Technology
Robotic shorts give your legs a boost to walk farther and tire less
Imagine slipping on a pair of shorts that could make walking feel like a breeze, almost as if you’ve instantly shed 20 pounds. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, get ready to have your mind blown! Scientists at the Technical University of Munich have cooked up something that might just change the game for anyone who’s ever wished walking was a little easier.
They call it the WalkON system, a pair of high-tech shorts that’s not your average gym wear. These bad boys can cut down the energy you need for a stroll or jog by up to 18%! Whether you’re a spring chicken or in your golden years, these shorts could be a game-changer, especially if stairs have become your nemesis or long walks leave you winded.
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How the robotic shorts work
The WalkON system combines sensors, artificial tendons and smart motors to enhance your natural walking motion. It starts with advanced sensors embedded in the shorts that continuously monitor the stress on your tendons. These sensors are incredibly precise, picking up on subtle changes in your movement, including how fast you’re walking and the angle of your hips.
Connected to these sensors are two thin artificial tendons that extend from your thighs to a specially designed waist belt. These tendons play a crucial role in how the system assists you. When you start to walk, the shorts analyze your gait pattern and can even detect the moment you transition from standing to walking. As each leg enters the “swing phase,” the system knows exactly when to kick in.
At just the right moment, small but powerful motors activate and gently pull on the artificial tendons. This action helps lift your thigh, reducing the effort needed by your hip flexor muscles, making it feel much easier to move. What’s really impressive is how adaptable WalkON is; whether you prefer a slow stroll or a brisk jog, the system adjusts its level of assistance based on your speed and leg weight. All of this happens seamlessly, so you experience a natural enhancement to your movement rather than feeling like you’re being pushed or pulled by a machine.
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Benefits of the robotic walking shorts
The WalkON system significantly reduces energy expenditure by 18% for young people walking uphill. For older individuals walking on level ground, it decreases energy expenditure by 10%. This reduction in energy expenditure is equivalent to the feeling of instantly losing 22 pounds or 13 pounds, respectively. The system allows you to walk slowly or jog, providing versatility in movement. Participants in tests reported high satisfaction with the device, giving it a mean rating of 6 out of 7 for its ability to assist while maintaining a sense of control.
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Target demographics
The WalkON system can benefit anyone seeking to increase their mobility; however, it shows particular promise for older adults who may experience declining physical capabilities. Additionally, individuals weakened by illness can find significant advantages in using WalkON to enhance their mobility and independence. Furthermore, the device is designed for those looking to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of users.
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Comparison to other exoskeletons
Unlike traditional rigid exoskeletons, WalkON’s soft, flexible design offers several advantages over its more cumbersome counterparts. Conventional exoskeletons often feature rigid frames that can be difficult and time-consuming to put on, limiting their practicality for daily use.
In contrast, WalkON’s soft robotic shorts can be put on quickly and easily, similar to regular clothing, and are more than a mechanical device. Professor Lorenzia Masia, the lead researcher, aptly compares WalkON to an electric bike for walking. This analogy highlights the system’s ability to enhance natural movement without overpowering it, making mobility more accessible and appealing to a wider range of users. The lightweight, tendon-driven design of WalkON allows for a more natural range of motion, adapting to the user’s movements rather than constraining them.
Furthermore, WalkON’s compact and unobtrusive nature addresses a common concern with exoskeletons: social acceptance. Its design allows it to be worn discreetly under regular clothing, potentially increasing user comfort in social situations. This feature, combined with its efficiency in reducing metabolic cost, positions WalkON as a more practical solution for everyday use compared to bulkier exoskeleton systems.
Availability and cost
Given the current stage of development and testing, it’s likely that WalkON could be available to you within the next three to five years, pending further research and regulatory approvals.
While no exact price point is yet available, we can compare it to other assistive technologies. Current exoskeletons can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000-plus. However, given WalkON’s simpler design and intended widespread use, it’s possible that it could be priced more affordably, perhaps in the range of $5,000 to $15,000 when it first hits the market. As with many technologies, the price could decrease over time as production scales up.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The WalkON system’s potential to enhance mobility for people of all ages, particularly older adults and those with health challenges, is immense. By making movement easier and more efficient, WalkON could encourage more active lifestyles, potentially improving overall health and quality of life for many individuals. While questions about availability and cost remain, the development of WalkON is a promising sign that we’re moving towards more accessible and user-friendly mobility assistance solutions.
If you could design your own mobility assistance device, what features or capabilities would you include and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Govee’s smart Christmas tree lights are cheaper than ever
Ornaments are nice and all, but few Christmas tree decorations are as magical as Govee’s Christmas Lights 2. If you want your tree to truly dazzle this year, then you might want to check out Govee’s 66-foot smart string lights while they’re still available at their all-time low price of $63.99 ($36 off) from Govee and at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon.
Govee’s string lights add a touch of color to your Christmas tree while making it come alive with 200 lamp beads that can dance to the beat of holiday tunes, and over 130 preset lighting effects to set the mood. What really make the lights shine, though, is their level of customizability. Govee lets you exercise your creative muscles, adding shape matching and AI features to design your own custom light displays.
Aside from cool effects, Govee also added other features that make the lights a good investment. They’re IP65 waterproof-rated, which means you can install them indoors or hang them up outside if you prefer. They’re also compatible with Matter, allowing you control them via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and any other major smart home platform.
Technology
How to bulk delete spam and old text messages on iPhone
Are you tired of scrolling through endless spam and old text messages on your iPhone?
You’re not alone! Many of us struggle with cluttered inboxes filled with unwanted messages.
Well, I’ve got some great news for you. I’m here to show you how to quickly clean up your iPhone’s Messages app and keep those pesky spam texts at bay.
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How to bulk delete unwanted conversations
Let’s start with bulk deleting those unwanted conversations:
- Open up your Messages app on your iPhone.
- Look for that Edit button in the top-right corner and give it a tap.
- Click Select Messages
- Now, you can select multiple conversations at once by clicking the round circle next to all those spam threads or old chats you no longer want.
- Once you’ve made your selections, hit that Delete button in the bottom-right corner.
- You’ll be asked to confirm your decision by clicking Delete again. Boom, all those spam threads and old chats are gone in seconds.
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How to filter out spam messages on iPhone
But what if you could keep your Messages app free of spam or unwanted messages? Here’s a nifty trick:
- Head over to your iPhone’s Settings and give it a tap.
- Tap Apps
- Then click Messages
- Scroll down to Message Filtering and toggle on Filter Unknown Senders
This feature automatically sorts messages from people who aren’t in your contacts into a separate list, making it easier to manage potential spam or unwanted messages. In the Messages App, tap Filters in the upper right corner, and you will see Unknown Senders.
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How to set up automatic deletion of older messages
Now, for those who prefer to keep their message history down to a minimum, you can also set up automatic deletion of older messages. This feature is helpful if you’re running low on device storage and sharing a lot of long videos, which can really fill up your storage fast. Plus, some of you might want to do this not just to save space but also to keep your conversations private.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Head over to your iPhone’s Settings and give it a tap.
- Tap Apps
- Scroll down and click Messages
- Scroll down to Message History and tap on Keep Messages.
- You can choose to automatically delete messages after 30 days or 1 year.
- Just click on either 30 days or 1 year and tap Delete.
- Then, confirm your decision by tapping Delete Older Messages.
However, be cautious with this last option, as it will permanently delete older messages. If you often need to reference old messages, you may want to keep this setting on Forever to avoid losing important information.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Cleaning up your iPhone’s Messages app doesn’t have to be a chore. With these simple tips, you’ll not only declutter your inbox but also enjoy a more organized messaging experience. So go ahead, give these methods a try and reclaim your space.
Have you discovered any unique features or apps that help you keep your messaging organized? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Ubisoft shooter XDefiant is shutting down and sending refunds to players
Despite only officially launching the game in spring of this year, Ubisoft has already announced that it’s ending development and sunsetting its free-to-play team-based shooter XDefiant. Like Hyper Scape before it, XDefiant had high expectations, with Ubisoft touting more than 1 million players in its closed beta last year. Now, it will disappear quickly, as it’s no longer accepting new players as of today and is scheduled to shut off the servers entirely next June.
Despite a delayed launch, Ubisoft said that XDefiant had reached more than 10 million players in its first two weeks and “outperformed expectations thanks to acquisition and strong average revenue per session day.” However, it couldn’t maintain that momentum, and by this fall, rumors of trouble surfaced, with Insider Gaming reporting that concurrent player numbers across all platforms had fallen below 20,000.
Ubisoft states, “The game will remain available to all players who joined XDefiant before December 3rd, 2024. All functionalities, including progression, events, rewards, and achievements, will continue to be available until June 3rd, 2025.” The planned Season 3 content will still launch, and the company is refunding anyone who bought the Ultimate Founders Pack, as well as players who bought VC and DLC in the last month.
Like with Concord developer Firewalk Studios, this shutdown comes with job losses. According to Ubisoft, “difficult consequences” are leading to “the closing of our San Francisco and Osaka production studios and to the ramp down of our Sydney production site, with 143 people departing in San Francisco and 134 people likely to depart in Osaka and Sydney.”
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