Freedom to Be a Kid : Obi the Robot Can Help People With Cerebral Palsy

It warmed my heart to read in the Missoulian today about a robot named Obi who could help kids with cerebral palsy live more normal lives. Nine-year-old Heath Montgomery, who has cerebral palsy, normally needs to eat lunch with an assistant who feeds him. But a new day arrived when he recently sat down for lunch with his new robot feeding assistant, Obi.

Heath’s friends all watched excitedly as Obi woke up. The device is essentially a platter with four different serving bowls, attached to a robotic arm with a spoon at the end. Heath can control the robot’s arm by pushing different pads that instruct it to scoop from his bowl of choice, and to bring the food to his mouth.

This part really gets me... It was reported that Heath loudly pronounced “Freedom!” as Obi served him his first bite. Doesn't that make you feel good inside!

Many days I write long dystopian articles about new technology I view as a threat to our humanity. Sometimes you come across new technologies and applications that seem to heal and make you more proud to live in this modern technological age. This story is an example of just that where a robot like Obi can bring joy and freedom to a little boy's life.

You see, Heath’s entire life, he has needed someone to feed him because of the muscle spasms in his arms. When he had playdates, his parents were never far away because he needed their help to eat. At school, he always needed an assistant for lunch which as you can only imagine made a normal kid-to-kid conversation pretty much out of the picture.

Finally he never really had choice in the matter of eating as the adult had a job to take care of for example the pace at which he ate wasn't always easy for him to control. Obi has given him freedom and control over this thing most of us completely take for granted... The ability to sit down and enjoy a meal.

Source:

'Freedom!' Obi robot gives student with cerebral palsy independence - Missoulian

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Missoulian