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Robotic Suit For Rent In Japan

Posted by timothy on from the low-miles-one-owner-died-quick dept.

xTantrum writes with an AP story that begins "A robotic suit that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems will be available to rent in Japan for $2,200 a month starting Friday — an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly."

5 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. fp bitches! by shaitand · · Score: 4, Insightful

    'an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly'

    Not for $2200/month it won't.

    1. Re:fp bitches! by clarkkent09 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      in the civilized parts of the world where the government takes care of their elderly

      Government doesn't take care of the elderly, taxpayers do. If you are going to take my money and pass it on to the elderly then at least give credit where it's due.

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    2. Re:fp bitches! by Splab · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well Denmark is spending more than that per month.

      Having such a suit means the elderly can get up and down stairs by themselves, go shopping on their own - that means freeing up workers and giving companies more people to hire, while we are currently feeling a bit of pain due to the financial crisis we still have more job offerings than people to hire.

  2. DEAR GOD NO by loafula · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Anyone who has ever seen the elderly try to drive a car already knows this is a HORRIBLE idea.

    --
    FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
  3. Re:Amen to that -- remember what cell phones cost. by Shotgun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem is that they will be running up against the Laws of Physics. You can make it smaller and lighter all you want, as long as you don't run up against those most enforced of laws.

    Phones and video games just have to produce voltages large enough to represent 1s and possibly 0s. Maybe produce some light. You can get away with using less power if you can make the electronics smaller. A nice feedback loop.

    This robotic system has to actually lift and move things. Things that are not getting smaller. It takes a given amount of power to lift a 170lb person. You can't make the power requirement smaller. To be mobile, something to generate that power has to be carried along. There are several ways of possibly accomplishing this task, but don't count on any major revolutions.

    --
    Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
    Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba