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This new skiing exoskeleton helps your knees and make you a better skier
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The company unveiled the prototype of its device this week, showing off an exoskeleton that looks like a pair of leg braces that will relieve pressure from skier legs. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News special workflow
Published: Apr 3, 2018, 1:49 PM
The startup company Roam Robotics has developed an exoskeleton that is meant to take the strain off skiers bodies.

The company unveiled the prototype of its device this week.

Exoskeletons are wearable machines that fit the framework of the human body. Through electric motors and other forms of technology, the devices help relieve strain on a person's body.

The exoskeleton from Roam Robotics looks like a pair of leg braces that will relieve pressure on a skier's legs, according to The Verge.

The device connects to a backpack, which uses a series of air-filled bladders to mimic the wearer's movements, The Verge reported.

When users bend their knees, the bladder inflates or deflates automatically, taking some of the strain off their leg muscles, according to The Verge.

See how the product works in this video.

Roam Robotics has only released prototypes so far. The company plans to launch the device to the public in January 2019.

Interested parties can reserve a product for a $99 deposit. The device is expected to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, according to The Verge.

Fast Company writer Daniel Teriman said he is a believer in the product. Thats because every time I began a turn, the system actuated, delivering power to my legs, and literally making me feel like it was lifting me up which, of course, took the pressure off my quads, he wrote.

Exoskeletons have become a popular tool for use in medical care and in the workplace. Late last year, Ford announced that some of its employees would use an exoskeleton device called EksoVest, which comes from Ekso Bionics, to help ease the strain on their body.

The device can help people lift an extra five to 15 pounds, which eases the strain on workers upper bodies.

"Collaboratively working with Ford enabled us to test and refine early prototypes of the EksoVest based on insights directly from their (Ford's) production line workers," said Russ Angold, co-founder and chief technology officer of Ekso Bionics, according to the press release. "The end result is a wearable tool that reduces the strain on a worker's body, reducing the likelihood of injury, and helping them feel better at the end of the day increasing both productivity and morale."

Another exoskeleton, called Wandercraft, gained popularity for helping disabled people learn how to walk without crutches, according to Engadget.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.