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In this article, Dana Mackenzie highlights CYBATHLON 2024 as an extraordinary competition where people with physical disabilities use advanced assistive technologies to tackle everyday tasks. From 25-27 October, teams from around the world will gather in Zurich and remote hubs to compete in disciplines such as the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) race, where paralyzed pilots control avatars using only their thoughts, and the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike race, where electrical signals trigger muscle movements. The event aims to push the boundaries of assistive technology development by fostering collaboration between engineers and users, or "pilots." Unlike the Paralympics, CYBATHLON emphasizes human-technology integration, giving pilots an active role in shaping their devices. This year's competition promises to highlight how innovation and determination are transforming lives, making CYBATHLON a groundbreaking event for both participants and spectators. (Courtesy of Dana Mackenzie / Knowable Magazine) Read the article here https://lnkd.in/etNpSByu and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eNnyY5Nn #assistivetechnology #disabilityinclusion #technologicalinnovation #internationalcompetition #cybathlon2024

#ParalympicGames2024 #OttobockTeam #InternationalCollaboration #Competence "Overcoming yourself" – these words best describe the Paralympic Games held in Paris, where 4,400 Paralympic athletes from all around the world competed in 23 different sports. 🏅 "A unique spirit was felt here – the athletes didn't come for medals, not to defeat others, but primarily to defeat themselves," shares 👩🏼⚕️ Vilija Ruškienė, a physiotherapist-orthopedic technologist from the company "Ortopedijos technika", who was part of the Ottobock technical service team at the games. This year’s Paralympic Games technical service team consisted of 164 members from 41 countries, speaking 32 languages. Throughout the games, 3,010 technical service visits were recorded. More than 55% were wheelchair repairs, 17% involved orthopedic braces, nearly 15% were for prosthetics services, and the remaining 13% involved fitting braces, orthopedic insoles, and other equipment repairs. "It was very interesting to be part of such a grand event, to see how much staff works, and how much medical and technical equipment is needed for Paralympians to be able to participate and compete in the games. I was particularly impressed by how the Paralympians care for and support each other and how they have fun together. The Paralympic Games are not just about sports. It's an extraordinary event where physical disability unlocks other enormous human powers," our colleague Vilija Ruškienė believes.

As para sporting events continue in Paris, preparations continue for CYBATHLON, taking place between 25-27 October in Switzerland. CYBATHLON involves global teams competing with assistive systems across a variety of races. There are eight disciplines at CYBATHLON, and today we’ll look at the Brain-computer Interface Race. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) enable direct communication between the human brain and a computer. BCIs detect specific activation patterns in the brain and translates them into control signals suitable for interacting with computer-based processes. A person with tetraplegia or locked-in syndrome lives with paralysis of numerous muscles of the body. This means that they are not able to carry out many activities of daily living autonomously and are therefore highly dependent on the assistance of other people. In cases like these, BCI can be used as an assistive technology to autonomously steer a wheelchair, control a robotic manipulator, or use a smartphone. The competition tasks will require the ability to independently generate and control multiple commands to drive a vehicle in an animated scenario. The competition tasks will require the ability to send control commands at predictable times as well as in dynamic response to changes in the environment. maxon is a proud sponsor of CYBATHLON. Find out more about the Brain-Computer Interface Race here: https://lnkd.in/e_scvNgY #CYBATHLON #assistivetechnology #drivenbymaxon

Who needs the Paralympics when cutting-edge tech lets bionic athletes race on thoughts alone? ➡️ The Cybathlon, happening October 25-27, 2024, in Switzerland, pits "pilots" with physical disabilities against each other, not in physical speed, but in pushing the limits of assistive technology. ➡️ These athletes will control exoskeletons, robotic arms, and even avatars through brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), competing to complete everyday tasks — like collecting ice cubes — using only their thoughts. ➡️ Unlike the Paralympics, where devices must be passive, the Cybathlon celebrates the synergy between man and machine, focusing on enhancing daily life with tech. Notable challenges include the BCI race, where competitors with quadriplegia guide avatars with brain implants or EEGs, and the FES bike race, where paralyzed competitors cycle using electrical muscle stimulation. 👉 The event showcases cutting-edge prostheses and BCIs. 👉 Pilots actively shape the development of these technologies. 👉 Brain implants, for the first time, are allowed in the competition. ❗️ When assistive technology evolves with users at the center, it’s not just about winning — it's about changing lives. Read the full story in Knowable Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gpygcT3G ---- 💡 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - you can have real-time insights, recommendations (a lot more than I share here) and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Join >6000 users who went before and go to app.thedigitalspeaker.com to sign up and take our connection to the next level! 🚀 #Machines #Humans #Bionic #Sports #Olympics

🏅 Celebrating the Paralympics 2024: A Fusion of Human Spirit & MedTech Innovation 🏅 As the world united for the #Paralympics 2024, we are reminded of the power of human perseverance and the incredible role technology plays in transforming lives. From advanced #prosthetics to wearable #AI health tech, the #Medtech industry is pushing boundaries to empower Paralympians to compete at the highest level. More than just equipment, Medtech is also helping optimize performance, prevent injuries, and accelerate recovery, making the Games more inclusive and competitive than ever before. From state-of-the-art wheelchairs to AI-driven monitoring systems, we’re witnessing a new era in sports performance and accessibility. Let’s wish every athlete competed in 2024 a massive congratulations!! and applaud the role of Medtech in making their journey possible. The Paralympics reminds us all that limits exist only to be broken. 💪🎯 RegTrac is proud to be part of the MedTech industry with a cause & congratulate Ottobock, Procter & Gamble, Toyota Motor Corporation for amazing Medtech contributions supporting equality & human spirit of Paralympics. #Paralympics2024 #MedTech #InnovationInMotion #AdaptiveSports #Inclusion #TechForGood #SportsAndTech #RegTrac #AI #Paris2024

In the Paralympics, people can use a prosthesis, but all devices must be passive: no motor, no display, no sensors. By contrast, the Cybathlon is unabashedly “technotopian,” says Riener. It is about the fullest possible collaboration of technology and human effort. For that reason, the competitors are not called athletes: They are “pilots.” #paralympics #prosthetics #cybathlon

The Maximum Allowable Standing Height (MASH) rule, which dictates the maximum allowable height for prosthetic limbs in Paralympic sprinting, aims to ensure fairness but may be based on flawed assumptions and limited data. This article tends to address the underlying assumptions and inherent biases of the MASH rule, exploring its effectiveness in ensuring a level playing field for athletes with bilateral lower extremity amputations. Full article: https://lnkd.in/efupSMSx

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Exercise is essential for physical and mental health, but people with motor disabilities, such as those with spinal cord injuries (SCI), often face barriers to staying active. ETH Zürich’s CYBATHLON encourages the use of assistive technologies like Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-cycling, which stimulates muscles through electrical pulses to promote movement and improve health. Recent innovations, such as the hybrid FES-motorized trike, allow for outdoor training, making exercise more accessible for those with SCI. In a recent paper, Davide Savona, Camilla Zanco, Nicole Sanna, Laura Brignole, Alessandra Pedrocchi, and Emilia Ambrosini introduced a hybrid FES-motorized trike as a training platform for outdoor and autonomous FES cycling. This system will also be used by team POLIMI to train and participate in the CYBATHLON 2024 in October, showcasing its potential in rehabilitation. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dVFUj4-A #assistivetechnology #disabilityincousion #technologicalinnovation #spinalcordinjury #cybathlon2024 Polimi FES-Bike Politecnico di Milano (Courtesy of IEEE Xplore / IEEE)