"Independent mobility is crucial in the development of typical infants," says the research
Posted 11.19.2010 at 3:29 pm
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Baby Transporter
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
A baby transporter for mobility-impaired children would ensure confidence, independence and proper cognitive development, researchers say. So they recommend babies start driving around on sonar-equipped robots.
At a rehabilitation conference in Las Vegas, researchers at Ithaca College described attaching a child seat to a Wii Fit balance board and mounting the whole setup on a Pioneer 3 robot. Like an infant Segway, it moves in whatever direction the baby leans, and built-in sonar helps avoid collisions.
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Technology, Robot of the Week, Rebecca Boyle, babies, baby buggy, balance, disability, infant, learning, personal mobility, wiiDoctors say such a contraption could help children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy who can’t explore the world on their own. Independent movement is crucial for infant development, the Ithaca researchers say.
We say giving mobility-impaired babies a way to move around is a great idea. As an added bonus, it prepares them for a future wearing an Iron Baby exoskeleton.
[via NCPAD]
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awsome!
...I wonder if using that technology in cars could make driving easier and 'safer'...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5s1QNfXGn4
I have a bad feeling you would have some parents that might take them off of ramps or off road.
@Americano
I second that
Older brothers will take them off ramps in the middle of the road. I mean, I would do it. And I hope that thing can support my weight too.
WALL-E
And what about parents with normal babies using it, off coarse every lazy parent would want this and in tern ruining there baby....
why, mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?
Because I Choose To...
Regards
How about detection for drops? I mean you don't want the kid to hit anything, but you also sure don't want the kid to go flying down a thing of stairs.
Your kidding right. As if people aren't fat and lazy enough as is your wanting to develop a reason to not learn to walk.
twobrain, I agree, this is one fo the craziest ideas I've ever heard. I mean yeah it would be great for the kids that have limited to no mobility, but what about all the parents that are going to just get it for thier kids because it's cool. The children will take twice as long to learn to walk, if ever, and we thought we had a problem with child obesity before.
Just wait 'til they come out with the hovercraft version of these...