While we’re mostly into hard news on the latest updates in the tech universe, we’re also suckers for touching, poignant stories. Take the heartwrenching tale of two-year-old Emma, for instance.
Little Emma was diagnosed at birth with a rare disease called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), which cripples the joints and limbs. This has prevented her from using her arms to play, eat and give her mommy a hug.
Engineers at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children decided to let her try out an exoskeleton they dubbed as the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX). The original material of the WREX was too big and heavy to attach to Emma, so they decided to rebuild the device into a much lighter supportive plastic vest by reproducing its parts with a 3D printer. According to the video, replacing damaged or outgrown parts isn’t going to be a biggie since the engineers can simply print out new parts. Emma refers to the WREX as her “Magic Arms”.
It’s good to be reminded once in a while about the original purpose of technology—to help us out. It’s tear-jerking stories like Emma’s that help us realize that new technology isn’t always about being the flashiest in the market. It’s about making human lives better and easier.
Source: Mashable
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