Comment on Nothing against disabled people but how come I can't replace my arm with something augmented that can carry more weight? Also other parts? My disabled bro asked me this and got me thinking

• logos@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  While we’re swapping out limbs, wheels would be a lot more efficient at moving loads around too.

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  • FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    As someone who recently started needing wheels, much of the world isn’t really built for that. Lots of uneven flooring in buildings, stairs, thresholds, spaces too narrow to traverse, etc. I get stuck often lol

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    • TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      Anyone who has observed a robot vacuum struggle with minor bumps knows that even homes aren’t ideal for wheels. Some warehouse are ok though, but they were specifically designed with wheels in mind.

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    • Flagstaff@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Then mecha it is!

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      • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        Jetpack. Much more practical.

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  • TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    I can totally get behind swappable parts. Depending on what you’re doing, you could use different arms and legs specifically designed for the task at hand.

    See also: Adam Smasher

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    • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      You could have swappable parts that, say your hand attaches to (with, for example, a flexible grip by your hand). That way you could swap an enormous array of parts, using your hand as a universal adaptor.

      Some of these parts could even by powered by your body so they don’t need an external power source. Like you could design a machine which, when attached to you by your hand, and powered by the rotation of your arm, could twist screws into the wall!

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      • TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        LOL. You can go places with convincing arguments like that.

        But seriously though, versatility is useful, but only up to a certain point. In niche cases, special tools make more sense due to the superior performance they offer. For example, running with a traditional leg prosthetic isn’t as efficient as running with a special running prosthetic. You know, those carbon fiber arcs that looks nothing like a leg (AKA “running blades”).

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