This is inspired by [blissmiss]' post [link] and the memory of my grandmother, a very gracious person who lived a remarkable life, but suffered from advanced arthritis and a broken hip in her later life.

She used a walker for some years, and lived in her own house until her last months. During this time, she had live-in help, and I visited her when possible, often escorting her to her favorite musical events.

She always railed against the pain caused by using the walker over non-level sufaces, and I allowed as how it ought to be possible to make a self-levelling walker, using mercury levels and servomotors.

This would extend and retract the legs of the walker in synchrony with the user's tempo, possibly using robotic vision, but at least flux-gate compass, electronic gyroscope technology.

In the 22 years since her death, not much has changed in this area, but the technology is clearly now available to make this reality.

We're all getting older at the same rate!
-- csea, Jun 23 2004

(??) Let's take a walk http://www.halfbake...s_20take_20a_20walk
Dual Walking Assistance [csea, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

One-Person Handrail One-Person_20Handrail
I also missed this one, [K]. [shapu, Jul 16 2008]

Having the links between the legs of the walker flexible but requiring some effort to flex them might solve this for slightly uneven ground. The resistance would have to flex under body weight but not so much as to feel 'wobbly'.
-- oneoffdave, Jun 23 2004


I like [oneoffdave]'s idea a bit better. But if you could make yours lightweight enough, it would be a very good thing. +
-- evilmathgenius, Jun 23 2004


I wonder if this is a market for Segways. Supposedly (I never tried it) you don't have to balance a lot, the machine does it for you.
-- kbecker, Jun 23 2004


How did I miss this one? [+]
-- Klaatu, Jul 14 2008


Your link is down [csea].
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jul 16 2008


//Your link is down// [blissmiss] may have removed it, pity.
-- csea, Jul 16 2008


Needs a BOSE suspension system, and possibly NEJAB.
-- 4whom, Jul 16 2008


I wonder if this could be accomplished using large, underinflated tires. In England one could substitute tyres.
-- bungston, Jul 16 2008


I read this as "Self-leveling wanker."

Anyway, see link for shameless plug for the slightly more mobile.
-- shapu, Jul 16 2008


Still thinking. Could one not incorporate off-the-shelf shock absorbers into a standard walker, using them for the legs?
-- bungston, Jul 16 2008



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