Cybathlon-2016
Cyborg competitions were held in Switzerland
The world's first competitions of bionic arms, robotic legs, power exoskeletons and thought–controlled computers - the Paralympic Games with futuristic technologies - took place in Zurich, Switzerland.
Unlike purely sporting events, Cybathlon focused not on athleticism, but on gadgets. 66 teams took part in the competition, consisting of developers, technicians and "pilots", as those who went to the starting line were called. The devices and gadgets that the teams used could be anything from market samples to their own developments.
Pilots with spinal injuries of varying severity and amputated legs moved over rough terrain and stairs in wheelchairs. During races on electric bicycles, pilots activated paralyzed muscles with the help of electrical impulses coming through wires or implants.
Photo: EAST NEWS
In the competition of hand prostheses, it was necessary to show dexterity: open a tin can, change a light bulb, cut bread and hang laundry. "The next step for us is the sensory sensitivity of the fingers," says Martin Wallace, one of the managers of Steeper, a manufacturer of robotic arms. "So far, commercially available prostheses do not transmit to the brain a signal about how hard the fingers are squeezing something, or how hot what they are holding is what we feel if we have real hands."
The greatest success was achieved by Switzerland, whose teams won two gold medals. According to the total number of awards, Switzerland and Iceland are in the lead, which got three medals each, BBC News reports.
The gold medalists were:
- Brain–computer interface Races: Switzerland.
- Bicycle racing with electrical stimulation: USA.
- Competitions of manual power prostheses: The Netherlands.
- Exoskeleton races: Germany.
- Foot Power Prosthesis Races: Iceland.
- Power chair races: Switzerland.
Photo: EAST NEWS
According to some scientists, the transformation of people into cyborgs is just a stage of evolution. In their opinion, in the near future, thanks to the development of brain-computer interfaces, the organic nature of man will merge with technology. And during the Internet of Things exhibition held in Moscow, it turned out that more than 50 people in Russia are already experimenting with their body
and special electronic implants-identifiers.
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13.10.2016