Finally, we have lined up the ideal exoskeleton experience to try out and get on video. The researchers at the University of Houston, led by Jose Contreras-Vidal, have one-upped the traditional exoskeleton that assists with aging limbs and joints and created an exo that you control with your brain.
From a business standpoint, exoskeletons are huge for the future of industry, as the workforce ages and more people want to work for longer without pain. From a medical and science standpoint, exoskeletons are helping those born with genetic disorders or who have lost limbs.
Contreras-Vidal has an exoskeleton that’s designed for children… and candidates to be fitted for it are available for us to see them move through the entire process. From Smithsonian Mag:
“A number of researchers over the years have helped paralyzed people move using electrodes implanted in their brains. Contreras-Vidal’s patent-pending system is different because it is noninvasive—users take the electrode cap on and off at will. This is particularly useful in the case of patients who will only need the exoskeleton temporarily, such as stroke victims who might use the exoskeleton to regain walking ability, then learn to walk unaided.”
NOTES from brainstorm call w/Team Video (Mito, Nick) plus editor Uri:
Questions: If our bodies fail and our brains are still working, do we still exist? At what point are we brains in a jar?
Is this a question we could address in 30 years?
What is the far end of this, implication wise?
What are the future iterations of exoskeletons?
What are the implications of BMI’s, generally?
At what point does a “human” end and “machine” begin, i.e. cyborgs?
Exoskeletons protect your body, older people or joints — then build on that from there. Tell it in steps. So people can imagine how this evolves.
1) this is a thing and protect a worker or a 90 year old person. but this is just the beginning.
2) what is possible? the brain will break down, too. maintain mobility while body is deteriorating.
3) Is there a suit or other materials to help. How does the design evolve into something more efficient?
There’s exoskeletons. Then there’s BMI. Which could have many applications for the body. Then there’s the future of the human body, which involves gene therapy, etc. What are other applications of BMI that can cover the field?
The cyborg question: Ground level. An exoskelton supplements movement. Needles in the brain. How many different replacement categories can we think of? Movement, speech, cognition. Rachet it up and somewhere is a line people are uncomfortable crossing.
Where do you see the technology being developed now? Is there more lifelike or muscle type exo work being done?
There’s three tiers: Exoskeletons, BMI, Human Body
Addressing the so what? question, i.e. These are some applications and developments so you can see how this ties together. We are doing a baby step to introduce BMI in the exoskeleton feature, since it is the most obvious place to see signals are getting sent and programed by scientists into artificial limbs. It introduces how this level of exoskeletons really work. Maybe we can touch on Lowe’s exos work…
But then we escalate into far more ethical/philosophical questions by introducing different BMIs over time.
Future Human 