Implications of Exoskeletons

“you’re so inspirational, you’re so brave!”

As seen in the video above, wheelchair users are often asked inappropriate questions regarding their personal lives. To counter the difficulties experiences by wheelchair users, there has been an emergence new mobility devices. As seen below, new walking aids are being developed to replace the wheelchair and try to imitate a ‘normal’ walking gait. At face value, these technologies seem incredible, necessary and revolutionary for people with walking difficulties, but we must be critical of these new technologies, as science is never neutral. We must also be aware of the economic motives that lie behind any new technological development.

Although the exoskeleton in the video above, was framed as a new walking aid, both the Modern War Institute and NASA, have begun to use them for a different purpose (Steitz, 2019)(Weece, 2019). Instead of a tool to enhance bodily movement for wheelchair users, the exoskeletons are being used to push beyond human limitations in strength, endurance and speed, in space and warfare. Far from being a plot to a Marvel movie, or science fiction, these developments frame the body as weak, “a soldier can only push their body so far”. With the extension of the body through technological means, the sky could be the limit (Weece, 2019).

In this video, it becomes clear that wheelchairs users will be left behind in these technological advancements as their mobility is not the primary consideration, but rather the mobility of soldiers or manual workers. There is a prioritization of the extension of already able bodied workers, as opposed to extending less abled bodies abilities to move through the public sphere. Here, technology evolves quickly past its original intent, as seen with plastic surgery, originally meant to serve a functional purpose (to normalize war wounds) and now an aesthetic purpose (for vanity or greater self appreciation). Technologies can be co-opted to serve the most powerful in a society, or in western neo-liberal capitalist societies for the benefit of those who can afford it. Therefore it is crucial that conversations on the implications of technologies are discussed before there development to ensure those who need it the most are able to access it.

References:

BBC Three (2017). Things Not To Say To Someone Who Uses A Wheelchair. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RLTtk9Mc14 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

Bloomberg (2013). Not Science Fiction: Iron Man Exoskeletons Are Real. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrwwUxUiJQ4 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

Chairs. (2019). [image] Available at: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/steerable-wheelchair-uses-3d-printed-parts-for-bespoke-mobility/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

Liptak, A. (2019). 18 suits of power armor from science fiction you don’t want to meet on the battlefield. [online] The Verge. Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/10/16173596/science-fiction-power-armor-exoskeletons-iron-man-expanse-starship-troopers-halo-list [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

R, J. (2019). Snapchat Dysmorphia. [Blog] More Than Human. Available at: https://morethanhuman.science.blog/2019/01/30/snapchat-dysmorphia/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

Steitz, D. (2019). NASA – NASA’s Ironman-Like Exoskeleton Could Give Astronauts, Paraplegics Improved Mobility and Strength. [online] Nasa.gov. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/exoskeleton.html [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

Weece, J. (2019). The Exoskeleton Will Change Future Combat – Modern War Institute. [online] Modern War Institute. Available at: https://mwi.usma.edu/1574-2/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].

WIRED UK (2019). New Technology Could Make Wheelchairs Obsolete | Cyborg Nation | WIRED. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLWuG3Tlc14 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].