5 ms·

I am not sure how long it'd take to become socially acceptable, but I would bet we could make robotic tails for the elderly to help with balancing... accelerome

I am not sure how long it'd take to become socially acceptable, but I would bet we could make robotic tails for the elderly to help with balancing... accelerometer, motors and a few counterweights, controller and battery.

jey 7y ago
A lot of people have psychological hurdles to even using a cane. Something like "I raised N children, I powered through my career, I have been a strong independent human being as far as I can remember, why should I use a cane?"
- SargeZT 7y ago
  I work with seniors, and even walkers/canes aren't surefire answers. In my facility, with roughly 500 seniors, we still have at least 2 major falls a month with people using walkers. We had a hip fracture last week with someone using a walker because they decided to take a sharp turn and just tipped over. They certainly help, but I've seen falls happen that wouldn't have happened were a walker not in the equation at all.
- JackFr 7y ago
  > why should I use a cane? To beat young whippersnappers!
- blacksmith_tb 7y ago
  For sure, something like a wearable airbag (if you couldn't tell someone was wearing it) would be an easier sell. In either case people would have to actually remember to put them on and keep them on. Of course, it's sad to think that not wanting to accept you're aging would prevent us from taking steps to live longer, but we humans are a stubborn bunch.
- slavik81 7y ago
  You occasionally see Richard Guy walking around our mathematics department with hiking poles. The man hiked a mountain in his 90s, but he's 103 now and it seems those days are past. It reminds me to watch where I'm going, lest I end a living legend.
  - slavik81 7y ago
    RIP Richard Guy. https://science.ucalgary.ca/mathematics-statistics/about/richard-guy https://science.ucalgary.ca/mathematics-statistics/about/ric...
Someone 7y ago
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/26/business/tech/devolution-keio-team-designs-wearable-robotic-tail-help-elderly-keep-balance/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/26/business/tech/d...: “Devolution? Keio University team designs wearable robotic tail to help elderly keep their balance”
- blacksmith_tb 7y ago
  Ooh, that one is fancy! But looks like it will need some refinement to be untethered.
FiatLuxDave 7y ago
Make them look like dinosaur tails, sell them with a dinosaur hat, market them through grandkids!

jey 7y ago

A lot of people have psychological hurdles to even using a cane. Something like "I raised N children, I powered through my career, I have been a strong independent human being as far as I can remember, why should I use a cane?"

SargeZT 7y ago
I work with seniors, and even walkers/canes aren't surefire answers. In my facility, with roughly 500 seniors, we still have at least 2 major falls a month with people using walkers. We had a hip fracture last week with someone using a walker because they decided to take a sharp turn and just tipped over. They certainly help, but I've seen falls happen that wouldn't have happened were a walker not in the equation at all.
JackFr 7y ago
> why should I use a cane? To beat young whippersnappers!
blacksmith_tb 7y ago
For sure, something like a wearable airbag (if you couldn't tell someone was wearing it) would be an easier sell. In either case people would have to actually remember to put them on and keep them on. Of course, it's sad to think that not wanting to accept you're aging would prevent us from taking steps to live longer, but we humans are a stubborn bunch.
slavik81 7y ago
You occasionally see Richard Guy walking around our mathematics department with hiking poles. The man hiked a mountain in his 90s, but he's 103 now and it seems those days are past. It reminds me to watch where I'm going, lest I end a living legend.
- slavik81 7y ago
  RIP Richard Guy. https://science.ucalgary.ca/mathematics-statistics/about/richard-guy https://science.ucalgary.ca/mathematics-statistics/about/ric...

Someone 7y ago

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/26/business/tech/devolution-keio-team-designs-wearable-robotic-tail-help-elderly-keep-balance/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/26/business/tech/d...: “Devolution? Keio University team designs wearable robotic tail to help elderly keep their balance”

blacksmith_tb 7y ago
Ooh, that one is fancy! But looks like it will need some refinement to be untethered.

FiatLuxDave 7y ago

Make them look like dinosaur tails, sell them with a dinosaur hat, market them through grandkids!