HAL Turns Impaired People
Into Super Human Beings!
Into Super Human Beings!
Boyé Lafayette De Mente
As reported earlier in this column robot manufacturers in Japan are rapidly populating the country with “partner robots”—referring to robots that are designed to serve people as security guards, aides, maids, nurses and waiters.
The impetus for this extraordinary robot partner program is the rapid aging of Japan’s population and the declining number of young people going into the care and welfare industries, resulting in millions of elderly people needing help they cannot get from care centers, hospitals and other institutions.
Another element in this mix is that—at this time—the average person in Japan lives several years longer than people in other countries because those who are now 60 and older ate a far healthier diet that most people elsewhere [a factor that is rapidly diminishing, however, as the younger generations now eat more like Americans].
The latest robotic contribution to people who are physically impaired for whatever reason is HAL—and this is not the power-mad computer of science fiction and film fame.
In this case, HAL stands for Hybrid Assistive Limb—which is Japanese-English for a robotic “suit” that a disabled person puts on (more or less like a space suit) that makes it possible for him or her to walk, pick up and carry a 25kg (about 55 pounds) bag of rice effortlessly with one arm.
With that kind of power, HAL obviously makes it possible for a person to do more than just pick up a bag or rice—but that was just a demonstration!
HAL was developed by Cyberdyne, a venture business affiliated with the University of Tsukuba outside of Tokyo, a world-famous center for scientific research and development.
Sensors embedded in the cyber suit detect electrical impulses generated by the wearer’s muscles and move the suit’s power units accordingly.
Cyberdyne has partnered with Daiwa House Industry Co., Japan’s leading home builder, to market HAL through the company’s sales network, beginning in 2008.
Over 20 other companies in Japan are also in the partner robot business and some 20 other firms say they have plans to start manufacturing robot partners in the near future.
HAL may also be just the thing to provide elderly people with the means to fight back when confronted by vicious thugs who like to use 90-year-olds as punching bags.
Copyright © 2007 by Boyé Lafayette De Mente
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Boyé Lafayette De Mente is the author of more than 40 books on the business, culture and language of Japan, including the pioneer Japanese Etiquette & Ethics in Business, first published in 1959 and still in print (Mc-Graw-Hill). For a list and descriptions of his titles go to http://www.phoenixbookspublishers.com/, or key his full name into Amazon.com’s book search window.
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Boyé Lafayette De Mente is the author of more than 40 business, culture and language books on Japan. To see a list and description of his titles go to http://www.phoenixbookspublishers.com/, or key his full name into Amazon.com’s book search window.
______________________________________
Boyé Lafayette De Mente is the author of more than 40 business, culture and language books on Japan. To see a list and description of his titles go to http://www.phoenixbookspublishers.com/, or key his full name into Amazon.com’s book search window.
