Tech that walks the talk
#Pure tech
10.17.2023 Reading time: 5 minutes
BizkaiaTech editorial team
Ilustration: Ana Madinabeitia
You've caught us again… Once more, we wanted to conduct an experiment on our Instagram and TikTok pages (a little follow would be appreciated) to find out if our followers are aware of some cutting-edge technologies that are helping many people in their daily lives. Want to see how the experiment turned out?
EyeHarp, you can now play music with your eyes:
100% of the surveyed individuals had not heard about the project.
- What is it? EyeHarp is the first musical instrument that allows you to play music using your gaze or head movements.
- Who does it help? It aids individuals with conditions such as cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, upper limb amputation, or spinal cord injury, among others.
- How did the idea originate? The idea came to Zacharias Vamvakousis (the creator) when a friend of his, who was a musician, had a serious motorcycle accident. Initially, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to play music again, so Vamvakousis began working on the perfect solution for him.
- How is it possible that it works? The program operates thanks to eye-tracking, which is the technology that records the movements of our eyes to track each of our eye movements (yes, it's the same technology used in marketing to determine what captivates our gaze). Through open-source and free software, anyone can use their eyes to play a melody.
Rehabilitation Robots, embarking on a new journey:
67% of the surveyed individuals had not heard about the project.
- What are they? These are assisted therapy robots that ensure each patient's movements are consistent (so the brain learns to perform them independently) and collect data for the caregiver to analyze with much greater precision.
- Who do they help? They are machines used to expedite the rehabilitation process for individuals who have experienced a stroke (in other words, people who have suffered a stroke, which occurs when something obstructs the blood supply to a part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures) and other severe neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's and other dementias, or migraines, among others).
- How did the idea originate? Rehabilitating individuals who have suffered these types of injuries not only requires a lot of effort but unfortunately often comes with a very high cost. Nevertheless, even after therapy, many patients still face mobility issues. These machines not only increase the effectiveness of treatment by 15% but also reduce its cost by 25%.
- How is it possible that they work? They have exoskeletons tailored to help regain mobility in a specific part of the body. These exoskeletons are linked to a program that guides them on the type of training to perform with the patient. The assistance level or force (provided by the robot itself) can be configured based on each patient's specific case, as these robots always work alongside a rehabilitation expert.
Ability hand, the return of touch:
100% of the surveyed individuals had not heard about the project.
- What is it?It's a state-of-the-art bionic hand, the world's first, designed to help individuals who need it to regain the sensation of touch.
- Who does it help? It's designed for anyone who, for any reason, has lost their hand.
- How did the idea originate? The CEO at PSYONIC (the one behind this gadget), Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, was just seven when he saw someone with an amputation during a trip to Pakistan. Same age as him! It hit him that not everyone had access to healthcare like he did.
Fast forward to his college days, he kicked off PSYONIC to make kick-butt prosthetics that don't break the bank. Started with a couple of brainy folks at the University of Illinois, and bam, it turned into a full-blown project. Backed by health gurus, social heroes, designers, and big shots in medicine and NGOs.
- How is it possible that it works? The Ability Hand comes with sensors that feel the pressure at the fingertips when grabbing something. Once they sense it, these sensors shoot a vibe up the arm, giving you the feel of touching or grabbing an object.
Project Leonardo and the right to play
100% of the surveyed individuals had not heard about the project.
- What is it? It's a PlayStation 5 (PS5) controller modified so that people with any disability can play. It's crafted by the Sony team with input from organizations like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up.
- Who does it help? To anyone struggling to work the usual PlayStation controller, especially for folks with not-so-easy moves. Let's make gaming a breeze, no matter the groove!
- How did the idea originate? PlayStation noticed that folks with limited motor skills couldn't game like the rest of us. Holding the controller, pressing multiple buttons, dealing with those tiny buttons, or just finding the right hand position for a seamless gaming experience posed a real challenge. They decided, "Hey, let's fix that!"
- How is it possible that it works? It's a blank canvas, waiting for gamers to craft their unique playing experience. The kit includes interchangeable components—different buttons, caps, and levers—so anyone itching to score an epic goal in FIFA, for instance, can stack the buttons on top of each other. No need to struggle with pressing circle and R1 simultaneously; just stack 'em and score that SIIIUUUUUUU goal. Plus, it's entirely static, so you don't have to worry about holding onto it while you conquer virtual worlds.
Take our advice and check it out
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