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MIT Prof Predicts the End of Disabilities In Next 50 Years
judgecorp writes "MIT professor Hugh Herr describes how technology can end disability in 50 years — with a big incentive from the need to support injured war veterans. A champion climber, Herr lost both legs below the knee, returned to climbing and designed improved climbing prostheses. From the article: 'Herr believes the work he is doing won’t just have humanitarian benefits. There’s money to be made too. And if there’s a market here, it means more people will receive help. Despite all the horrors and injustices the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spawned, they have helped make the biomechatronics industry a lot more viable. Back in 2007, Herr gave Garth Stewart, a 24-year-old Army veteran who lost his left leg below the knee during the conflict in Iraq, a bionic ankle. It used tendon-like springs and an electric motor to provide support for Stewart.'"
I'm inclined to wonder whether the roboticists will manage to crack their problem before team "you grew the leg once, now grow it again" manages to get their pet stem cells from turning into hideous doom cancer all the time...
I'm also inclined to wonder what the outcome will be if we manage to crack the (highly complex; but comparatively simple) mechanical problem of replacing the function of limbs; but still have a load of people running around with neural problems, whether inborn or caused by concussive damage and the like. Robotics is hard; but it appears to be very nearly a toy problem compared to neurology.
I already have a defective part swapped out. I got a steroid-induced cataract in my left eye, and its lens was replaced with a CrystaLens, which sits on struts and can actually focus. After wearing thick glasses all my life I now need no corrective lenses at all, not even reading glasses -- and I'm 60.
You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile? You'll BEG to be assimilated.
Free Martian Whores!
We always seem to be right on the edge of every amputee having bionic limbs.
Have we? I mean, true bionic limbs require tactile feedback, which in turn requires some kind of biological-machine interface. We are getting closer to it, but I wouldn't say we are anywhere near being on the edge of that (even now). Without that kind of feedback, even a sophisticated robotic limb is pretty well worthless, since you won't be able to use it for all that much. Granted, for someone without a hand, even that limited use is an improvement. The real problem isn't creating a robot hand or limb: the problem is controlling it. Simple motions are possible: complex ones, such as moving individual fingers on it, are not, and until we get that, losing a limb will always be a major disability.
"None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
General mishaps and accidents are scattered, "unfortunate events". The public sees a disabled soldier as someone that lost their arms or legs as someone that sacrificed their own body in defense of our nation... for better and worse.
That many active, healthy, celebrated men and women in their prime, all pouring in over a short period of time, missing limbs... that's hard to ignore. Doubly so since there are already organized, well-funded efforts to both raise awareness and care for veterans after service.
But hey, dealing with a real human problem like we mean it... that alone isn't a bad thing.
Actually, Wired has an article on this this month. And it turns out the classic hooks is still better in some respects and are preferred for some occasions where strength, speed and feedback are best.
I suppose when you are outside your home (i.e. where people can see you and gather anecdotal statistics as the ones we discuss), you might want the most reliable, fast and simple gear.
So some of the people we see with old style gear might have more advanced prostheses at home or at work for tasks that benefit from them.
Yes and Motor Neurones, Spinabifida, MS and a whole load of other conditions aren't disabilities now.
The MIT guy is talking about one small part of a massive group of conditions.
I was thinking the same thing... what an asinine thing to say.
And that's literally the way he said it too.
Guy loses both of his legs... and he thinks that is the only
type of 'disability' out there. He's obviously not the ego-free
individual we want leading the march.
Heres a cheaper and easier way to end disabilities from wars... Stop sending soldiers into war over other people's greed.
While I agree with you intrinsically... you do realize, it's not
that easy? Additionally, you do realize that a soldier is a
soldier for a reason. To fight in wars. They do not join without
the concept of death.
I was going to go in as an EOD Specialist, cause I have some
unresolved adrenaline issues and a poorly formed executive
center in the brain... =) but... the thought and reality of being
randomly shot, rather than blown up... poured cold water on
that. I made a choice.
Any soldier can, before becoming a GI. We are not under draft.
As far as I know... there is no other cause of war, besides greed.
So your statement then is, "Stop being greedy".
Good luck with that.
-AI
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion
you might want the most reliable, fast and simple gear.
So some of the people we see with old style gear might have more
advanced prostheses at home or at work for tasks that benefit from them.
I was a manager for a graphic arts publication, my lead graphic artist,
had an articulating hook in place of one forearm. Let me repeat... my
LEAD artist. He was faster than everyone else and had the least amount
of mistakes. Regardless of whether he pushed extra hard to be as good
as anyone... he was. And he was not handicapped or disabled in any way.
Here's to ya José! Thanks for all the copy.
-AI
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion
Read on for a less rose tinted view of the state of prosthetic art and the challenges that are holding it back A True Bionic Limb Remains Far Out Of Reach. Interesting stuff.