Mental effects of using exoskeletons that increase physical performance
Mental effects of using exoskeletons that increase physical performance
In recent times, many technological advances are being made in the design and manufacture of so-called exoskeletons, wearable and electronically active, and include leg reinforcements, arm supports, and full-body suits. However, its effect on the minds of those who use them has been a little studied issue. Recent research has deepened that question and above all has tried to answer a fundamental question about these appendages that remind us of the armor of Iron Man: although they amplify the strength, mobility and endurance of a person, do they influence their ability to attention and decision making?
The question is far from banal, given that many exoskeletons are currently being designed and tested for use on battlefields, where soldiers are expected to perform high level tactical maneuvers while transporting between 30 and 50 kilograms of equipment. Exoskeletons, like electronically adaptive reinforcements of hips, knees and legs in general, could support a remarkable portion of a soldier's load, allowing him to move faster and with greater agility.
But, taking these bionic additives and adjusting to their movements, could they absorb some of the attention needed for crucial cognitive tasks, such as detecting an enemy, transmitting a message or following a squadron?
The team of Leia Stirling, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge, United States, has found the answer to that question and, under certain conditions, it is affirmative.
This device, known as PowerWalk, collects and stores kinetic energy. It is able to reduce the amount of batteries that a soldier needs to transport, thus lightening the load and freeing space in backpacks for other supplies, such as food and water. (Photo: Bionic Power Inc.)
In their research, volunteers, who were active members of the military forces or participants in a reserve officer training corps, were put to the test as they advanced along a path full of obstacles while carrying a commercially available knee exoskeleton and a backpack that weighed up to 40 kilograms. Seven of the twelve study subjects had slower reaction times in a visual task when they completed the itinerary with the exoskeleton on and off, compared to when they traveled without it.
The investigators also found that soldiers, when asked to follow a leader from a distance, were less able to keep that distance constant if they wore the exoskeleton.
The results, although preliminary, suggest that engineers who design exoskeletons for military and other types of use should take into account the "cognitive fit" of the device, or how much attention or decision-making capacity the user may have, despite the fact that help him physically
.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',
'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');
fbq('init', '369524843414444');
fbq('track', 'PageView');
.
SOURCE LINK ERESVIRAL.COM https://www.beviral.online
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario