Walk of life

摘要

A robotic suit developed by a wheelchair-bound Israeli engineer could soon be helping disabled people to sit down, stand up, walk about, and even climb stairs. Taking his inspiration from the robotic exoskeletons being developed to help military personnel carry immense weights, the inventor of the so-called ReWalk system, Dr Amit Goffer, explained that the suit is not simply a hi-tech replacement for the wheelchair but has been developed to address the huge list of day-to-day problems faced by people with lower limb disabilities. Goffer hopes the system, undergoing clinical trials at the Sheba medical centre in Tel Hashoma, Tel Aviv, will enable users to move more freely about their own homes, improve their physical health by standing more frequently, and enjoy the dignity of eye-level communication with others.