A Path to Independence
A Turning Point
In August of 2021, I crashed my race car. For the first two years, I fought for every inch of mobility, but ultimately, I was left with very little functional movement below my shoulders. When you suffer a spinal cord injury, you effectively lose your control, not just over your body, but over your daily life.
The Fastest Path to Independence
Technology is moving faster than ever. Medical advancements in spinal repair and augmentation are showing real promise, but today assistive technology seems to be the fastest path to more independence for people with significant physical disabilities.
I first started looking into humanoids to see what they could do for me and others in similar situations. I reached out to a journalist who had written an article on the latest advancements in the field. After we spoke, he introduced me to V Nguyễn, an occupational therapist at Hello Robot. I bought a Stretch almost instantly after extensive collaboration with V and Vinitha Ranganeni, the human-robot interaction lead at Hello Robot, who made it work for me with voice control and compatibility to my functional needs.
The “Dream Team”
Now, I have moved into testing and helping the team with other projects. I’ve worked with the Dream Team several times and with various members in my home. It’s primarily V and Vinitha from Hello Robot, along with Jon Sada, a friend and colleague I worked with in product for 20 years. It is a group of incredibly talented individuals whose collaboration is symbiotic, fun, and highly productive.
One of the most impressive things we’ve developed is a feeding protocol that identifies individual food pieces on a plate, picks them up with a spring-loaded fork, and brings them to my face. It is off-the-charts cool. Being able to eat at my own pace without asking for help was more than just a meal; it was empowering. I am also impressed by how seamlessly Stretch moves around once a house has been mapped.
Before Stretch, my challenges were everything. I don’t have use of any part of my body other than my neck, head, and limited use of my shoulders. Anything that I can regain independence with is a huge win, and I look to Stretch for that.
The Leap to Stretch 4 and Beyond
As for Stretch 4, it will be a huge leap. I am looking forward to the self-charging capabilities and the possibilities the new sensor package will allow. The omnidirectional base already makes it much easier and more efficient to use.
Now, I can effectively pick up a drink, bring it to me, and drink it at my leisure, which is pretty huge. Helping me eat or drink is going to be a major milestone. I’m also confident it can help me brush my teeth with a specialized toothbrush. I have a list of other things that we plan to explore with Stretch 4 as well.
Eventually, I’m excited about autonomous features. For example, I take medicine four times a day; if Stretch were programmed to bring me that medicine at those specific times, I wouldn’t need to rely on someone else. It’s an empowering shift.
The Small Things and the Big Picture
For me, it’s about the small things that add up to independence:
- Being able to pick things up and put them away.
- Eating independently.
- Straightening up my counter or picking something off the floor.
- I envision Stretch helping with dusting, laundry, food prep, or even personal hygiene tasks like adjusting my reading glasses, my ball cap, or just scratching an itch.
I also see a much bigger opportunity for people with slightly more function than I have. Instead of requiring a caregiver around the clock, they might only need someone at critical times of the day. This could drastically cut down expenses or allow a family member to return to work. There are so many ways this technology can evolve to change lives.
Dream on,
Keith (AKA: Bob)