Robotic support brings freedom to paraplegics. - Polidicks

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gb5poTdUMg[/media] [quote]The young man in this video looks like he's riding a Segway. But Yusuf Akturkoglu was paralized after falling from a horse five years ago, and he's being mobilized by an amazing device invented by Turkish scientists. It's going to change lives.It's called the [URL="http://tekrmd.com/"]T[/URL]ek Robotic Mobilization Device, and it not only allows people who can't walk get around more independently than any device has before, but it also helps them stand up on their own, which is crucial for maintaining basic health functions in people who have spinal cord injuries. Instead of entering from the front like a normal wheelchair, people using the Tek RMD enter from the back of the device. That way they don't have to hoist themselves with a momentum that can be dangerous and is next to impossible to do alone. By attaching a thick padded strap around the hips, Yusuf maneuvers himself into the Tek RMD on his own. The device uses a suspension system that balances the weight so he can stand up with just a gentle pull. Standing for an hour or more every day is important for people who have lost movement in their legs; without the weight-bearing effect of standing, they can develop cardiovascular problems, brittle bones, pressure sores not to mention the psychological importance of eye-to-eye interpersonal contact. In the video, Yusuf calls the device to his bedside with a remote-control, gets himself out of bed, goes grocery shopping, maneuvers around a bookstore, and even does some things in the bathroom that we thankfully don't observe to completion. But these these abilities that most of us take for granted every day are key to the emotional well-being of paraplegic people. The ability to squat down and easily come back to standing is key. And while standing, Yusef's hands are free to carry groceries or do whatever else he might need them to. Before trying out the Tek RMD, Yusuf, who was a student before his injury, rarely left his home where he lives with his parents. The makers of Tek RMD says it's the most compact device of its kind, which allows Yusuf to navigate crowded grocery aisles, libraries, and who knows, Coachella, maybe? All without knocking into the people and things around him. Users still need ramps in place of stairs, but the device eliminates the need for special bathroom stalls and other facilities that allow space for bulky wheelchairs. The Tek RMD comes in five sizes. and is still undergoing clinical trials. Here's hoping it's on the market stat. UPDATE: It will be on the market in Turkey this week, and the company is looking for outlets in Europe and the United States, where it will cost about $15,000. Here's hoping insurance will cover it.[/quote] [URL="http://gizmodo.com/5894489/segway+style-device-for-paraplegics-puts-wheelchairs-to-shame"]Source[/URL]

The narrator in the video sounds like he'd do pretty good at a 70's porno actor.

[QUOTE=RoflKawpter;35208039]The narrator in the video sounds like he'd do pretty good at a 70's porno actor.[/QUOTE] Honestly I thought the guy sounded more like Lucien Lachance from Oblivion.

The price tag isn't too bad either. It costs about as much as a car, which is far more reasonable than I thought it would be.

[QUOTE=Rapist;35208191]The price tag isn't too bad either. It costs about as much as a car, which is far more reasonable than I thought it would be.[/QUOTE] 15,000 is virtually unaffordable to the average man.

It's all fun and games until the battery loses charge.

Steal the remote, infinite laughs.

2012 - Year of the Science

[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;35209584]2012 - Year of the Science[/QUOTE] It's a time of great innovation.

[QUOTE=AnalAnnihilator;35209326]It's all fun and games until the battery loses charge.[/QUOTE] Or hits a slope.

[img]http://gamerfitnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution.jpg[/img] I didn't ask for this. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Meme reply / "Image macro"" - Swebonny))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35209263]15,000 is virtually unaffordable to the average man.[/QUOTE] But when you are disabled you aren't paying the entire price. Health care comes into play.

But who will bring freedom to the robots?

Honestly this just looks incredibly cumbersome, I don't see it overtaking powered wheelchairs.

This is only the first model. In a few years, it'll probably be even more sleek, efficient and cheap.

the only issue i can see for the elderly is the fact that you need to stretch the arms very far in order to pull yourself up with it from a sitting position - that's hard for a lot of people i don't know why but i cracked up at the guy cooking at the grill.

[QUOTE=Fahrenheit;35210336][img]http://gamerfitnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution.jpg[/img] I didn't ask for this.[/QUOTE] I did [img]http://images4.fanpop.com/image/polls/724000/724935_1306106412812_full.jpg[/img] It might not be a robot, but it's amazing. I would cry if this failed into getting mass produced.

[QUOTE=Motherfuckers;35209386]Steal the remote, infinite laughs.[/QUOTE] [t]http://images.wikia.com/wallaceandgromit/images/1/17/The_Wrong_Trousers.jpg[/t] My first and only thought.

[QUOTE=Fahrenheit;35210336][img]http://gamerfitnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Deus-Ex-Human-Revolution.jpg[/img] I didn't ask for this.[/QUOTE] If you're going to use a meme, at least do it properly. And now images of adam jensen driving a segway are in my mind, great.

[QUOTE=AnalAnnihilator;35209326]It's all fun and games until the battery loses charge.[/QUOTE] One of my jobs is actually where I take care of people with "acquired brain-damage", and an electric wheelchair will typically have a range of 40 km on a single charge. I imagine it is similar with this one.

[QUOTE=BrickInHead;35213888]the only issue i can see for the elderly is the fact that you need to stretch the arms very far in order to pull yourself up with it from a sitting position - that's hard for a lot of people[/QUOTE] I can't see how that can be harder than throwing yourself at a wheelchair though. This thing makes you a lot less dependent on others.