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High-Tech Walkers Could Help Japan's Elderly Stay Independent
jfruh writes: You may have heard that Japan will deal with its aging population by relying more on robots. Osaka startup RT Works is showing what that might mean in practice: not humanoid robotic caregivers, but tech-enhanced versions of traditional tools like walkers. RT Works's walker automatically adjusts to help its user deal with hilly terrain, and can call for help if it moves outside a predefined range.
Why do we have to choose between a robotic care giver, and a robotic method of mobility? Why not have both?
It's only a matter of time before the walkers go rogue and a special task force has to be formed to stop them.
Maybe this? If so, I can't wait to get old!
"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." -Groucho Marx
So... much... precedence...
"and get off my lawn!" BZZZZRP, **poof**
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You can say that again. But don't forget that if you have some type of mental disorder when you grow old, it won't matter much. Not to mention, you will still not really be able to perform certain tasks.
I need to go to the grocery store now.
Emma, have you seen my onion? I can't go outside without an onion on my belt now, can I? Oh, and get me a nickle so I can buy a newspaper, my dear. Are we out of orange juice? Are you ready yet? We're going to miss our plane for Florida! Never mind your make-up, just grab your wig!
Oh, that darn voice thingy on the electro-typewriter is still active. Damn you, Steve Gates!
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This is what Cadillacs are for.
Have gnu, will travel.
Especially for the elderly, though it hurts none of us, it is vital to keep up the physical exertion that even walking provides.
Though an admittedly small sample, I've seen a number of elders get down on the motorized seat and never get back off.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
Ernest Hemingway
Japan has an emperor, therefore ....
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Love how they take something simple and make it complex, failure prone and expensive all in one fell swoop! Blah.
That's fine, when you get old, just make due with your aluminum walker thing, and a cane. If you choose to be a Luddite, why should I stop you.
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The 'G' in Gundam must stand for geriatric!
BURRRRNING ARTHRITIC FINGERRRR!
I think this is terrific technology that has a great potential to help old people both now and in the future when you and I will be old.
It all seems a bit "hoaky" now, kind of on the interesting side of lame, but remember, this is how ideas start out: A basic idea that has to be developed.
I'm 50 now, which makes me a decrepit old man by Slashdot standards, but I expect to have a "helper robot" when I retire in 15 years.
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In order to be useful to people using walkers or in wheelchairs, buildings need to have ramps instead of, or along with stairs. I don't know about the rest of Europe, but there's a good reason you don't find ramps in England: until recently, adding ramps meant that the Daleks could get in. Of course, now that Daleks can levitate, that's no longer an issue.
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That walker doesn't look all that great. It is very far forward in front of the person. The best wheeled ones let you walk in between the handles like the standard alum ones do. Even the common wheeled ones are closer to you than this one is. It appears to lack support for..umm..walking. Besides a motorized walker just sounds like trouble. It is going to pull grandma along without pulling her over?
If you insist on high tech there is one that shines a laser on the ground to show you where to step, kinda cool for Alzheimers and stuff.
That back support is cool but I can't see a nursing home paying over $1000/month, they balk at a $150 patient lift.
Japan is probably about the same, perhaps somewhat worse. China is much, much worse. I read an article a while back about someone in a wheelchair attempting to tour China. Fortunately, they enjoyed a challenge, because it certainly was one.
Luddite, huh? So all you can contribute is name calling rather than actual understanding of things. Interesting.
You're an idiot, right? Or maybe a 17 year old with limited brain power. Grow up.
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