Innovative ideas and technologies to help folks with disabilities

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on innovative ideas and technologies aimed at assisting individuals with disabilities. Participants share experiences and products encountered at expos, emphasizing emotional responses and the potential impact of these technologies on users' lives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes an "Abilities Expo" showcasing various aids for individuals with disabilities, highlighting a product that allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to golf.
  • Another participant shares a deeply emotional experience regarding a harness that enables disabled children to experience walking, expressing the profound impact it had on them.
  • A participant reflects on personal experiences with physical therapy and the use of exoskeletons, noting the importance of preparation for using prosthetic devices.
  • Several participants share links to products designed to assist in sports and mobility, including a tandem hiker and a soccer prosthetic foot.
  • There are mentions of advancements in technology that evoke strong emotional responses, with some participants expressing sentiments about the heartwarming nature of these innovations.
  • One participant notes a video about a device for tremor reduction that is no longer available, expressing curiosity about the research surrounding it.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of emotional responses to the technologies discussed, but there is no consensus on specific products or their effectiveness. Multiple viewpoints and experiences are shared without clear agreement on any single approach or technology.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reference personal experiences and emotional reactions, which may not reflect the technical efficacy or broader applicability of the products mentioned. The conversation includes links to external resources that may not be accessible to all participants.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in assistive technologies, caregivers of people with disabilities, and those involved in medical or therapeutic fields may find the shared experiences and product ideas relevant.

berkeman
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One of the EMS medical standby shifts that I worked a few years ago was for an "Abilities Expo" at the San Jose Convention Center. It is a series of Expos around the US that bring together vendors who offer aids to handicapped folks and those folks who can benefit from the products. There were a number of wonderful products and aids that I saw as I walked around the Expo, and I'm subscribed to their Facebook page now and get notifications about their upcoming Expos and products often.

I'll post soon about one of the most heartwarming products that I saw at that Expo that I covered, but I got this notification in my FB feed today that I thought was pretty cool. Imagine that you were an avid golfer, and lost the use of your legs because of spinal cord injury or other causes. This is pretty neat, IMO:

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https://www.abilities.com/community...Hh5-s-WnCEM4vqG3KA_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

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Biology news on Phys.org
berkeman said:
I'll post soon about one of the most heartwarming products that I saw at that Expo that I covered,
This is the amazing idea and product that just destroyed me when I saw it at the Expo. I'm all dressed up in my medical uniform, ready for anything, and I had to turn away and wipe tears from my eyes when I saw a parent with their disabled child trying this product out. It is a harness that you place on your child and connect to yourself to let you help them experience the feeling of walking on their own. Just destroyed me...

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ilies-following-worldwide-launch-9213997.html
 
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Delightful. Just delightful.
 
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When my granddaughter entered AP Robotics and robotics club, I told her I expect to be wearing an exoskeleton by the time I lost the ability to walk. She would brush water drops off her textbook, studying while Poppa swam laps at our club.

So far, with daily PT I can still walk, sans leg braces post surgery to replace a ruined right knee with a titanium prosthesis. Internal mobility devices, being self-contained, require little user attention after sufficient training and conditioning.

Physical therapy (PT) plays an outsized role with preparing recipient for prostheses before surgery, recovering from surgery and physically adjusting to the device. This thread emphasizes spinal cord involvement where external devices such as that trike look appealing.

[Granddaughter became a professional EMT studying medicine.]
 
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I saw this in my Facebook feed today, and followed it to the manufacturer. I've never seen this before, but what a great idea for helping folks to participate in soccer (football) after losing a lower leg...

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https://www.ossur.com/en-us/prosthetics/products/feet
 
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Slightly off the theme of the thread, but still pretty cool, IMO. :smile:

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Oh my. This wonderful advancement really tugs at the heartstrings. Watch before and after the device is turned on...

 
berkeman said:
Oh my. This wonderful advancement really tugs at the heartstrings. Watch before and after the device is turned on...


Your video is no longer available. :-b
 
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Bruzote said:
Your video is no longer available. :-b
Oh shoot, that's unfortunate. Thanks for the heads-up.

EDIT/ADD -- IIRC, the video was about a device that helped to reduce/eliminate tremors via electrical stimulation. I wonder if the research ended up finding problems. I'll have to do some searching...