4 ms·

> "Ten years from now, there will be no, or far fewer, wheelchairs," he said. I wonder how much money he'll put on that.

theslurmmustflo 5y ago
if battery technology keeps improving, I'm not sure why that wouldn't be the case for people with long term disablities
- wizzwizz4 5y ago
  If you're using a wheelchair due to a joint issue, as opposed to paralysis?
bredren 5y ago
Ten years seems fast, but I foresee a revolution in local micro manufacture that is a mashup of 3d printing as we know it and local assembly of off the shelf parts. This will lead to a revolution of generic complex product availability that ignores patents and trademarks. An exoskeleton may not be the first type of product to be ordered and assembled from a few blocks away. The amount of QA for safety would need to be high. However, if the price of such things is 1/10 or even 1/20th that of the branded, official version people will continue to turn to hyperlocal, small-run manufacture for even the most safety-critical products.
ad404b8a372f2b9 5y ago
I share your skepticism but I wouldn't question the conviction of a guy who built a company and worked on this project for 10 years to help his son walk again.
- rhino369 5y ago
  I hope he's wrong since my brother is quadriplegic, but I wouldn't bet on it. Either way, this guy is an inspiration.
- gattilorenz 5y ago
  Me neither, but that's only true for the richest part of the world, while a majority of the population will still have to deal with wheelchairs (and in many places I imagine self-built ones). Not being snarky, I appreciate a lot what he's doing, and I hope he will succeed in his quest. There's just a glimpse of sadness when I realize that solving the problem in the first world doesn't mean it will be solved for good (same with vaccines, we hope/expect to have solved the COVID problem soon, but it won't actually be the case for a majority of the world population).
- caturopath 5y ago
  I don't question his conviction, dedication, or cause, just his prediction, which I believe is extremely unlikely.

theslurmmustflo 5y ago

if battery technology keeps improving, I'm not sure why that wouldn't be the case for people with long term disablities

wizzwizz4 5y ago
If you're using a wheelchair due to a joint issue, as opposed to paralysis?

bredren 5y ago

Ten years seems fast, but I foresee a revolution in local micro manufacture that is a mashup of 3d printing as we know it and local assembly of off the shelf parts. This will lead to a revolution of generic complex product availability that ignores patents and trademarks. An exoskeleton may not be the first type of product to be ordered and assembled from a few blocks away. The amount of QA for safety would need to be high. However, if the price of such things is 1/10 or even 1/20th that of the branded, official version people will continue to turn to hyperlocal, small-run manufacture for even the most safety-critical products.

ad404b8a372f2b9 5y ago

I share your skepticism but I wouldn't question the conviction of a guy who built a company and worked on this project for 10 years to help his son walk again.

rhino369 5y ago
I hope he's wrong since my brother is quadriplegic, but I wouldn't bet on it. Either way, this guy is an inspiration.
gattilorenz 5y ago
Me neither, but that's only true for the richest part of the world, while a majority of the population will still have to deal with wheelchairs (and in many places I imagine self-built ones). Not being snarky, I appreciate a lot what he's doing, and I hope he will succeed in his quest. There's just a glimpse of sadness when I realize that solving the problem in the first world doesn't mean it will be solved for good (same with vaccines, we hope/expect to have solved the COVID problem soon, but it won't actually be the case for a majority of the world population).
caturopath 5y ago
I don't question his conviction, dedication, or cause, just his prediction, which I believe is extremely unlikely.