Slashdot Mirror


UK Paraplegic Woman First To Take Robotic Suit Home

An anonymous reader writes "It might be a ways off, but every day we get closer to the possibility of William Gibson's short story The Winter Market becoming a plausible reality. Viable consumer exoskeleton for the paralyzed? Check, finally. Quoting Reuters: 'The exoskeleton is activated by the wearer tilting their balance to indicate the desire to take a step. It supports the body's weight and also allows the person to go up or down stairs, as well as sit or stand up independently. It costs 45,000 pounds and although clinical studies are ongoing that could back a case for health authorities to fund purchases of the device, the developers argue that savings on the treatment of ailments related to inactivity could offset the cost.'"

5 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Dead or Alive by 0racle · · Score: 3, Funny

    You're coming with me.

    --
    "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
  2. Re:And in the future... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It wouldn't last. They must tilt and move a bit in order to move the exoskeleton. Too much effort. They would use the skeleton to sit on the mobility scooter and drive around.

  3. 45,000 Pounds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why does it weigh so much?

  4. It's the wrong trousers, Gromit! by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    And they've gone wrong!

  5. Re:And in the future... by bitt3n · · Score: 3, Funny

    Won't be long before lazy fat people are using these just because they don't feel like using their own muscles to move their limbs. Happened with the mobility scooters, it'll happen with these suits.

    step one: get them addicted to motor control suit. step two: distribute virus to suits that locks in wearer and prevents him from eating anything but celery.