The Paralympics are awesome. These guys have got some major skills! The technology that allows them to perform at their best is pretty amazing, too. Take, for example, paraplegics playing hockey, which is called sledge hockey. The first hockey sledges were tacked together from regular skates.
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by mrmunchies.
Now, sledge hockey players sit on sledges made of aluminum or steel. Two standard skate blades are attached to the bottom of the frame of the sled and can be adjusted based on the player’s balance and skill level. Players’ feet, ankles, knees, and hips are strapped to the sled to ensure they are properly secured. The sledge has to have a backrest, but it cannot protrude laterally beyond the armpits. Players use two sticks – one in each hand — which have a spike-end for pushing the sledge and a blade-end for shooting the puck. Sledges are 0.6m to 1.2m in length with a curved front end.Also see innovations for Paralympic skiers, sprinters, basketball players, and more. Link
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by mrmunchies.
I need to think about this next time I am exhausted getting up to fetch the remote
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It's quite impressive to see how far people have gotten to overcome their physical disabilities throught technology and self motivation. It looks like the jury rigging of the human machine has picked up in pace. While it's still in it's infancy with some pretty high costs, it's on the right track. Wonder how far we are off we are from the Cybernetic Olympics.
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really The Paralympics are awesome. but need weel physical fit guys
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I've been watching some of these events streaming online, and the Canada v Japan hockey game this afternoon was pretty badass. (Japan pulled off TWO goals in the last couple of minutes and will play the winner of this evening's USA v Norway game for the gold medal.)
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