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Instead of a Wheel Chair, How About an Exoskeleton?

Posted by timothy on from the yes-please dept.

New submitter the_newsbeagle writes "This year, Ekso Bionics will roll out its most sophisticated exoskeleton ever. The company's robotic walking suit, called the Ekso, allows paraplegics to get back on their feet and walk on their own. The first commercial model will be sold to rehab hospitals for on-site physical therapy, but the company plans to have a model ready for at-home physical therapy by the end of 2012. In a few years, they plan to sell an Ekso that a paraplegic person can wear to the post office, to work, etc."

8 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Awesome, but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I still consider it a transitionary solution, useful, but only until we can grow organs and nerve tissue and basically fix people like we fix machinery :)

    1. Re:Awesome, but.. by hedwards · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I personally wouldn't upload my brain into a computer for the same reason that I'd never agree to use a Star Trek style transporter if one is ever invented. Both are essentially a method of suicide that gets covered up by a replacement that appears to be the original.

    2. Re:Awesome, but.. by Khazunga · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ok, let's assume you connect, allow consciousness to transfer, then sever the connection but *don't* destroy the biological part. Who am I? I'd wager I'd still be the biological one, albeit the sillicon part may be a perfect copy. Now, kill the biological part. I'm dead. Thanks, but no, thanks. Not until we pinpoint conscience beyond "I think therefore I am".

      --
      If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you
    3. Re:Awesome, but.. by timeOday · · Score: 5, Interesting

      98% of the atoms on your body are replaced ever year, whether or not you take a ride in a transporter. So, "you" are not a certain set of particles, but rather a self-propagating pattern.

  2. Ob by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have a class two rating.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. previous stories by Trepidity · · Score: 5, Informative

    Fwiw, previous coverage on Slashdot of related products:

    Human Exoskeletons Getting Closer (March 2009)

    Elder-Assist Robotic Suits, From the Real Cyberdyne (October 2009)

    eLEGS Exoskeleton Allows Paraplegics To Walk (October 2010)

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    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  4. As per Ripley. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    Get away from her, you bitch!

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    Trolling is a art,
  5. Re:No bionic man yet by thomasw_lrd · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oblig XKCD

    http://xkcd.com/678/

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    21st Century Renaissance Man