Neat John....how does the guy balance though?... he looked strong but awkward...I don't know about the rest of you guys but Gary experienced a feeling of lack of cordination before he noticed strenth loss..stumbling, tripping..etc..I am just curious how it works...( I watched the video clip and read some of the English translation but some of it I guess I did not understand)
Hopefully technology like this one day could replace wheelchairs...Lisa

Lisa, I don't know how the balancing works. I did see some video of some of the early suits and the wearers were falling down a lot so somehow they have solved it. I know what you mean about balance problems preceding strength problems - I had the same - but I suspect that the balance problems stem from small muscle weakness that has more affect on balance early on than does major muscle weakness; this is only my hypothesis. Last spring, my physio couldn't understand why I couldn't walk when she tested the pushing strength in my legs but then realized the problem when she determined my adductor muscles were very weak. I believe these provide lateral support but you probably know all about this anyway.

Here's an update on the status of the suits. They sound at least a year behind their predictions of last year when they told me they expected to have widespread availability in Japan in 2006 and in Europe in 2007.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/29/h...ss-production/

I read it as they have used a human form to build an exoskeleton that works as a self contained unit to hold the body in place and is directed by outside force.

sounds good but is it right?