Headline January 20, 2017/ ''' *TECH & TURN* '''

''' *TECH & TURN* '''

MANY, MANY SYSTEMS showcased at the recent  *Consumer Electronics Show*, [CES]  in Las Vegas are aimed at improving quality of life for people with disabilities.

BrainRobotics, a Massachusetts based startup, showed its prosthesis that can be controlled by residual muscle strength of an amputee with better efficiency than similar devices, according to the developers

Bicheng Han, a doctoral candidate at the  Harvard University who founded the group, said the goal is to  ''provide low-cost functional prosthetics'' at a cost of around  US$3,000  or far less than the tens of thousands of dollars for similar devices.

Robotics engineer Kacper Puczydlowski said the hand, which could hit the market next year, is   ''the most natural to use''  and gets its ability by analysing muscle function and using a classification algorithm for specific hand functions, such as grasping objects or pointing fingers.

''Average users, with at least 50% of their residual muscle, should be able to be trained in under a month, within their home,'' he said.

Over time, the group wants to use technology from its sister company, BrainCo, to harness brain waves for improved function.

Brainco already markets a headband which helps identify patterns of brain waves to help improve focus and treat children with learning disabilities.

*Several technologies are also being developed for the visually impaired*

Israeli startup  Orcam  showed its device called MyEye, which can be attached to the arms of eyeglasses.

The device, which is being marketed by French eyewear giant  Essilor, aims to give greater independence to those with trouble seeing.

It has a tiny camera that can  ''whispers''  into a users ear, and has the ability to read texts and identify people and objects on supermarket shelves.

The company was founded by Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram, who are also the co-founders of auto tech firm  Mobileye, which is developing systems for accident avoidance and self-driving vehicles.

Danish based manufacturer  Oticon  showed its new hearing aid, which works with objects in a connected home.

Using wireless  Bluetooth  connectivity, it can alert users to a doorbell or smoke detector  -or let the wearer know when coffee is ready.

South Korean group Hyundai, meanwhile, showed its exoskeleton known as H-MEX that can offer mobility to the handicapped.

It can allow a paraplegic to stand and even walk up stairs, according to engineer Jung Kyungmo.

The exoskeleton covers the entire spine and back of the legs, attaching at the waist, thighs and knees.

The company has no plans for a consumer version but is working with hospitals and researchers.

French based startup Japet, on the other hand, introduced its Atlas exoskeleton, or brace, which takes pressure off the vertebral column for people with chronic back pain according to its co-founder, Damien Bratic.

The brace uses small motors and analytics that can help in rehabilitation.

Bratic said the device could be available in  2017 or 2018  and that the company hopes to develop similar devices for cervical support and for muscle disabilities. 

*The World Students Society profoundly appreciates the efforts and the resulting fact that the  Emerging Innovations  are giving people with disabilities new hope for improved quality of life*.

With most respectful dedication to all the Companies seeking help from technology to help the disabled, Scientists, Inventors, Students, Professors and Teachers of the World.

See Ya all on !WOW!   -the World Students Society and Twitter-!E-WOW! -the Ecosystem 2011:

''' Enriching Lives '''

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless