3 ms·
This looks like a simple and elegant solution to a very real problem that affects lots of people's lives. But I can't help but think that in addition to the ob
by mightybyte 5y ago
This looks like a simple and elegant solution to a very real problem that affects lots of people's lives. But I can't help but think that in addition to the obvious upside of giving people a lot of autonomy, there's a significant downside here that should not be ignored. The flip side of making basic life activities easier is that if a person gets used to it, it can be pretty easy to slip into the complacency of relying on the device and actually never regain full normal function. I wonder if it would be feasible to augment that system with a leverage/resistance control that could be gradually changed. From my cursory look at the video it looks like there's some kind of mechanical leverage system in place (or at least there could be). Then a rehab schedule could start someone on, say, a 2x force multiplier and then gradually dial that back to 1x, and perhaps eventually < 1x which would then start to function as a strengthening / resistance training regimen.
I imagine this kind of graduated assistance/resistance feature would probably increase cost, complexity, and maintenance a meaningful amount. Question is, how much? Perhaps it might be worth it?
- anthomtb 5y agoReading between the lines, you seem to think people with mobility issues are lazy. “Just focus on your rehab and you’ll be walking again in no time! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” I can assure you that no amount of resistance training will undo the affects of very old age or multiple sclerosis.
- skj 5y agoI don't think "this is a dangerous idea because people might need it to function" is a great take.
- __MatrixMan__ 5y agoI had a roommate who was exceedingly stylish in an alternative sort of way. He once won a prohibition-era costume contest just dressed like he always does. He later suffered a smattering of strokes, during his recovery we got him a cane. He thought the cane was such a cool accessory that we had to have a sort of intervention: Dude, you're in your 20's, don't give up on walking without a cane just because you think your cane makes you look distinguished. So yeah, it's a real thing, but I think it's more of something to be aware of while you're using the product rather than a critique of the product: It's a crutch, crutches come with disclaimers.
- boublepop 5y agoYou can’t compare a hipster wanting to flash a cane with a senior citizen giving up going up and down stairs in pain because a painless alternative exists.
- monitron 5y agoI mean the person in the video has MS and is presumably never going to get back the function she has lost in her left side. She was unable to go downstairs unassisted before this device. She's not training for strength, she just needs to be able to access her whole house.