A reader sent me a link to an article describing an experimental wheelchair that includes a mind-controlled robotic arm. My reaction can be summed up as follows: totally frakkin’ awesome. If Stephen Hawking refuses to meet me at the International Space Station for our zero-gravity death match, perhaps he’ll agree to an alternative. I’m picturing each of us in one of these wheelchairs in the middle of an arena, beating each other into a bloody pulp with our robotic arms until one of us cries “uncle”. It will be the beginning of a whole new spectator sport that could potentially be worth billions of dollars: Ultimate Gimp Fighting. Better yet: Rock-‘Em-Sock-‘Em Cripples.
Somebody get me Vince McMahon on the phone. He’s going to want to get in on this at the ground level.
Dude!!!! It would be like Robot Wars, except WAY cooler… So many possibilities for mayhem…. the mind boggles.
Hey — been reading for awhile now and thought I’d finally comment. I’m originally from MN, now live in Baltimore, and found your blog linked on a disability blog somewhere (I read a lot of them!). Just wanted to say you’re awesome and thanks for making me laugh on a regular basis. Seriously.
I would be glad to take you on Siegel! 🙂 Bring on the robotics!