Hyper-Ability
Oscar WATCH OUT! The 7-League Boots demoed at ??? show us that you don’t need to be an amputee to get in on the human augmentation action. The boots, made from a fiberglass leaf-spring, an aluminum frame, steel closures, and a rubber “foot”, allow normal humans to accomplish an amazing array of acrobatic tricks and energetic feats. Depending on their daring, users can perform tasks such as running with an attractive bouncing gait or doing back-flips off the sidewalk. For all us tech-geeks who have been waiting for a chance to run with a gait like Mr. Pistorius, here is your chance.
[1] 7Leagues Boots: Designed by a London company, these boots are used by extreme sports fans and techies alike
Celebrity amputees like athlete-model Aimee Mullins and famed (almost) Olympic qualifier Oscar Pistorius showoff artificial limbs and bionic counterparts that not only are functional, but make us non-amputees jealous of the super-ability, customization potential, and aesthetic flair that artificial limbs offer. Unless you suffer a serious injury, most humans have to be “content” with augmenting themselves with bio-mechatronic exoskeletons to provide the same platform for customization and design.
[2] a) Designer artificial-limbs made for Aimee Mullins; b) Aimee Mullins showing off her artificial legs when posing for a photo shoot
Although it might seem backwards, humans with biological limbs now need to step up their game in order to be competitive functionally and aesthetically. And the future is right around the corner…
Along with research on bio-prosthetics, labs around the country have made progress designing exoskeletons to help humans lift heavy loads, run, walk, and jump more efficiently.
[3] Human augmentation in the lab: Ex. The Berkeley BLEEX Project, a load carrying exoskeleton
Imagine a world where it was easier for you to run to work than ride your bike? Easier for you to carry your groceries home, than lug them in the trunk of your car. Easier to bound over a wall rather than walking around it. It is this sort of hyper-ability that defines locomotion of the future.
Who knows? One day, us normal humans might just be able to to live up to our bionic counterparts.
yes yes! i have always been secretly jealous of those artificial limbs, even though i don’t envy amputation
i do really like that the prosthetic limbs can be customized and decorative. that’s really making the most of a situation!
btw did you hear about the prosthetic hand that can “feel?” http://topics.healthvideo.com/m/26690543/a-new-prosthetic-can-feel-and-touch-objects.htm