In what is a really sweet “go team” for robotics and modern medicine, a legless man in China has recently regained the ability to walk.

Peng Shulin had the lower half of his body severed in a tragic accident and has been bedridden ever since. But no longer. Doctors fashioned a set of bionic legs that, combined with a walking frame that looks like a small walker, allow Peng to walk again. Peng is quite happy with the development, I’m sure.

After attending a medical trade show (I shot photographs for one of the exhibitors), I have to say I was amazed at the technology being used to enrich the lives of those who had previously been unable to walk or move freely. The advances in prosthetic limbs alone is staggering. I saw guys walking around on robotic-looking legs made of carbon fiber and machined aluminum with almost perfect gait (that’s no limp). How long is it going to be before we can stretch a synthetic “skin” over them as well and it’ll basically be impossible to tell that that guy over there lost his leg in a car accident?

I also got to check out the IBOT mobility system, a wheelchair that can do some amazing stuff like climb stairs, elevate it’s passenger for eye-level conversation, and even go cross-country across a grassy hill in four-wheel drive. The IBOT does the first two things through an ingenious combination of technology that seems to be somewhat similar to the Segway (not surprising since it’s designed by the same dude, Dean Kamen). It uses gyros and computer control to allow the chair to balance itself on two wheels and continuously correct that balance. When you want to climb stairs, the IBOT just lifts up, places it’s front wheels on the top stair and then switches their position. It’s truly amazing to watch in person.

We’re a lot closer to the Million Dollar man than ever.

The Icon Mobile Manager is the first truly full-function PDA that’s aimed at those with visual impairments.  I have to applaud Levelstar for being the first to market this type of device to a clientèle that’s been horrendously under-served by this market.

When you think about it, the visually-impaired are a market that most benefits from a device like a PDA.  While those of us with sight have a relatively easy time keeping ourselves organized using traditional mean, the visually-impaired don’t have the luxury of jotting down a note on the back of that cash-machine envelope.  We can also jump into an Internet cafe or Apple Store to check our email on a whim.  Not too many of these places have easily accessible accommodations for the visually impaired.  (more…)