this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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Assistive Technology

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Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.

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This community is used for cataloging and discussing advancements and news in AT.

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Their pitch expressly claims the device isn't AT... But it is to help more people access the outdoors, which I think counts to an extent.

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[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

That's pretty cool. I'm glad they offer a daily rental to just try them out, I'm curious what is like.

[–] JiveTurkey@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Cool but also their products are already incredibly expensive so I can't imagine what these would cost and also I feel like this kind of detracts from the purpose of hiking.

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)
  1. I don't think they hide the cost.

1.1 their gear is top notch. Expensive, but it lasts in my opinion (and achieves the goal, their winter gear is incredibly performant)

2 subjective, the purpose of hiking is different for many. Simply existing in the outdoors may be enough for someone.

I have a buddy that was in a car wreck and his knee is fucked up. Reconstructive surgery and what not. He's not fully disabled in so much as he can walk and stand, but anything beyond short stairways and he's toast. He can never come hiking because of his knee and a tool like this might help, a small amount. (Which means a net positive of easy trails he can handle)

[–] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 month ago

I have a buddy that was in a car wreck and his knee is fucked up. Reconstructive surgery and what not. He's not fully disabled in so much as he can walk and stand, but anything beyond short stairways and he's toast. He can never come hiking because of his knee and a tool like this might help, a small amount. (Which means a net positive of easy trails he can handle)

I'm fortunately not quite that bad of but I've been recently feeling the long-term impacts of the motorcycle wreck that I was in 5 years ago, mainly on my ankle. Getting it looked at soon, luckily but, I'm not able to be on my feet too long without weeks of pain after anymore. This tech is directly in line with the sort of ankle brace that I think would be helpful - reducing the effective weight on the ankle joint in a dynamic manner would be very enabling.

[–] JiveTurkey@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I agree that this is great for people with injuries, I also don't think they hide the cost and while I agree they do make good products they tend to be on the high end of said good products and this one will undoubtedly be costly.

[–] Ageroth@reddthat.com -2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The real question is how much does it cost, but then again compared to knee and hip replacements...

[–] nickwitha_k@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago

According to the article, $5k or $4.6k with pre-order.

[–] Turbonics@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago

Stair climbing robot failed.

Presenting: stair climbing human!

[–] Shou@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not to shit on someone's plate here, but won't that weaken people's legs?

I get it for extreme hikes, but otherwise, isn't it better to get the exercise?

[–] ctag@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I met a medically retired marine back when I was in school that changed my view on this. His superior insisted on his group walking as much as possible with their packs, but instead of it just being extra exercise he wound up having to get an amputation after all of the stress on his legs lead to an issue with the arteries or veins. At a certain point, extra punishment isn't beneficial, and a mechanism to manage it would be useful.

[–] Shou@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

As I mentioned before. It seems useful for extreme hikes. Not for normal ones.

Punishment like excessive training never is beneficial. It kills people.

[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 0 points 1 month ago

++ this thing wouldn't have helped. Excessive standing, walking or not will damage your legs. Moving can help tho