Tag Archives: wheelchair

Tongue Control Gives Hope To Disabled

The tireless tongue already controls taste and speech, helps kiss and swallow and fights germs. Now scientists hope to add one more ability to the mouthy muscle, and turn it into a computer control pad.

Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person’s mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard – and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.

“You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue,” said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team’s research. Read more... (455 words + 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Robotic Treadmill Helps Once-Paralyzed Woman Walk on Her Own Again

A woman who was paralyzed after breaking her neck in a trampoline accident has regained the ability to walk using a robotic treadmill-like device, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

Jeanette Sykes, 39, broke her neck while jumping on a trampoline at a friend’s barbecue in July 2006. She was told she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, according to the report.

After five months of rehabilitation at the Spinal Injuries Center at Pinderfields Hospital in West Yorkshire, England, doctors decided to try a new piece of equipment it was testing on her called the Lokomat. Read more... (209 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

The Brick

Jimmy, a young and very successful executive, was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going pretty fast, proudly showing off his two-month old sleek, black, shining 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE.

He thought he caught a flash of some kids hiding between parked cars. Afraid that they might dart out while playing, he slowed down. No child darted out as his car passed, but…

WHAM! Read more... (432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)