17 replies to this topic

[McTavish]

Have just come back from seminar on E.Walk and I am very very impressed. In the film, made in Dublin a few weeks ago the Paraplegic who was demonstrating the machine was able to put it on himself and walk unaided with two crutches and even climb steps. At the moment it is made to go over clothing but probably in the future they will come up with one to go under clothing. There are four companies at the moment producing these Argo Medical Technologies Israel
Berkeley Bionics California
Cyberdyne Japan
Rex Bionics New Zealand.
Some of the above say that you have to be at least 5feet 4" to use their suit others start at 4Feet 8" so if the time comes that they are availabe to us ordinary people then it will be a case of finding the right supplier for yourself.

This seminar was discussing the Argo model so I can,t comment on the others. One drawback (for females) was that we would not be able to go to the toilet while wearing the apparatus but I,m sure in time that will be overcome. It can be worn for up to eight hours at a time so you would be able to do a whole day at the office or work place. We were told that they will be available in 2012 at a cost of
(wait for it) 50,000euro very pricy but it still does not stop me from wanting one.

[Charlie-boi]

Cheers for the info! I think the second these things start selling will be the second they start evolving and refining through competition of each company wanting sales! Hope they replace wheelchairs!

[RollingpixV2]

Have you heard about the HAL 5 in Japan? Hal 5 exoskeleton I posted about it years ago and it has gotten so Much better. I really want to be an exoskeleton!

When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles via motoneuron, moving the musculoskeletal system as a consequence. At this moment, very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin. "HAL" catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the wearer. Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the joint unitedly with the wearer's muscle movement, enabling to support the wearer's daily activities. This is what we call a 'voluntary control system' that provides movement interpreting the wearer's intention from the biosignals in advance of the actual movement. Not only a 'voluntary control system' "HAL" has, but also a 'robotic autonomous control system' that provides human-like movement based on a robotic system which integrally work together with the 'autonomous control system'. "HAL" is the world's first cyborg-type robot controlled by this unique Hybrid System.
Here's a great picture


By rollingpixv2 at 2011-09-18

Edited by RollingpixV2, 18 September 2011 - 05:26 PM.

[Charlie-boi]

Sounds good! I guess it's realy just for incompletes then? Could it interpret the difference between a stmulouse from a intentional movement and a spasm if you get me??

[RollingpixV2]

Charlie-boi, on 18 September 2011 - 11:11 PM, said:

Sounds good! I guess it's realy just for incompletes then? Could it interpret the difference between a stmulouse from a intentional movement and a spasm if you get me??

To the best of what I know yes it can.

McTavish, on 18 September 2011 - 01:49 PM, said:

Have just come back from seminar on E.Walk and I am very very impressed. In the film, made in Dublin a few weeks ago the Paraplegic who was demonstrating the machine was able to put it on himself and walk unaided with two crutches and even climb steps. At the moment it is made to go over clothing but probably in the future they will come up with one to go under clothing. There are four companies at the moment producing these Argo Medical Technologies Israel
Berkeley Bionics California
Cyberdyne Japan
Rex Bionics New Zealand.
Some of the above say that you have to be at least 5feet 4" to use their suit others start at 4Feet 8" so if the time comes that they are availabe to us ordinary people then it will be a case of finding the right supplier for yourself.

This seminar was discussing the Argo model so I can,t comment on the others. One drawback (for females) was that we would not be able to go to the toilet while wearing the apparatus but I,m sure in time that will be overcome. It can be worn for up to eight hours at a time so you would be able to do a whole day at the office or work place. We were told that they will be available in 2012 at a cost of
(wait for it) 50,000euro very pricy but it still does not stop me from wanting one.

OOPS! I didn't read well enough b4 replying. Great post

[HaYn]

Just scratching the surface...wheel to a car? coke to a flot hahaha korny but think outside the box!

[MTB John]

Sorry to be negative but I do not see the point.
I can walk using crutches, a little, but I spend 99% of my time in a chair because it is much more practical. How often do you guys move from A - B with something sittingin your lap? - drink bottle, plate of food, book, laptop.
For me it's about 80% of the time.
With no free hand you'll be walking but you will be less independent..

[goose]

MTB John, on 19 September 2011 - 01:34 AM, said:

Sorry to be negative but I do not see the point.
I can walk using crutches, a little, but I spend 99% of my time in a chair because it is much more practical. How often do you guys move from A - B with something sittingin your lap? - drink bottle, plate of food, book, laptop.
For me it's about 80% of the time.
With no free hand you'll be walking but you will be less independent..

There are some of us who can't walk or even stand on our own. To be able just to stand upright would be a hugh improvement to me. I would love to be able to walk outside or to another room. You are very lucky to be able to walk with crutches even if it was only for 2 steps. I could be creative enough to figure out how to carry things...that would be no problem. I can't use my hands but I've learned to do alot of things without being able to grip items.

After 25 years of sitting in a wheelchair, I'm very thankful somebody did see the point. It takes vision and thought to create new products. Aren't you glad somebody saw the point of a wheel? Where would we all be if it hadn't been invented? I'm sure wheelchairs weren't the goal then but it sure has been a good by-product.


I may never get to try this but hopefully others down the road will.

[Charlie-boi]

Nice words goose! I completely agree! I bet you learnt skills you didn't think possible! Simply because you had too! And it's people like you who still push for better things and through determination step forward to make things practical rather than step back!! People like this will advance things for us as a whole! I know people who are in a very close state to walking yet nooo they settle for a chair! I also usually find they do naff all with their life after injury! This annoys and saddens me! Because I don't want to be associated with a chair and with more combined force I think it's time things evolve! I don't think it needs to be stated what it would mean to many of us to be able to stand and some how be free of a chair!

[jenny407]

McTavish, thank you for the info. My friend uses callipers a lot. I'm sure E-Walk etc. will be great progress, especially when it will be further developed and when prices drop.

Of course, everybody has to decide for themselves. It's good to have choice, though.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the seminar, McTavish.

[biggdoggpa]

Where my friend goes to PT they are going to get one not sure what model it is i want to say he said something about Israel?? i will find out and post it and maybe a video also i wanted to share that the EasyStand Evolv mobile is unbelievable!!! so freaking nice anyone who goes to PT can request a sample to be sent there if you use a standing frame you have to check this one out!!!! (and i don not work or have any affiliation with that company lol )

[brockit79]

biggdoggpa, on 19 September 2011 - 11:56 AM, said:

Where my friend goes to PT they are going to get one not sure what model it is i want to say he said something about Israel?? i will find out and post it and maybe a video also i wanted to share that the EasyStand Evolv mobile is unbelievable!!! so freaking nice anyone who goes to PT can request a sample to be sent there if you use a standing frame you have to check this one out!!!! (and i don not work or have any affiliation with that company lol )

Hey Dogg,

Is that the one you sent me on facebook?

Brockit79

Edited by brockit79, 12 October 2011 - 06:08 AM.

[biggdoggpa]

brockit79, on 12 October 2011 - 06:07 AM, said:

biggdoggpa, on 19 September 2011 - 11:56 AM, said:

Where my friend goes to PT they are going to get one not sure what model it is i want to say he said something about Israel?? i will find out and post it and maybe a video also i wanted to share that the EasyStand Evolv mobile is unbelievable!!! so freaking nice anyone who goes to PT can request a sample to be sent there if you use a standing frame you have to check this one out!!!! (and i don not work or have any affiliation with that company lol )

Hey Dogg,

Is that the one you sent me on facebook?

Brockit79

yes thats the one

[wheeliebear75]

MTB John, on 19 September 2011 - 01:34 AM, said:

Sorry to be negative but I do not see the point.
I can walk using crutches, a little, but I spend 99% of my time in a chair because it is much more practical. How often do you guys move from A - B with something sittingin your lap? - drink bottle, plate of food, book, laptop.
For me it's about 80% of the time.
With no free hand you'll be walking but you will be less independent..

I understand what you're getting at. Not that this isn't a "good invention", merely that this is still lacking in a few areas one of which being the practicality of it. And yes....I too am far more independent in my wheelchair than I am trying to hobble around on my crutches.

[wheeliebear75]

goose, on 19 September 2011 - 02:24 AM, said:

MTB John, on 19 September 2011 - 01:34 AM, said:

Sorry to be negative but I do not see the point.
I can walk using crutches, a little, but I spend 99% of my time in a chair because it is much more practical. How often do you guys move from A - B with something sittingin your lap? - drink bottle, plate of food, book, laptop.
For me it's about 80% of the time.
With no free hand you'll be walking but you will be less independent..

There are some of us who can't walk or even stand on our own. To be able just to stand upright would be a hugh improvement to me. I would love to be able to walk outside or to another room. You are very lucky to be able to walk with crutches even if it was only for 2 steps. I could be creative enough to figure out how to carry things...that would be no problem. I can't use my hands but I've learned to do alot of things without being able to grip items.

After 25 years of sitting in a wheelchair, I'm very thankful somebody did see the point. It takes vision and thought to create new products. Aren't you glad somebody saw the point of a wheel? Where would we all be if it hadn't been invented? I'm sure wheelchairs weren't the goal then but it sure has been a good by-product.


I may never get to try this but hopefully others down the road will.

I hear what you are saying that these inventions shouldn't be "knocked".

BUT....
If I could get you to step back & think of what you just said in regards to doing things upright without hands...."I could be creative enough to figure out how to carry things...that would be no problem."....are you really so sure about that? Cuz aside from sliding a cart on wheels along with my crutch one step at a time and ONLY being able to use that method on hard surface floors (yeah FORGET about this trick on carpet).....I don't know many other ways TO carry things; you can place things on a cart, you can have drinks in things like juice boxes instead of a glass of juice & stick it in a fanny pack, sure you can have a "leash" to keep a sports bottle around the neck or waist....but just try doing that with a bowl of mac & cheese or a dinner plate. I'm VERY interested in knowing what creative ideas I may have overlooked in all those years of trying to hobble around my kitchen to make things to eat or drink for my kids. And my mom is an OT so I'm sure she'd also be interested in any tips.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 13 October 2011 - 09:49 AM.

[wheeliebear75]

Charlie-boi, on 19 September 2011 - 10:50 AM, said:

Nice words goose! I completely agree! I bet you learnt skills you didn't think possible! Simply because you had too! And it's people like you who still push for better things and through determination step forward to make things practical rather than step back!! People like this will advance things for us as a whole! I know people who are in a very close state to walking yet nooo they settle for a chair! I also usually find they do naff all with their life after injury! This annoys and saddens me! Because I don't want to be associated with a chair and with more combined force I think it's time things evolve! I don't think it needs to be stated what it would mean to many of us to be able to stand and some how be free of a chair!

Can we please not make this an anti-incomplete rant? Cuz that is pretty much what "I know people who are in a very close state to walking yet nooo they settle for a chair! I also usually find they do naff all with their life after injury! This annoys and saddens me!" does IN MY OPINION. I got fairly "close" to "walking" but there is no way to accurately enough portray the physical PAIN & EXHAUSTION that it takes out of me to "walk" that 50ft that I could have done in my wheelchair without ANY PAIN & maybe even enjoy point B once I've gotten from point A TO point B. I'm just sayin'.....sometimes it is NOT a mere case of "not trying hard enough" & quite frankly.....am a bit disappointed......I thought for sure we were past that "Oh they can't walk but that's just cuz they didn't try hard enough" ?!?!?

Edited by wheeliebear75, 13 October 2011 - 10:05 AM.

[Charlie-boi]

It's not a rant against incompletes! Opinions are based on peoples experiances! My opinion of some people who could have been out of a chair was linked to the fact those people havnt done anything with their life from a job, sport to even haveing relationships with people! I know I can't stereotype every incomplete but that's my experience of the few i knew in a position to walk!! And let's behonest not every incomplete can even contemplate getting up and walking as there are so many degree on injury! So yeh I will rant about the specific type of person that could as much as I like! Why shouldn't i! If someone was able bodied and lazy as he'll with potential I would rant about them! Because my character actually takes it as an insult to see potential which I'm envious of get wasted!!

If you get pain etc etc and you can't wall well that I wouldn't rant about because it's not realistic potential to walk!!

I just think there are some people that disability brings the best out of and unfortunatly some it brings the worst out of! I hate how developments are slow and pretty stale on trying to find alternatives to a wheel chair and I think with a wheelchair community more up for Change rather than just accepting what there is .....that things could realy move on!!

Fact is with persistence many things could be made possible!!

[BoyFallDown]

MTB John, on 19 September 2011 - 01:34 AM, said:

Sorry to be negative but I do not see the point.
I can walk using crutches, a little, but I spend 99% of my time in a chair because it is much more practical. How often do you guys move from A - B with something sittingin your lap? - drink bottle, plate of food, book, laptop.
For me it's about 80% of the time.
With no free hand you'll be walking but you will be less independent..

While I don't agree, I see where your coming from. I probably wouldn't want (or be able to afford) one of the first models. But think of where computers have come in 30 years. From a system the size of a house that can only add and subtract, to portable video game systems that fit in your pocket. Imagine where these will be in 10-20 years, especially if a major technology company got behind one.

Edited by BoyFallDown, 24 October 2011 - 01:49 AM.