Japan's robot suit offers hope to disabled

In contrast to my previous thoughts about technology, I have found a great advantage of technology today. According to the article, “Japan firm, Cyberdyne, produces an exoskeleton robot device called the Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, which gives power to its wearer by anticipating and supporting the user's body movements using sensors monitoring electric signals sent from the brain to the muscles.”

Upon reading this news, I was happy and amazed by the invention of such robot. This robot device may not mean anything to the healthy and able ones but is hope and dream of the disabled. With this device, the disabled would be able to move about with more freedom, without the bulky wheelchair. “In one case, three weeks of training with HAL enabled a man who had suffered brain injuries to stand on his own feet after nine years in a wheelchair, said Cyberdyne CEO Yoshiyuki Sankai, professor at the University of Tsukuba.”

Through this article, I started to respect professor Sankai for his purpose of research and development. He had put his knowledge to good use and helped those more unfortunate. His creation had given hope to those physically disabled to be more able again and accomplish their dreams. Take for instance Mr Seiji Uchida. He lost the ability to walk in a car accident 27 years ago. He said that “he has long dreamed of visiting the picturesque abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, set on a rocky islet in Normandy.” Now, he can accomplish his dream more easily and it is all thanks to researchers and scientists like Professor Sankai.

I hope there would be more people taking Professor Sankai as their role model, repaying to the society with their knowledge. As the saying goes, “sharing is caring.”

Credits:
(News Source)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/lifestylenews/view/1098712/1/.html, 12 Dec 10

Done By: Kwek Wan Ling
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