Swedish University Testing Wheelchair That Maps Its Surroundings

Swedish University Testing Wheelchair That Maps Its Surroundings: "

Back in March, we saw a project using a head-mounted Kinect to sense and alert the user to obstacles in their path. Researchers at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden are working on a similar system, but building it into a wheelchair.

It was tested this week by a grad student hopeful who is himself visually impaired, and he pronounced it solid. The system looks quite bulky, however, and is limited to detecting objects within a narrow plane, so it wouldn’t pick up, say, a curb or overhang.

Still, it’s interesting research, and could be the start of a new kind of intelligent wheelchair that could let blind and partially sighted people get around their neighborhoods a bit easier.

[via Gizmag]

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Video: Excellent Bionic Hand In Action

Video: Excellent Bionic Hand In Action: "

Body augmentation and limb replacement are just hugely interesting fields right now. We’ve got bionic legs, bionic eyes, even bionic cats. Bionic hands have been a troublesome topic for research because of the inadequacy of current technology in replicating fine motor control. This arm, being wielded by a young Austrian fellow who lost the use of his hand in an accident, isn’t quite perfect, but it sure is impressive as hell.

As you can see in the BBC’s video, he won’t be playing the piano any time soon, but replacing limbs isn’t about that — it’s about getting basic functions working again, like holding a glass or tying your shoes. Both of those things seem totally doable, and I’m sure stuff like pressing buttons, holding a shopping basket, and other common tasks are equally possible.

This is a neuroprosthetic, meaning it actually taps into the unused nerves that used to control the hand. At this point we can’t tap into too many — our electrodes and mechanics just aren’t good enough — but there are enough that you can have several degrees of freedom and analog control, which is goddamn amazing. There’s a ton of room for improvement, which isn’t a criticism so much as an aspirational statement. In just five or ten years these things are going to be looking real nice.

There’s more information at the BBC story, including some other researchers and bionic limb users. Exciting times, people!

[via Reddit]

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DLR Hand Arm System is super strong

DLR Hand Arm System is super strong: "

Some researchers over at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have managed to come up with a super advanced arm that is tougher than it looks. At first glance, all the exposed joints and electronics make the look arm fragile, especially when you find out it can perform pretty human-like movements. But that’s where we’re wrong – it only looks fragile.

As shown in the demonstration video after the break, the scientists over there are constantly pushing the their testing to the limits, and in one video we see the researcher using a bat to hit the robot arm. After the attack, it still functions just as well as it did before, a testament to the German engineering that went through the creation of it.

If we’re any step closer to creating Iron Man or Terminators, I’d say we’re heading in the right direction. Video of the robot arm in action, and being hit by a baseball bat after the break:

DLR Hand Arm System is super strong, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Atrix Review, HTC Thunderbolt Review,

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Ergonomics advice does not always reflect the reality

Ergonomics advice does not always reflect the reality: "

It is common for companies to invest in expensive office furniture in the belief that the furniture will encourage the worker to undertake tasks more safely.  In most circumstances, this is a waste of money and a major distraction from managing safety throughout workplaces.

The safety message is also being confused by some OHS regulators.  It is well-established that injured backs and other musculoskeletal injuries improve with movement rather than the traditional bed-rest.  However this encouragement to move is not reflected in most of the advice for configuring workstations. 

The reality of most desk-based work is that the amount of time spent in a sedentary position is small.  We answer phones, we read documents, we type, we get up for a coffee, we rest our feet on a waste bin, we turn around and talk with our colleagues, and we go to the toilet.  Rarely do we sit for any great length of time with our backs straight, our knees at 90 degrees and our feet flat on the floor.

Australian research into cardio-vascular disease  some years ago identified regular movement as a control measure.  New research from the WA Institute for Medical Research and University of Western Australia identifying some possible causes of cancers of the colon and rectum has come to the same conclusion.

According to a media release on the research from the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research (WAIMR):

“Compared with employees who did not spend any time in a sedentary occupation, study participants who spent 10 or more years working at a desk had almost twice the risk of distal colon cancer and a 44 per cent increased risk of rectal cancer, the study found.

“Sedentary behaviour appears to be an important risk factor for many chronic diseases,” Mr [Terry] Boyle said. “It’s important that office workers try to stand and take a break from sitting every 30 minutes, and do things like get up from their chairs and walk down the corridor to talk to colleagues rather than sending an email or making a phone call.””

A list of government, philanthropic and corporate sponsors are listed at the WAIMR website.

Clearly, it is important for desk workers to move about and regularly leave their desks.  Boyle above recommends every 30 minutes and this may be a useful rule of thumb to apply.  There is also the added benefit of contributing to a better organisational culture by talking directly with colleagues instead centring communications through the personal computer.

The emphasis on movement in office environments is under-emphasised by many government OHS publications on office ergonomics.  Many of these publications do not reflect the reality.  Movement is often encouraged through corporate well-being programs rather than through ergonomics yet ergonomics has always been about human factors, movement, interaction and well-being as the following definition indicates:

 “…Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”

What governments need to start researching is whether “ergonomic” office furniture is still required in most workplaces?  That would mean “talking on” a substantial industry but isn’t that just one of the consequences of evidence-based decision making?

Kevin Jones

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New Zealand paralympian buys first Rex Bionics exoskeleton, takes robot walking legs for a spin

New Zealand paralympian buys first Rex Bionics exoskeleton, takes robot walking legs for a spin: "

Surely we weren't the only ones to wonder aloud who would be the first come up with $150,000 for a Rex Bionics robotic exoskeleton when the Auckland-based company introduced it last summer. Of course, no price seems too high for the ability to walk again, but that's still a lot scratch to get together -- and the space has been getting a lot more competitive as of late. The honor went to fellow Kiwi Dave MacCalman, a multiple medal-winning paralympian, who lost the use of his legs after sustaining a spinal cord injury while diving into a river. The 6-foot, 4-inch athlete took his first steps in over 30 years with the use of his newly-purchased robot legs -- and from the look on his face, he definitely got his New Zealand dollar's worth. If you need a quick refresher on exactly what this thing can do, check out the video after the break.

Continue reading New Zealand paralympian buys first Rex Bionics exoskeleton, takes robot walking legs for a spin

New Zealand paralympian buys first Rex Bionics exoskeleton, takes robot walking legs for a spin originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 11:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stroke rehabilitation glove fits into affordable bracket

Stroke rehabilitation glove fits into affordable bracket: "

Anyone who has suffered from a stroke or deal with stroke patients know that time is of the essence when the stroke occurs – the earlier medical help is rendered, the faster and higher the chances of recovery. For those who have lost the use of a hand due to a stroke, it makes sense to make sure that paralyzed hand gets up and moving again, where repeated and constant movement will enable the brain and the body to “relearn” how to use that particular body part. Not reinventing the wheel but rather, approaching the problem from a different angle, the Rehabilitation Glove will allow patients to exercise passively until they are able to recover sufficiently in order to start moving on their own. That can be quite expensive though, so what other forms of remedy are there?

Stroke rehabilitation glove fits into affordable bracket, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : Galaxy Tab Review, BlackBerry Torch Review,

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