12 ms·

Spinal implants allow paralysed people to walk, swim and cycle again

431 points by helsinkiandrew 5y ago

_Microft 5y ago
There is an article in Nature on this which in my opinion is even better than the submission: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00367-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00367-1 Here is the actual paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01663-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01663-5 (paywall)
Cthulhu_ 5y ago
My main criticism and cynicism from articles like these (related: prosthetics) is that they help the few people that are lucky, popular, or rich; lucky to have a doctor or to find a program and get into it; popular because they end up in social media 'feel good' posts and articles; rich because it's experimental, low-volume tech or treatments that require going abroad. Popular can also translate to being able to afford it, but it's shameful that people have to post their stories online to raise money. (shameful to society that is, not the people who are driven by desperation). But I guess things like this will eventually trickle down to general and widespread availability, just technological advancements like cochlear implants and pacemakers did.
- jillesvangurp 5y ago
  That's generally how things with new tech. Initially expensive; it gets cheaper over time. Eventually patents run out and everybody gets in on the action.
- resonious 5y ago
  Do you have any ideas or advice on how these products should be developed instead? Sorry if that came off as antagonistic. I think I actually agree with the overall sentiment that luck and popularity shouldn't be barriers to healthcare, but experimentation is a necessary part of the process. And at the very least, luck is inherent to experimentation.
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    Obviously, medical experiments should only be done on the poorest and neediest segment of the population. There's no way to spin THAT as exploitative. ;D
- DeWilde 5y ago
  I see it differently, I think articles like are important by making people aware of solutions like these which will speed up the time needed to get them to people not as fortunate to have access to them now. More awareness means more people will work towards making the solution, lowering their cost.
  - BelleOfTheBall 5y ago
    I'd agree with this sentiment. These articles make people excited and bring awareness plus, if you allow me to speculate, I bet someone with paralysis who at least sees these articles and realizes they might have a chance to walk in the future will feel better than someone who doesn't see them. Knowing there is a chance makes it easier to cope with problems. Or maybe I'm wrong, tell me if I am, I fully understand my perspective may be skewed.
    - DeWilde 5y ago
      I have a few medical problems that aren't solvable with current technology, seeing articles like these related to my issue gets me excited and hopeful that I'll be cured one day. And as an engineer it brings attention to me that there are companies solving these problems that I could work for to speed up the effort.
- huhtenberg 5y ago
  Oh, knock it off. What these people did is nothing short of amazing. Yet, here we are - a completely generic and trivial "critique" comment is the highest upvoted sentiment. On the HN of all places. Jesus. The same "complaint" can be lodged against ANY novel treatment before it's fully productized for mass adoption.
  - Jaruzel 5y ago
    > Yet, here we are - a completely generic and trivial "critique" comment is the highest upvoted sentiment. On the HN of all places. Jesus. And 26 minutes later it's now downvoted. HN is working as intended, you just have to wait and let the community do it's job.
  - benjamir 5y ago
    I waited for this. I agree with you and always have to think about "Everything is amazing and nobody is happy": https://youtu.be/nUBtKNzoKZ4 https://youtu.be/nUBtKNzoKZ4 -- and I don't care it's Louis C.K. saying it. Like I don't care if a songs from Michael Jackson is playing. Still true.
- twayt 5y ago
  You don’t have to worry about that. If it’s possible, the market will solve that. Think of this as a proof of concept that viable tech and a potential market exists.
- germandiago 5y ago
  We all want the biggest amount of people have something that improves their life. However, I am yet to see a single service or product or improvement that all humanity took at the same instant. It simply does not or won't ever exist. These things need work, feedback, improvement. It is literally impossible to deliver things at the same time to everyone. Besides that, if that happened, but cannot, you would also make exactly the same mistakes with almost everyone. So tak e for granted that people that come later are granted to take improved versions of these techniques. Economy in the sense of scarcity and availability, was, is and will be always like this. If you wanted everyone to have this at the same time the only reality is these people would have to wait until general availability, things would probably be slower bc of the loop feedback and noone would get this benefit, just these three people would not get ir. So noone wins this way, except your feeling of fairness. But it is notba rational choice. What we need is massification and learning of these tecniques as they are certified as safe and to lower its price as much as it is possible to spread its availability. I think your negativity comes from the frustration that you cannot accept reality as it is. We all want what you say. It is just not how things work, unfortunately.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- greatpatton 5y ago
  Please this is public research from a public University, what do you expect? That they can scale it to 1000 of people? This is research as intended, now commercial products may be built out of this but it will take time again.
mgreb 5y ago
Walk, swim, cycle? Are we talking about pre-recorded neural commands, "modes" in implant? Or they actually managed to restore connectivity in nerves, bypassing damaged part?
- unnouinceput 5y ago
  No. Quote from article: "Dr Courtine and Dr Bloch have developed a wafer-thin device with electrodes that could target the dormant nerves. Once implanted into Mr Roccati’s back, the device sent in pulses of electricity that mimicked those normally present in the nerves of an uninjured person as they walk. By doing this, the device acted like an amplifier for any electrical signals coming from Mr Roccati’s brain. Those brain signals would normally be blocked by his damaged spinal tissue and be incapable of activating the nerves in his lower back. But with the stimulation device in place, Mr Roccati was able to voluntarily control those once-dormant nerves, allowing him to move his legs and walk." It's his brain, the device is only used as amplifier. The fact that article talks about "Walk, swim, cycle" in its title is only a part of what people fitted with devices can do. It said he can also sit and talk to friends at bar.
  - vba 5y ago
    Why is this post downvoted? Is it inaccurate.
    - wizzwizz4 5y ago
      It's best not to speculate too much on voting. Who knows how many bots and trolls there are?
    - eps 5y ago
      Yes, it is inaccurate to the point of being the reverse. Muscles are controlled through the software, with pattern of activation uploaded from an iPad via Bluetooth and generally managed by am accompanying person. The patients absolutely do NOT control the muscles with their brain.
      - 5y ago
spupe 5y ago
This builds upon some solid research in rodents and humans, which had showed very promising results. It is very likely to become a therapeutic option within the next 10 years, in my opinion.
- sschueller 5y ago
  Yes, a tremendous amount of research and animal testing. The exact opposite of what Elon is promising and doing after taking over nural link.
Proven 5y ago
twayt 5y ago
I wonder if this could be used for a truly immersive vr experience. 1. Hook up said implant, convert analog impulse to digital 2. Chemically induce paralysis of the peripheral motor neurons (??) 3. Truly immersive VR experience where participant controls embodied avatar
- jcun4128 5y ago
  SAO Wonder if you use your mind vs. a display, then are the visuals as good as real life. Or maybe you feed the image and your mind upscales it.
  - twayt 5y ago
    The number of bits needed for visual input far outweigh that needed for motor output so I’m not optimistic that it can improve the immersiveness of the experience.
  - eps 5y ago
    What's "SAO"?
    - jcun4128 5y ago
      It's an older RPG anime about people laying in bed playing a game in a virtual world via a BCI head set. It wasn't like today's VR, their eyes were closed.
    - duckmysick 5y ago
      Sword Art Online. An anime about players trapped inside a virtual reality online game. As jcun4128 described, the in-universe headset is much more advanced than what we have now.
- amatic 5y ago
  For the full experience you might also need some touch feedback. Maybe vibration gloves or some sort of pressure actuator to mimic touch.
- 5y ago
eerikkivistik 5y ago
I have a colleague who could benefit from this type of new treatment. Since HN is a wonderful place with a multitude of experts in various fields, I'll throw a question in the air: Who and how would I contact, if I wanted to know more about these kinds of clinical trials and participation?
- pakitan 5y ago
  This is the company from the article: https://www.neurorestore.swiss/join-our-programs https://www.neurorestore.swiss/join-our-programs
- paledot 5y ago
  As a sibling comment noted, the vast majority of "breakthroughs" are hot air and your discovery of a way to "fix" your colleague may not be received as warmly as you expect. I don't know anything about your colleague or your relationship with them, but I strongly advise careful consideration before broaching the subject. (In fact, I strongly advise against bringing it up at all. "I found a cure for you" is up there with "what's wrong with you" and "I'll just push your wheelchair without your consent" on the list of ways to really, really piss off someone with a disability.)
abhayhegde 5y ago
For those who are not able to access this: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fscience-and-technology%2Fspinal-implants-allow-paralysed-people-to-walk-swim-and-cycle-again%2F21807596 https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fsc...
- dotancohen 5y ago
  > For those who are not able to access this We are now at the technological level where the paralyzed can walk, but still at the legal level where information regarding such achievements is best shared surreptitiously.
goldenkey 5y ago
Seems incredibly risky. If a muscle is stimulated too greatly without the user's ability to feel it cramp or be overworked, it could potentially rip, rupture, etc.. and now the user will be dealing with rhabdomyolysis without even having any notice.
- adingus 5y ago
  I'm sure folks who get this treatment will be willing to stick to activities less strenuous than an intense CrossFit workout.
  - viraptor 5y ago
    You don't need to do crossfit to get injured. You're perfectly capable of injury by pushing your arm back, walking too slowly, and many other "normal" movements if you ignore the pain or are not able to feel it. This is basically a one-way interface and as far as I understand it, the patients don't get the sensations coming back.
- cjmcqueen 5y ago
  True risk. My partner is a paraplegic and their are things to watch out for all the time. Hot items on paralyzed skin, bed sores, muscle atrophy. I don't know if this is common, but my partner has developed a heightened sense of awareness for many of these things. Not to say that muscle tears couldn't happen, but there are other senses that do kick in with practice and awareness to keep people safe.
ineedasername 5y ago
Growing up, this sort of thing was speculated about with almost the same level of "sci fi" around it as things like stopping aging, instant cures for new diseases, and video phones. Just another example of how I slowly ended up living in the future without fully realizing it. Now, where's my flying car and Rosie, my robot maid?
- wizzwizz4 5y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro is your flying car. Your “robot maid” lives on your smartphone, probably called Alexa or Siri or Mycroft.
- felipemnoa 5y ago
  Not a flying car but close enough: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson-one-single-seater-evtol-flying-car https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson...
- beaconstudios 5y ago
  Flying cars, despite being a symbol of a scifi future, are actually a pretty bad idea. Driving on wheels is much more energy efficient than flying, and without the risk of acting like a kinetic weapon if the battery cuts out. I'm all for innovation, but I do think it's easy to get the wrong end of the stick with scifi and focus on the aesthetic over the social conditions.
  - ineedasername 5y ago
    Yes, small aircraft already account for most of the unscheduled rapid disassembly of planes each year. I don't think that masses of flying cars would improve on that. I don't really see a straight path to improving upon cars for arbitrary point-to-point transportation.
- pharke 5y ago
  Futurists and sci-fi authors always focus on the destination, we're the ones that get to experience the journey.
cjmcqueen 5y ago
As a partner of a person with a complete spinal cord injury, I appreciate these articles and the science being done by these researchers, it is truly a big and complex and worthwhile problem to solve. For most of us, I do want to suggest being careful when and how you mention research and articles like this to people in wheelchairs. Just be aware there are lots of different reasons why someone might be in a wheelchair and what can and can't be done for a given illness. It can be really taxing to get suggestions or shares of articles like this from well-meaning friends and family that don't actually understand the realities of living with an injury or medical issue that puts someone in a wheelchair. Obviously people should know work is being done. And obviously people might be excited to hear about breakthrough research. If you're inspired by articles like this, consider donating to the institutions funding the research. But, be aware that articles like this come out every year and for the vast majority of spinal cord injury patients it won't be available to them soon or ever. If you really want to support those in the accessibility needs community, support local building code changes and adaptive sports and outdoors programs. Making buildings, sports, and wilderness accessible will impact more people positively in the near term. The science is cool and amazing, but 100k people are limited by a few stairs to enjoy life and experiences with family.
- steve76 5y ago
- willmadden 5y ago
  I completely agree. My mother has been a partial quadriplegic since 1992 after a car accident. The moment there are broad cures for injury related paralysis, it'll be front page news. The most impactful thing you can do to help people with paralysis is push for better wheelchair accessibility where you live. It's amazing how much of the world is not accessible to someone in a wheelchair.
- verisimi 5y ago
  - helsinkiandrew 5y ago
benjamir 5y ago
I think I would cry tears of joy even seeing _anyone_ even just wiggle their toes after not being able to do so. How awesome that most be to witness somebody who could only recently dream of doing this, really accomplish this? _This_ is infinitely more amazing than any crypto shit, saving-the-world with Lomi blah blah blah and senseless techno-garbage some wanna-be-rich-thanks-to-an-exit-strategy creeps propagate on HN.
- allisdust 5y ago
  Or the ad industry that keeps peddling more material shit on all of humanity. They ensure that the brightest minds are occupied by only one thought: how to maximise clicks.
kvetching 5y ago
Better hope you have insurance or are a part of a study. Spinal Cord injuries are among the most expensive injuries to treat. Totals up into the millions pretty quick.
lotophage 5y ago
So they can complete a triathlon?
rosege 5y ago
Just a couple of days ago there was an article about Israeli scientists using stem cells to fix the spine: https://scitechdaily.com/human-spinal-cord-implants-breakthrough-may-enable-people-with-paralysis-to-walk-again/ https://scitechdaily.com/human-spinal-cord-implants-breakthr...
bitfhacker 5y ago
Can this help people with ALS?
- moffkalast 5y ago
  I thought ALS was already treatable by pouring a bucket full of ice onto yourself daily /s
neonate 5y ago
http://web.archive.org/web/20220209151817/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/spinal-implants-allow-paralysed-people-to-walk-swim-and-cycle-again/21807596 http://web.archive.org/web/20220209151817/https://www.econom... https://archive.is/3rCen https://archive.is/3rCen
smm11 5y ago
Good. Now cure cancer, and grow hair back on my head.
kazinator 5y ago
"Spinal implants allow geeks to stand up to their bosses!" https://dilbert.com/strip/1994-07-24 https://dilbert.com/strip/1994-07-24
crossroadsguy 5y ago
Excellent news. For someone working from chair and dealing with a lingering mild sensation kind of feeling (sometimes faint pain like) in the lower back any new development in the spine region gives hope for the future if things go wrong. (I’ve mild lower spine bulging that doctors say nothing to worry about though). I would be ecstatic if there was a cure for occipital pain (other than cutting the lower occipital nerves; that too just based on mere guess; or having regular nerve blocker injections) and a clear way to properly diagnose and image the region.

There is an article in Nature on this which in my opinion is even better than the submission: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00367-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00367-1 Here is the actual paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01663-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01663-5 (paywall)

Cthulhu_ 5y ago

My main criticism and cynicism from articles like these (related: prosthetics) is that they help the few people that are lucky, popular, or rich; lucky to have a doctor or to find a program and get into it; popular because they end up in social media 'feel good' posts and articles; rich because it's experimental, low-volume tech or treatments that require going abroad. Popular can also translate to being able to afford it, but it's shameful that people have to post their stories online to raise money. (shameful to society that is, not the people who are driven by desperation). But I guess things like this will eventually trickle down to general and widespread availability, just technological advancements like cochlear implants and pacemakers did.

jillesvangurp 5y ago
That's generally how things with new tech. Initially expensive; it gets cheaper over time. Eventually patents run out and everybody gets in on the action.
resonious 5y ago
Do you have any ideas or advice on how these products should be developed instead? Sorry if that came off as antagonistic. I think I actually agree with the overall sentiment that luck and popularity shouldn't be barriers to healthcare, but experimentation is a necessary part of the process. And at the very least, luck is inherent to experimentation.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  Obviously, medical experiments should only be done on the poorest and neediest segment of the population. There's no way to spin THAT as exploitative. ;D
DeWilde 5y ago
I see it differently, I think articles like are important by making people aware of solutions like these which will speed up the time needed to get them to people not as fortunate to have access to them now. More awareness means more people will work towards making the solution, lowering their cost.
- BelleOfTheBall 5y ago
  I'd agree with this sentiment. These articles make people excited and bring awareness plus, if you allow me to speculate, I bet someone with paralysis who at least sees these articles and realizes they might have a chance to walk in the future will feel better than someone who doesn't see them. Knowing there is a chance makes it easier to cope with problems. Or maybe I'm wrong, tell me if I am, I fully understand my perspective may be skewed.
  - DeWilde 5y ago
    I have a few medical problems that aren't solvable with current technology, seeing articles like these related to my issue gets me excited and hopeful that I'll be cured one day. And as an engineer it brings attention to me that there are companies solving these problems that I could work for to speed up the effort.
huhtenberg 5y ago
Oh, knock it off. What these people did is nothing short of amazing. Yet, here we are - a completely generic and trivial "critique" comment is the highest upvoted sentiment. On the HN of all places. Jesus. The same "complaint" can be lodged against ANY novel treatment before it's fully productized for mass adoption.
- Jaruzel 5y ago
  > Yet, here we are - a completely generic and trivial "critique" comment is the highest upvoted sentiment. On the HN of all places. Jesus. And 26 minutes later it's now downvoted. HN is working as intended, you just have to wait and let the community do it's job.
- benjamir 5y ago
  I waited for this. I agree with you and always have to think about "Everything is amazing and nobody is happy": https://youtu.be/nUBtKNzoKZ4 https://youtu.be/nUBtKNzoKZ4 -- and I don't care it's Louis C.K. saying it. Like I don't care if a songs from Michael Jackson is playing. Still true.
twayt 5y ago
You don’t have to worry about that. If it’s possible, the market will solve that. Think of this as a proof of concept that viable tech and a potential market exists.
germandiago 5y ago
We all want the biggest amount of people have something that improves their life. However, I am yet to see a single service or product or improvement that all humanity took at the same instant. It simply does not or won't ever exist. These things need work, feedback, improvement. It is literally impossible to deliver things at the same time to everyone. Besides that, if that happened, but cannot, you would also make exactly the same mistakes with almost everyone. So tak e for granted that people that come later are granted to take improved versions of these techniques. Economy in the sense of scarcity and availability, was, is and will be always like this. If you wanted everyone to have this at the same time the only reality is these people would have to wait until general availability, things would probably be slower bc of the loop feedback and noone would get this benefit, just these three people would not get ir. So noone wins this way, except your feeling of fairness. But it is notba rational choice. What we need is massification and learning of these tecniques as they are certified as safe and to lower its price as much as it is possible to spread its availability. I think your negativity comes from the frustration that you cannot accept reality as it is. We all want what you say. It is just not how things work, unfortunately.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
greatpatton 5y ago
Please this is public research from a public University, what do you expect? That they can scale it to 1000 of people? This is research as intended, now commercial products may be built out of this but it will take time again.

mgreb 5y ago

Walk, swim, cycle? Are we talking about pre-recorded neural commands, "modes" in implant? Or they actually managed to restore connectivity in nerves, bypassing damaged part?

unnouinceput 5y ago
No. Quote from article: "Dr Courtine and Dr Bloch have developed a wafer-thin device with electrodes that could target the dormant nerves. Once implanted into Mr Roccati’s back, the device sent in pulses of electricity that mimicked those normally present in the nerves of an uninjured person as they walk. By doing this, the device acted like an amplifier for any electrical signals coming from Mr Roccati’s brain. Those brain signals would normally be blocked by his damaged spinal tissue and be incapable of activating the nerves in his lower back. But with the stimulation device in place, Mr Roccati was able to voluntarily control those once-dormant nerves, allowing him to move his legs and walk." It's his brain, the device is only used as amplifier. The fact that article talks about "Walk, swim, cycle" in its title is only a part of what people fitted with devices can do. It said he can also sit and talk to friends at bar.
- vba 5y ago
  Why is this post downvoted? Is it inaccurate.
  - wizzwizz4 5y ago
    It's best not to speculate too much on voting. Who knows how many bots and trolls there are?
  - eps 5y ago
    Yes, it is inaccurate to the point of being the reverse. Muscles are controlled through the software, with pattern of activation uploaded from an iPad via Bluetooth and generally managed by am accompanying person. The patients absolutely do NOT control the muscles with their brain.
    - 5y ago

spupe 5y ago

This builds upon some solid research in rodents and humans, which had showed very promising results. It is very likely to become a therapeutic option within the next 10 years, in my opinion.

sschueller 5y ago
Yes, a tremendous amount of research and animal testing. The exact opposite of what Elon is promising and doing after taking over nural link.

Proven 5y ago

twayt 5y ago

I wonder if this could be used for a truly immersive vr experience. 1. Hook up said implant, convert analog impulse to digital 2. Chemically induce paralysis of the peripheral motor neurons (??) 3. Truly immersive VR experience where participant controls embodied avatar

jcun4128 5y ago
SAO Wonder if you use your mind vs. a display, then are the visuals as good as real life. Or maybe you feed the image and your mind upscales it.
- twayt 5y ago
  The number of bits needed for visual input far outweigh that needed for motor output so I’m not optimistic that it can improve the immersiveness of the experience.
- eps 5y ago
  What's "SAO"?
  - jcun4128 5y ago
    It's an older RPG anime about people laying in bed playing a game in a virtual world via a BCI head set. It wasn't like today's VR, their eyes were closed.
  - duckmysick 5y ago
    Sword Art Online. An anime about players trapped inside a virtual reality online game. As jcun4128 described, the in-universe headset is much more advanced than what we have now.
amatic 5y ago
For the full experience you might also need some touch feedback. Maybe vibration gloves or some sort of pressure actuator to mimic touch.
5y ago

eerikkivistik 5y ago

I have a colleague who could benefit from this type of new treatment. Since HN is a wonderful place with a multitude of experts in various fields, I'll throw a question in the air: Who and how would I contact, if I wanted to know more about these kinds of clinical trials and participation?

pakitan 5y ago
This is the company from the article: https://www.neurorestore.swiss/join-our-programs https://www.neurorestore.swiss/join-our-programs
paledot 5y ago
As a sibling comment noted, the vast majority of "breakthroughs" are hot air and your discovery of a way to "fix" your colleague may not be received as warmly as you expect. I don't know anything about your colleague or your relationship with them, but I strongly advise careful consideration before broaching the subject. (In fact, I strongly advise against bringing it up at all. "I found a cure for you" is up there with "what's wrong with you" and "I'll just push your wheelchair without your consent" on the list of ways to really, really piss off someone with a disability.)

abhayhegde 5y ago

For those who are not able to access this: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fscience-and-technology%2Fspinal-implants-allow-paralysed-people-to-walk-swim-and-cycle-again%2F21807596 https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fsc...

dotancohen 5y ago
> For those who are not able to access this We are now at the technological level where the paralyzed can walk, but still at the legal level where information regarding such achievements is best shared surreptitiously.

goldenkey 5y ago

Seems incredibly risky. If a muscle is stimulated too greatly without the user's ability to feel it cramp or be overworked, it could potentially rip, rupture, etc.. and now the user will be dealing with rhabdomyolysis without even having any notice.

adingus 5y ago
I'm sure folks who get this treatment will be willing to stick to activities less strenuous than an intense CrossFit workout.
- viraptor 5y ago
  You don't need to do crossfit to get injured. You're perfectly capable of injury by pushing your arm back, walking too slowly, and many other "normal" movements if you ignore the pain or are not able to feel it. This is basically a one-way interface and as far as I understand it, the patients don't get the sensations coming back.
cjmcqueen 5y ago
True risk. My partner is a paraplegic and their are things to watch out for all the time. Hot items on paralyzed skin, bed sores, muscle atrophy. I don't know if this is common, but my partner has developed a heightened sense of awareness for many of these things. Not to say that muscle tears couldn't happen, but there are other senses that do kick in with practice and awareness to keep people safe.

ineedasername 5y ago

Growing up, this sort of thing was speculated about with almost the same level of "sci fi" around it as things like stopping aging, instant cures for new diseases, and video phones. Just another example of how I slowly ended up living in the future without fully realizing it. Now, where's my flying car and Rosie, my robot maid?

wizzwizz4 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro is your flying car. Your “robot maid” lives on your smartphone, probably called Alexa or Siri or Mycroft.
felipemnoa 5y ago
Not a flying car but close enough: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson-one-single-seater-evtol-flying-car https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson...
beaconstudios 5y ago
Flying cars, despite being a symbol of a scifi future, are actually a pretty bad idea. Driving on wheels is much more energy efficient than flying, and without the risk of acting like a kinetic weapon if the battery cuts out. I'm all for innovation, but I do think it's easy to get the wrong end of the stick with scifi and focus on the aesthetic over the social conditions.
- ineedasername 5y ago
  Yes, small aircraft already account for most of the unscheduled rapid disassembly of planes each year. I don't think that masses of flying cars would improve on that. I don't really see a straight path to improving upon cars for arbitrary point-to-point transportation.
pharke 5y ago
Futurists and sci-fi authors always focus on the destination, we're the ones that get to experience the journey.

cjmcqueen 5y ago

As a partner of a person with a complete spinal cord injury, I appreciate these articles and the science being done by these researchers, it is truly a big and complex and worthwhile problem to solve. For most of us, I do want to suggest being careful when and how you mention research and articles like this to people in wheelchairs. Just be aware there are lots of different reasons why someone might be in a wheelchair and what can and can't be done for a given illness. It can be really taxing to get suggestions or shares of articles like this from well-meaning friends and family that don't actually understand the realities of living with an injury or medical issue that puts someone in a wheelchair. Obviously people should know work is being done. And obviously people might be excited to hear about breakthrough research. If you're inspired by articles like this, consider donating to the institutions funding the research. But, be aware that articles like this come out every year and for the vast majority of spinal cord injury patients it won't be available to them soon or ever. If you really want to support those in the accessibility needs community, support local building code changes and adaptive sports and outdoors programs. Making buildings, sports, and wilderness accessible will impact more people positively in the near term. The science is cool and amazing, but 100k people are limited by a few stairs to enjoy life and experiences with family.

steve76 5y ago
willmadden 5y ago
I completely agree. My mother has been a partial quadriplegic since 1992 after a car accident. The moment there are broad cures for injury related paralysis, it'll be front page news. The most impactful thing you can do to help people with paralysis is push for better wheelchair accessibility where you live. It's amazing how much of the world is not accessible to someone in a wheelchair.
verisimi 5y ago
- helsinkiandrew 5y ago

benjamir 5y ago

I think I would cry tears of joy even seeing _anyone_ even just wiggle their toes after not being able to do so. How awesome that most be to witness somebody who could only recently dream of doing this, really accomplish this? _This_ is infinitely more amazing than any crypto shit, saving-the-world with Lomi blah blah blah and senseless techno-garbage some wanna-be-rich-thanks-to-an-exit-strategy creeps propagate on HN.

allisdust 5y ago
Or the ad industry that keeps peddling more material shit on all of humanity. They ensure that the brightest minds are occupied by only one thought: how to maximise clicks.

kvetching 5y ago

Better hope you have insurance or are a part of a study. Spinal Cord injuries are among the most expensive injuries to treat. Totals up into the millions pretty quick.

lotophage 5y ago

So they can complete a triathlon?

rosege 5y ago

Just a couple of days ago there was an article about Israeli scientists using stem cells to fix the spine: https://scitechdaily.com/human-spinal-cord-implants-breakthrough-may-enable-people-with-paralysis-to-walk-again/ https://scitechdaily.com/human-spinal-cord-implants-breakthr...

bitfhacker 5y ago

Can this help people with ALS?

moffkalast 5y ago
I thought ALS was already treatable by pouring a bucket full of ice onto yourself daily /s

neonate 5y ago

http://web.archive.org/web/20220209151817/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/spinal-implants-allow-paralysed-people-to-walk-swim-and-cycle-again/21807596 http://web.archive.org/web/20220209151817/https://www.econom... https://archive.is/3rCen https://archive.is/3rCen

smm11 5y ago

Good. Now cure cancer, and grow hair back on my head.

kazinator 5y ago

"Spinal implants allow geeks to stand up to their bosses!" https://dilbert.com/strip/1994-07-24 https://dilbert.com/strip/1994-07-24

crossroadsguy 5y ago

Excellent news. For someone working from chair and dealing with a lingering mild sensation kind of feeling (sometimes faint pain like) in the lower back any new development in the spine region gives hope for the future if things go wrong. (I’ve mild lower spine bulging that doctors say nothing to worry about though). I would be ecstatic if there was a cure for occipital pain (other than cutting the lower occipital nerves; that too just based on mere guess; or having regular nerve blocker injections) and a clear way to properly diagnose and image the region.