Hmmm, could I be reborn as Iron Man courtesy of the IoT?
If you happen to be in Spartanburg, North Carolina and think you see Tony Stark in full gear, do not be concerned. You have not crossed the event horizon where reality and fiction merge. What you are seeing is a practical application of wearable technology.
The BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg is testing the use of exoskeleton vests for plant workers. Selected workers are wearing motorized metal frameworks that reduce the muscle effort required for a task by as much as 40%.
This technology is an offshoot of the Internet of Things (IoT) – the network of physical devices embedded with electronics and network connectivity that enables the devices to connect and exchange data. The experts project that the IoT will encompass 30 billion objects by 2020.
Fear not, I am not going to launch one of my anti-technology rants. I see this development as a very positive application of technology – particularly since BMW envisions its application as keeping workers on the job longer rather than replacing people with robots.
Truthfully, I am wondering how I might get my hands on one of these exoskeletons. Seems like a perfect solution to my wonky back.
I could pop on the metal vest every morning and breeze through my day with no worries. The only hitch I see is that the price of such a device is probably several times my annual salary. Might be a tough sell to convince HR that it is a reasonable accommodation.
Now that I think of it, perhaps the techno experts could develop a wearable, IoT-enabled belly band that regulates the functioning of my digestive system which has been off its game for some time. No more castor oil pack treatments, pureed soups and magnesium tablets. Strap on the bellyband, connect by Wi-Fi and let technology take over.
Continuing on that theme, my eyes are showing signs of aging. I now need two pair of glasses – one for computer work and reading and a second set for general use. Seems quite feasible that a Geordie Laforge eye visor could be manufactured for me to regulate my optic nerve to find the perfect focal point once every nanosecond.
Why stop there? I have been wearing custom orthotics in my shoes for years to compensate for plantar fasciitis. It should be possible to have a pair of exo-shoes designed that precisely compensate for my weak arches. Bonus: It would save me the expense of getting fitted for new orthotics every few years when the old ones wear out.
Hmmm, maybe I should just face the music and have a full, head-to-toe exo-body suit developed that takes over the entire operation of my body. I could literally become Iron Man – a walking metaphor for the fusion of technology and biology.
It would certainly save me a lot of time in medical appointments. Where do I sign up?
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~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.
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Tags: exoskeleton · Internet of Things · Iron Man · metaphor · Michael Robert Dyet · wearable technologyNo Comments