Despite similar concepts and design, two new robotic exoskeletons designed to assist humans are intended for very different audiences and very different purposes. The first is designed to enhance a person’s strength while preserving mobility. The second is designed to provide mobility to those in which it has been severely restricted. HULC, or Human Universal [...]
Posts under ‘Bionics’
“Artificial pancreas” successfully tested
Back in February I posted about the development of an “artificial pancreas,” which automatically monitored blood sugar levels and could deliver insulin when necessary. Today we learned that the system, which is made up of a blood glucose monitor, two insulin pumps and a laptop computer, was successfully tested in 11 adults with type 1 [...]
Bionic eye may restore sight for patients with progressive vision loss
My grandfather suffered from age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), which causes loss of vision over time. By the time he passed away in his late 70s, he was almost blind. ARMD progresses from the “inside” of your visual field to the outside, so those affected are unable to see that which they are looking at directly. [...]
Human body used as conduit for transmitting data
Researchers in South Korea have successfully transmitted data at broadband speeds between two points on a person’s arm using the body itself as a conduit. The technology is very energy efficient when compared to alternatives like wireless data transfer, and therefore may lend itself to health applications: It is difficult to monitor vital signs, such [...]
Highlights from the AAAS Annual Meeting
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held their annual meeting this week, and naturally a lot of very interesting stories and research results were unveiled: Turning paper and clothing into batteries – By coating fabric and paper with ink “laced” with carbon nanotubes, researchers were able to coax these ordinary materials into [...]
New prosthetic hand accurate enough to play “Jenga”
This recently unveiled bionic hand, manufactured by the UK-based BeBionic, shows a remarkable degree of accuracy – even enabling users to pull out precariously balanced blocks in a game of “Jenga.” The company shows a range of different grip types and capabilities in the above video. According to Engadget, the hand can also be sheathed [...]
New powered exoskeleton helps paraplegics walk
ABC’s Good Morning America has been running some interesting medical technology stories this week, but this one in particular caught my eye. An Israeli company demonstrated a powered exoskeleton called ReWalk that can be used to help wheelchair-bound individuals walk upright, even up stairs: ReWalk is a lightweight device comprised of an upper body harness, [...]
The transhuman U.S. Navy of 2030
The Navy Times is looking at what the future holds for the wettest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the sailor of 2030 could be far more enhanced than those of today, boasting surgeries and bionic implants that enable them to see in the dark or control devices through thought: Surgical enhancements may be [...]
Developments in brain-computer interfaces
Two of the hot new toys for the 2009 Christmas season used simple electrodes to read brainwaves and translate them to movement of a plastic ball – depending on your level of concentration, the ball would move up or down. Of course this is a quick and dirty implementation of the technology, which can be [...]
Top Transhuman Trends and Stories of 2009 – Part One
As we enter 2010, I’d like to take a look back at the previous year to take a look at some of the major technological developments that will play a role in our transhuman future – and are easing the transition. In no particular order, please find part one of the Top Transhuman Trends and [...]