The Paralympic Games in Rio recently ended, but very soon another sporting event will begin, designed to show the capabilities of disabled athletes and at the same time charge everyone around with a healthy dose of outstanding technological advances. At the end of this week, Kibatlon will start in Zurich - the first international competitive sporting event among disabled people from 21 countries in which people will use a variety of bionic technologies.
In total, people will compete in six different disciplines at the first bionic Olympic (unofficial) games. They include: racing virtual competitions using computer-brain interfaces, in which pilots will have to carry out their digital avatar through the obstacle course, using only the power of their brain impulses to control; bicycle racing using electric muscle stimulation of paralyzed athletes; various competitions for people with bionic prosthetic arms and legs; sprint in exoskeleton, as well as the race for motorized wheelchairs.
“This event will be held not just to showcase technology and human capabilities,” said Cybathlon organizer Robert Riener, head of the department of medical sciences and technology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
“It aims to show the balance between technology and man in an attempt to help people cope with the daily difficulties in their lives. The key task of this whole undertaking is not to create cyborgs. The challenge is to develop technologies that will work with people. ”
We wrote about Cybatlon two years ago, when the whole process spun only at the level of conversations and ideas. However, the event will begin on October 8, and its organizers, including Riner, are now very busy preparing for this event.
“Work just boils. Huge interest in the event was expressed not only by the media, but also by ordinary people. Even now we are receiving applications about the desire to participate in these competitions, however, unfortunately, there is no longer any time to accept new participants. Very eager to see what all this will lead. After all, we went to this for several years. ”
The event will be broadcast in all German-speaking countries. In addition, you can watch it on the Internet. In turn, Riner is enthusiastic and is already looking to the future.
“There will definitely be other similar events. There are so many things that I would like to realize, especially when it comes to the development of technologies for people suffering from impaired motor functions. We are planning to hold international events in the future, as well as smaller national competitions. You can not stop.
The article is based on materials .
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