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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

The "super suit" that can help people move [bbc.com]

A lightweight, comfortable 'super suit' designed by Seismic – a wearable robotics spin-off from the non-profit research centre SRI International – works with the user's muscles to help boost their power.

The suit's 'electric muscles', powered by tiny motors, contract in a way that mimics human muscle. These electric muscles are integrated into the clothing around the joints of the body and attached via grips in the clothing. These grips function like tendons in the human body. A computer and sensors tracking body movements are also integrated into the suit; software tells the muscles in the clothing when to activate. The hard technology components such as motors, batteries and control boards are incorporated into hexagonal low-profile pods, designed for maximum comfort.

"Right now the only kinds of products that can help people are walkers and canes," says Rich Mahoney, founder and CEO of Seismic. (Wheelchairs are another aid, but the suit is aimed more at those whose mobility is reduced only slightly). "The other option is to stay home or to limit your activity. And most people choose that because they don't really want to associate themselves with those other kinds of products." To keep the clothing looking sleek and its function discreet, Seismic worked with designer Yves Béhar. "The goal is to make a product that you actually want to wear, not one that you have to wear," says Béhar. "Comfort is extremely important, as well as aesthetics."

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