you know…ive been waiting how long for the future to arrive? im currently still scouting for a silver jumpsuit with bubble helmet, but for the time being we get to marvel at the latest in elderly-care technology in japan. an article today in the ny times looks at some new technologies emerging in japan to aid the elderly, such as sanyos HIRB human washing machine (it stands for “harmony in roll-lo bathing”…whatever), a pair of powered robotic pants that allows the wearer to walk more freely, and a mobile “wakamaru” robot nurse that keeps an eye on the elderly. crazy shit yo. the HIRB human washing machine in particular is pretty interesting. the elderly sit in a chair, “merge” with the wash unit, and the unit seals itself around them from the neck down and begins to clean them. its like a cyber-cleaning suit! well…a stationary one anyway. they couldve made it more future-y by naming it something swishy and anime-esque, like “hyper-unit neo-washaru 2000-zeta!!!” the acronym HIRB isnt nearly as swish…but the things still pretty coo.
the HIRB and the robot pants actually reminded me of a japanese anime from 1991, roujin-z…which was about a hyper-super-neo!!! hospital bed that transforms into a robot, takes on the personality of its occupants deceased wife, and then takes him on a rampage through the city because the elderly man wanted to see the beach again. weird on so many levels, but still very coo…
> robotic help in japan (via ny times)
> roujin-z info
and all this time I’ve been bathing myself like a sucker. HIRB, here I come!
oh, and everytime I read “And I’ll form the head!” I burst out in a fit of giggling that no 25 year old male should ever do, let alone admit to.
yea, welcome to the future! the japanese were already way ahead of us with their automatic ass-cleaners built into their toilets. and now they have auto-baths and robo-pants…wow.
Washarou! LOL! Check out the killercoo kicks on the nurse/attendant. I want those.