny

      We will need to re-define what the word "traffic accident" means that day. Even pedestrian way will not be safe.

    4. Re:Good News / Bad News by brakk · · Score: 5, Funny

      Or they can't combine several of them to create a bigger more powerful robot.

      Nobody would dare mess with a nursing home after that.

    5. Re:Good News / Bad News by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny
      The good news is this will give far more mobility to the elderly.

      The bad news is this isn't what I was led to expect from Gundam, RoboTech, etc. I expected bright-eyed nubile women, not crotchety old geezers.

      Of course, it does give me something to look forward to in my old age :-]

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    6. Re:Good News / Bad News by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 2, Funny

      Note: SCO license is a joke too.

      --
      Hate me!
    7. Re:Good News / Bad News by smatt-man · · Score: 5, Funny

      The $699 man, we can recompile him, we have the technology.

      --

      ---
      Lousy rotten karmic retribution.
    8. Re:Good News / Bad News by ozbird · · Score: 5, Funny

      It'll be quite a sight when someone hacks it and takes command.

      "It's the wrong trousers Gromit, and they've gone wrong!" (The villain, Feathers McGraw, looks rather like an evil version of Tux...)

    9. Re:Good News / Bad News by Mr.+Bad+Example · · Score: 4, Funny

      Imagine a 80-year-old Japanese lady running at 80 mph through Tokio, all the while randomly kicking through people.

      That'd be pretty cool. What worries me, though, is what'll happen when the inevitable naughty tentacles show up.

    10. Re:Good News / Bad News by togtog · · Score: 2, Funny

      HELP I'M RUNNING! AND I CAN'T STOP!

      *thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk thud clunk *

  2. hal.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    open the podbay doors hal.

    1. Re:hal.. by koniosis · · Score: 1, Funny

      ...I'm sorry dave I can't do that

      --
      I spent ages trying to think of sig, but never did :(
  3. Already Done here by Gothmolly · · Score: 5, Funny

    As seen here, Dr. Stephen Hawking, one of the smartest people in the world, has already perfected an exoskeleton for the disabled.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  4. There is no way in hell... by ihummel · · Score: 4, Funny

    that I would buy any computerized/electronic product named HAL. Especially if it were going to go on my body.

    1. Re:There is no way in hell... by fishybell · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dave: I think I'll go to the park. HAL: I'm sorry. I can't let you do that.

      --
      ><));>
  5. Havoc by te+amo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now the elderly don't even need cars to kill people. They have killer robot suits! ...To the farmer's market, Esther!

  6. Ob (someone's got to say it) by llamalicious · · Score: 4, Funny

    Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.

    *ducks*

    Wild though, they envision pull-on exoskeletons in the future... but even if they could reduce the bulk another 50% it'd still be amazing.

    I've always wondered how fast/accurately they skeletons react to human initiated/controlled motion, say, I decide to start lifting my left leg. Well, if I'm walking, I don't want to lift it all the way, simply enough to move it forward a small amount to prepare for the same with the right leg. Do these skeletons sense resistance to movement and stop/switch directions? (I put a little force downward to let the exo-leg know I'm not doing the can-can?) /needs coffee.

    1. Re:Ob (someone's got to say it) by lovebyte · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've always wondered how fast/accurately they skeletons react to human initiated/controlled motion

      Grandpa to grandma: Come on! Let's put our exo-skeletons and have high-speed sex!

      Scary, but I would not mind seeing the movie....

      --

      I'll do it for cheesy poofs.

    2. Re:Ob (someone's got to say it) by paroneayea · · Score: 4, Funny

      Perhaps soon enough we will be able to do away with the elderly, and replace them with these robotic suits!

      --
      http://mediagoblin.org/
  7. Beware of the drunk :) by Zemran · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want one of these to get me home when I am wasted :) Why do I have to wait until I am too old to enjoy it?

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
    1. Re:Beware of the drunk :) by GlamdringLFO · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's like that artificial intelligence they put in those sneakers. You know, Smart Shoes they call them. No matter how blind drunk you were, they'd always walk you home. Problem is, one day they got tired of always getting kicked around. Wanted to see the world. But they kind of went nuts...stole my car and drove away right quick, stomping right on the pedal as they do. Problem is, they couldn't steer, what with no hands and all. So the car came to a bridge and went right over the side. They fished them out of the river 2 days later. I was so distraught...I loved those shoes...all the good times, in the bar, going for walks along the beach. I was so depressed. What had happened to them now? I finally went to the priest, looking for help. He told me that I didn't have anything to worry about. You see, as it turns out, shoes have souls.

      --
      Skal! AMS
  8. Look out, it's Ultra Old Man! by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 1, Funny

    Spoken with bad overdubbing:

    "Look! Ultra Old Man is fighting Mecha Old Lady! Here comes Godzilla, we must all flee!"

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
    1. Re:Look out, it's Ultra Old Man! by 5.11Climber · · Score: 2, Funny

      Translation:

      Rook! Urtra Ord Man is fighting Mecha Ord Rady! Here comes Gojiro, we must Free!

      --
      Arf!
  9. Holy crap! by jwriney · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Robo-Grandma Vs. Godzilla", coming to theatres near you...

    --riney

    1. Re:Holy crap! by RLW · · Score: 2, Funny

      Today in the news: a roving band of exoskeleton-blue hairs held up a convenience store. In addition to taking all the cash they could nab, two of the perps were seen carrying off a row of shelves full of hair care products and over the counter medications. As an odd side note the only injury occurred after one of the robo-bandits instructed a by-stander to stop slouching. When the by-stander didn't respond he received a sharp rap across the back of his hand. He was later quoted as saying "That really hurt. I didn't think granny could hit so hard."

      Haha.. you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
      - Vizzini

  10. We can rebuild him... by henbane · · Score: 3, Funny
    Better, stronger, faster....

    sound

  11. I , for one, by Richthofen80 · · Score: 4, Funny

    welcome our robotically assisted elderly masters!

    --
    Reason, free market capitalism, and individualism
  12. What I want to know is by TerryAtWork · · Score: 4, Funny

    When will one of them put on spandex and fight crime with one?

    --
    It's Christmas everyday with BitTorrent.
  13. This can only lead to trouble... by Colin+Walsh · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Japanese should know better than to give the elderly access to powered exoskeletons.

    -Colin

  14. Oblig. Simpsons Ref. by handy_vandal · · Score: 4, Funny


    "One thing is certain: the exoskeletons will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new geriatric overlords ...."

    --
    -kgj
  15. The Wrong Trousers? by koniosis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone reminded of the wrong trousers?

    Wallace And Gromit

    Imagine one of those exoskeletons going on a mad rampage with a pensioner

    --
    I spent ages trying to think of sig, but never did :(
  16. Fast and the furious by geekmetal · · Score: 2, Funny
    With the equipment, the user can walk at a speed of four kilometres (2.5 miles) per hour with little physical exertion and avoid the jerky stop-go moves of ordinary robots.

    Yay! We can now have better races, those damn wheelchairs were no fun!

    But seriously this is an amazing thing worth applauding and encouraging.

    --
    There are two kinds of egotists: 1) Those who admit it 2) The rest of us
  17. New powers by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 2, Funny

    He's able to complain to the waiter faster than ever before, he's more powerful than a freshly charged "Rascal" scooter, his ability to write letters complaining to the newspaper editor is incredible. Watch out Miami Florida, here he comes.

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  18. new superhero ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Skeliatric ! Help !

  19. HAL by SugoiMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny
    "I'm sorry Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."

    But I really gotta go...BAD!

  20. It's GramZilla! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Flee!

  21. Dare I say it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Go Go Gadget Hip!

  22. No more muggings.. by Channard · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... of the elderly, anyway.

    Mugger: 'Heh.. I'll just lurk around this retirement home and rob the next old lady who comes along. Aha.. here comes one now... Give me your money, lady or.. Holy Shi..'

    Exo-Eldster:'Rob this, you cheap hoodlum!'*whack**crunch* 'At last, technology I can appreciate.'

  23. What if you fall over? by SailFly · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Hal's voice:

    "Help I've fallen and I cant' get up."

    --
    Suncoast Linux - Sarasota, FL
  24. Roijin Z! by seebs · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now I'm worried.

    --
    My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
  25. Give it 5 years by TrippTDF · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apple's latest device:

    The iGranny.

    Robotic movement for your grandmother, plus a 100 GB hard drive for all your mp3s so you don't have to listen to her.

  26. Yikes! by jerkychew · · Score: 2, Funny

    I first read the title as "Japanese Deploying Powered Executions for Elderly" I was going to say - I knew that Japan was overpopulated, but wow!

  27. great now when grandma ling by Archfeld · · Score: 2, Funny

    hits the gas instead of the break it with be with some real authority...Put the people with the least reliable senses and judgement out there with indordinate strenght and possibly speed..I like

    I am the mad bomber that bombs at midnight, Baby

    --
    errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?