Posted on 08/25/2008 9:01:34 AM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
HAIFA, Israel (Reuters) - paralyzed for the past 20 years, former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof now walks down the street with a dim mechanical hum.
That is the sound of an electronic exoskeleton moving the 41-year-old's legs and propelling him forward -- with a proud expression on his face -- as passersby stare in surprise.
"I never dreamed I would walk again. After I was wounded, I forgot what it's like," said Kaiof, who was injured while serving in the Israeli military in 1988.
"Only when standing up can I feel how tall I really am and speak to people eye to eye, not from below."
The device, called ReWalk, is the brainchild of engineer Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies, a small Israeli high-tech company.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I always think of our Vets when I see stories like this. Who knows what the future brings. May that future come sooner for them.
LOL
Cool tech, bmflr.
Awesome! Thank you for the Post!
Excellent. I did a search on it, and found several vids, and some related ones, as well.
Of course, our Soldiers come first in our thoughts, but I also think of some personal sports heroes, as well. Wayne Rainey comes to mind first for me.
I can’t wait for the technology that will allow paralyzed folks to enjoy mobility again, if not complete healing of their injuries.
Thanks for the post.
What is amazing is that the inventor will never be likely to use his own inventions due to his own disabilities, but yet he works so others can walk.A friend of mine is paralyzed from the waist down, but his health has declined to the point that he will never be able to use this device.Sadly, he had been following these developments for years in anticipation of enjoying the ability to look eye to eye with people again.
“Would you like to know more?”
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Thanks for the link, Doug! I use two canes and rely upon a wheelchair when doing housework. This really looks like something I can use in the near future!
This is just wonderful, amazing technology. It will do a great deal of good for millions.
If the barbarians had their way the inventor would be dead.
Makes me wonder if jealousy is at the heart of the hatred of the Jews - who turned a desert into a bountiful country and have offered so much to the world in medicine, science and the arts.
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Another scientific advancement for the betterment of mankind brought to us by the enlightened culture of Islam!!!!
Oh.....wait...........
This is just one more exhibit in the so-called “Arab-Israeli” conflict. On the one side, a country which is industrious, humanitarian, freedom-loving and working constantly for the betterment of mankind. On the other side, hundreds of millions of people scattered throughout a large swath of the globe that, generally speaking, hate freedom, are industrious mainly in the tools of mayhem and murder, barbaric and working constantly to destroy much of mankind, including their own brothers.
It bewilders me that there is enough malice in the world to prevent every last thinking adult from recognizing the blazing truth of the matter so that there are so many apologists for the Arab and Islamic world and so many who hate Israel and the Jewish people. Are Jews perfect? Hardly. But in the contest with their enemies, it’s no contest.
Fascinating. I saw the video. They should put the controls on the handgrip of the crutches. Use Bluetooth or something to communicate with the backpack.
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