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Honda Assists With "Next Steps" For Mankind
hedonisticaltruism writes "The CBC reports that Honda has just unveiled a new walking-assist device that enhances the walking motion rather than just providing transportation. The device braces and strengthens natural leg movements primarily in walking and crouching. They're looking to market this to rehabilitation cases, the handicapped and industries requiring repetitive crouching and walking movements such as factory work and delivery services."
"And here I've been [walking] on my own all this time like a sucker..."
... welcome our new bionic overlords.
Just last week, I had to order PT evals for two separate patients at the facility I nurse at. Both have Parkinsons, and are in the process of a steady decline with their ability to walk. One is getting her first walker, the other is going to get evaluated to see if there is any possible walker out there to keep him active. Something like this looks promising in the extreme. It would help when they freeze up. I wonder if they could set it to help the patient control their gate, elongating steps, to avoid shuffling.
Nothing hides evidence like a stew. -Gus Pratt
"Dude, when did your sack grow legs?"
From just looking at the picture, it appears that the device is anchored to the crotch. And from the prominence of that guys package being crunched and the expression on his face, I don't mean that in a GOOD way.
If this thing stalls while you're out on a walk, does it come with roadside assistance, or do you need to call a friend to give you a jump?
My webcomic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8cLnf4Nrjs
Actually, in Japan, that is a GOOD thing.
Not only does it help you walk, but it crushes your balls as well.
A privilege usually reserved for the executive class.
I'm gonna bore my Grandkids to death like my Granparents did to me...
Me: Yep, back in my day we used to walk!
Kids: Grandma! Grandpas making up stories again!
Sure it's great for your hips and knees, but how many of you ride bikes? How can you spend hours on the saddle like that? Back when I rode a bike, it take long at all for my penis to go completely numb and fall asleep. It's like falling asleep on your arm except ITS YOUR PENIS. And the tingling pins and needles as it "wakes up" is NOT the good tingly feeling down there. Seriously, it's kind of scary. Your inguinal area is not constructed to hold all your weight. I haven't ridden a bike in years because of this.
That robot's saddle doesn't look any better. If I were doing a job that required squatting like that, I would prefer a short stool with casters on it. If their workers have to stand and squat 6 times a minute (just an arbitrary example) all shift, they really need to look at their processes.
I know that this is really only a beta for mobility devices for the elderly. In that case, I would guess grandpa doesn't need his penis anymore anyway.
More music, fewer hits
this is the article I was referring to in the above post about the poor fellow squatting at work:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/07/honda_walker_exoskeleton/
I guess I should have previewed my comment.
More music, fewer hits
I, for one, welcome our new human overlords!
It's a good thing we made that a tag. I can't even fathom the number of other stories that applies to.
If I get one of these, I'm gonna tell everyone to bite my shiny metal ass.
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
Please dear FSM, let it one day be able to transform...I don't really care into what, just transform! And have hooks for speakers for the awesome transformer sound!
"Japanese robot company Cyberdyne... a belted device called HAL..."
Cyberdyne? HAL?? There's no _way_ i'm strapping one of these to my crotch!
I'm sorry Dave. Hasta la Vista, baby.
There may be no "I" in team, but there's also no "F" in way.
It doesn't look like it has a large power source--how much of it's assist is actually mechanical vs. tricks with springs and stuff that exerts force in the correct direction without any computer/electrical help?
I want something that will allow me to run at 60km/h jump 3m straight up and lift a car with my legs.
so.. sperm count vs improved mobility?
This idea was invented by shampoo!
Check out my blog!
You know the pron industry is going to make a "female" version of this when it comes out...
"...is designed to support body weight, reduce stress on the knees and help people get up steps and stay in crouching positions"
Why do the Japanese want us to stay in crouching positions?
Your robot soldier first drafts are ready!!!
One of the 187.
And when the batteries die, you get a free castration!
Now all we need to do is find a whiney 14 year old to pilot it!
I worked for about ten years fixing, what else, Japanese copy machines (yes I know, a low rung of the geek ladder; but, there I was). In truth I really enjoyed the work.
However, I eventually had to quit, like many others, because of my knees. the constant kneeling and crawling got to me and I was, simply, unable to do it any more.
Many of the people I worked with used electronic pain control devices, literally, wired into their bodies. Others consumed significant quantities of pain reducers. Most eventually leave the industry depriving it of many experienced workers. Me, I am back to working on my MBA so I can join the ranks of the undereducated unemployed.
It is possible that, with devices like this, people will be able to do jobs that require frequent, un-natural, movement and positions longer and in significantly greater comfort. Remember, we are leaving the, short lived, era of retirements and pensions. People will need to be able to work far longer into their lives.
Skiing. This could be a great aid to skiiers who are otherwise fit enough to ski but have leg strength issues.
Of course, once a ski-capable device hits the market, you're gonna have perfectly fit thrillseekers use it to ski extreme terrain.
(Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
I can see the fnords!
Uses probably not apparent to the Honda engineers: great for special forces soldiers who have to run around craggy, rocky mountainous terrain.
I'd be surprised if the US Army isn't looking into something like this for special forces who do a lot of walking and crouching.
A slightly modified design could incorporate a running assist for a soldier to quickly accelerate to 20mph while running for a sustained distance.
This Sig does not Exist.
Hope they do better with this than with their PAX tires for their vans.
you've got it all wrong. that's a feature.
it's designed that way to serve as a protective crotch guard (against stray groin-kicks from irate female co-workers who are sick and tired of you pretending to be a sex-droid) and to conceal untimely erections--which will bound to occur since the unit is also designed to deliver a very sensual scrotal massage while you're walking.
Heh, anyone else thought "Chell" from the Portal game as soon as they saw the picture in TFA?