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Microsoft's Emma Watch Is a Game-Changer For People With Parkinson's (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the for-good dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Called "Emma," it is a wrist wearable that can help people suffering with Parkinson's disease. The device is named after the Parkinson's sufferer that helped Haiyan Zhang, Innovation Director at Microsoft Research, create the device. What exactly does it do? Well, the incurable disease causes body tremors in those inflicted, and as a result, Emma has very shaky hands. This disease makes it impossible for her to draw straight lines or write legibly. With the wearable on her wrist, however, normal writing and drawing is possible. Remarkably, how it works isn't 100 percent known. "While the wait for a cure continues, Zhang has created what she hopes could be a 'revolutionary' aid for reducing tremors. The Emma Watch uses vibrating motors -- similar to those found in mobile phones -- to distract the brain into focusing on something other than trying to control the patient's limbs. Put simply, Zhang believes Lawton's brain is at war with itself -- half is trying to move her hand, the other half is trying to stop it. The two signals battle and amplify each other, causing the tremors. The device stops that feedback loop," says Microsoft. You will want to watch this video.

5 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. good, something to help me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've got so much brain trauma from the repeated head desking from dealing with Microsoft products for so many years. I just can't stop trembling anymore.

    Finally Microsoft is doing something to help us poor IT people cope!

    1. Re:good, something to help me by TWX · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hell, I look at it that I've had a 20 year career supporting products that can't truly be fixed. Back when I worked for a small tech services company that supported mostly small businesses in a regional area, when we fixed Novell issues we had to fix them one time, and they stayed fixed, at least in the way that had been serviced. With NT domains we would have to fix the same problems over and over again.

      Thank you Microsoft! Thank you for enabling me to have a fairly highly paid career that doesn't require a lot of physical labor! I wouldn't be where I am today without you!

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:good, something to help me by Aighearach · · Score: 1, Funny

      repeated head desking from dealing with Microsoft products for so many years

      They have meeting you could go to where they teach you that if you keep using it and expecting a different result, it means you're crazy.

      If you want to regain your sanity, either stop expecting windows to work, or use something else. Either way, no head desking required.

  2. Nice but Apple has a watch with Mickey on it by JoeyRox · · Score: 3, Funny

    And next year they're planning one with Daffy Duck.

  3. Onions by Scottingham · · Score: 1, Funny

    God damn! Who the hell is cutting onions in my office?

    Ow my feels.