From Jalopnik, which has a photo slideshow of technology in various stages of development aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. (Thanks to Bill for the tips.)Mobility technology has historically been limited to wheelchairs. But the aging global population is leading companies like Honda and Panasonic to envision new technology combining robotics and even mind control to give mobility-limited individuals freedom. Here's what to expect.
Most of the technology comes from Japan, which is becoming one of the oldest countries in the world yet has a shortage of care workers.
And Gizmodo says a robotic wheelchair is being developed for toddlers with mobility impairments. You can see a video of it on the Gizmodo site.
When a one-year-old has difficulty with movement, it impairs brain development, since researchers say babies form neural connections through exploration of their environment. How do you get around this? With a bad-ass robotic chair.
Physical therapists and mechanical engineers joined forces to create robots that allow babies with disabilities to move around. The robots controlled by a joystick that's simple enough for a one year old to use.
The chair is unlike a regular adult motorized chair, since it has sensors and a remote control feature that's usable by parents to help kids ride around.
