Wii-Powered Robot Chair Lets Infants Zoom Around On Their Own

[txlibdem]

This is a must-read article. Wow.

"Independent mobility is crucial in the development of typical infants," says the research
By Rebecca BoylePosted 11.19.2010 at 2:29 pm

A baby transporter for mobility-impaired children would ensure confidence, independence and proper cognitive development, researchers say. So they recommend babies start driving around on sonar-equipped robots.

At a rehabilitation conference in Las Vegas, researchers at Ithaca College described attaching a child seat to a Wii Fit balance board and mounting the whole setup on a Pioneer 3 robot. Like an infant Segway, it moves in whatever direction the baby leans, and built-in sonar helps avoid collisions.

It worked for babies aged 7 to 9 months, according to a paper on the Wii ‘bot. Babies leaned forward to grab a toy or a drink, and they wheeled forward. They also zoomed around on their own without coaxing, the paper says. Parents can assume control using a wireless joystick that acts as a master override switch.

Doctors say such a contraption could help children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy who can’t explore the world on their own. Independent movement is crucial for infant development, the Ithaca researchers say.

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-11/wii-powered-robotic-baby-chair-helps-infants-zoom-around

[Ilsa]

1. I really like this concept! I just hope it isn't conscripted and

used by children who need to be learning to crawl and walk.

[txlibdem]

4. Pretty sure it's an assistive tech not a borg implant

:-)

[Ian David]

2. I welcome our new, cyborg toddler overlords.

Seriously though, this is brilliant in its simplicity and a great idea for disabled children.

[txlibdem]

5. And the Wii is so cheap that the entire contraption should be affordable

Hopefully...

The photo accompanying the article does invoke thoughts of invading Martians, though, doesn't it!

[Mz Pip]

3. I can only imagine

what my second son would have done in something like that. He took a few years off my life as a toddler as it was.

still this is terrific for physically challenged kids.

[txlibdem]

6. was he developmentally impaired?

I'm pretty sure they'd frown on keeping your normally developing child in there, though! (some are tempting I know) :hi:

[Mz Pip]

7. No

He was running at 10 months. Add robotic power to that and you can see the potential for destruction.

[txlibdem]

8. Good point. Best to leave mother nature to her own devices

The day will come, however, when we all will have an option of some kind of assistive technology like that (Segway, the "loader" from Aliens, cyber soldier nanotechnology suit, ???). What rules will we make regarding them? Will there be an age limit? Will you need to be licensed to operate a nano-suit?

[Orsino]

11. And the title says "infants"!

Great idea for people above a certain age, but not for infants. :o

[Bjorn Against]

9. On one hand this really excites me...

On the other hand looking at the picture it does not look very safe to put a baby on. I am caring for a baby that could really use something like this, but I worry that it could tip over and cause serious injury. As much as I would like to try this, I would need some serious convincing that it is safe before I would ever put him in it.

[txlibdem]

10. It always pays to use caution - but look at the Segways, they're the same thing

Segways just look like they should be falling down all the time. But they never do. That's the beauty of computer control, it reacts so many times per second you might never know it's doing anything.

The article said the Wii-chair works the same way as a Segway: lean forward to go forward, lean back to slow down or stop.

I'm sure it'll help a large number of needy kids. This is what technology should be for, helping people.