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Bluetooth Prosthetics Help US Marine To Walk Again
Like2Byte writes "CNN is reporting that a US Marine who lost both his legs in Iraq is now able to walk again by using bluetooth technology to coordinate his leg movement. The two legs communicate to keep the man in motion. ' [...] Computer chips in each leg send signals to motors in the artificial joints so the knees and ankles move in a coordinated fashion. Bleill's set of prosthetics [legs] have Bluetooth receivers strapped to the ankle area. The Bluetooth device on each leg tells the other leg what it's doing, how it's moving, whether walking, standing or climbing steps, for example.'"
I think it's great that they've improved the functionality of these prostheses, but I find it rather dumb that the batteries that power them are not user replaceable. They've added some "whiz bang" at the cost of what would be now considered a standard functional issue of any consumer electronics device. I know someone with a prosthetic arm, which has replaceable Li-Ion packs, why would having removeable batteries be any different in this case? Then again, maybe I am incorrectly interpreting "no spare batteries available" as not user replaceable, instead of the design of these batteries are two-of-a-kind and no additional ones have been manufactured at this point.
(Apologies for the puns in the title.)
They're Atomic powered, d'uh. Don't you know anything about bionic men?
hmm "The Bionic Men" sounds like a great name for a futuristic fascist military.
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If his legs get bluejacked does this make him the worlds first remote controlled human?
I personally find it remarkably stupid they are using bluetooth or wireless at all. There is a point near the crotch where a small wire can connect the two legs.
also why the hell are they using bluetooth? other RF data modules are far easier to use in embedded processing and have a shorter range that is perfect for that use.
The whole thing smells of a PR stunt to me.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I'm reminded of an old BOFH episode in which the Bastard Operator straps a mobile SNMP controller to the boss's motorized wheelchair, and then lets another manager take a crack at his new "video game." All's fun and games till you miss that jump over the open manhole...
First rule of trauma: Bleeding always stops.