Amazing
Honda Introduces IGNITION; Develops Accelerator For Visually Impaired
There are few things in life quite like technology finding solutions to age-old problems. For individuals with mobility impairments, be they related to vision or foot issues, there might be a solution coming to a store near you in the not-so-distant future. In Japan, the team at Honda has established one of their first major startup accelerators of the new century, putting Ignition into the world as they target newer mobility business ventures. With a focus on research, marketing, and funding, the Ignition accelerator aims to launch its first of (presumably) many ventures, Ashirase.
Ashirase – Introducing Mobility Solutions
Ashirase is the first company to be borne of the Ignition startup accelerator. The goal of the business is to develop a special in-shoe navigation system that helps support those struggling with visual impairments. While there have been a few demonstrations of the new navigation system already, the company aims to launch its final viable product before the end of March in 2023.
This isn’t the first time that the team at Honda has set its sights on addressing the lives of pedestrians who need assistance. Other Honda inventions for impaired individuals developed by Honda include the Shoulder Riding Robot Pal, a robot that learns your child’s routine and advocates for safety measures at cross-walks or when vehicles are in the area. This device was created due in large part to Japan’s high pedestrian mortality rate, losing 1.1 per 100k residents, still lower than the United States.
Swinging our focus back to the Ashirase mobility device, we can see through early demonstrations that the device will be fitted around each individual foot. Once attached, the motion sensor will pair with an application or your smartphone device. From there, the application and the motion sensor will work in concert to detect routes while vibrating to signal which direction to walk forward in.
The device aims to provide mobility assistance to the visually impaired, providing a stronger sense of support and confidence as they acclimate to their routines. While it is unlikely that a walking GPS will ever replace the traditional cane or walking stick, this visual tool helps to extend the depth of support available for those that wish it. By tracking the items AROUND the individual, this walking assistance device provides an extra layer of confidence for those that need it.
Right now, the Japanese government estimates that some 1.6 million Japanese citizens are struggling with vision impairments. According to some semi-alarming estimates, more than 2 million Japanese citizens will require additional visual assistance before the year 2030 is over.
The Ignition and Ashirase collaboration grew out of a need from the developers. Pointing to a family member who had suffered from an accident, the developers at Ignition and Ashirase would put their whole energy toward these mobility assistance devices. According to their developers the hope is that their visual support device helps individuals to “wholeheartedly realize the freedom of mobility for visually impaired people.”
Amazing
A Purr-fect Ending: How Paradise, California, United to Find Dundee the Cat
In Paradise, California, a community came together to find a much-loved cat named Dundee, who had survived the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. Dundee’s adventure began when his owner, Suise Heffernan, took him to the vet. After the appointment, she stopped to get pet food, locking her truck with Dundee inside. But when she returned, the truck and Dundee were gone.
Surveillance footage from a nearby store showed someone breaking into the vehicle and driving off with Dundee still inside. Heffernan was especially worried because Dundee has a thyroid condition and needed his medication.
The whole community of Paradise stepped up to help find Dundee. After four long days, their efforts paid off, and Dundee was found. Heffernan had adopted Dundee in 2018, just before the Camp Fire. She lost her home, a barn, and hundreds of acres of timber in the fire. Despite being displaced, Dundee transformed from a feral cat into a warm and cuddly companion.
One community member pleaded, “Just return the cat! Trucks can be replaced, and anyone living on the ridge has lost so much already.” Heffernan shared her agony over not knowing Dundee’s whereabouts, a feeling she knew all too well from losing another cat in the Camp Fire.
Heffernan and her friends, along with independent volunteers, continued their search. Finally, on Saturday, they received a call from someone who had Dundee. A group drove to Chico that evening, where Heffernan was reunited with Dundee, who started purring immediately.
Heffernan expressed her gratitude for the community’s support: “There’s something about the people – they just come together and they are there for you. I just can’t even imagine the hours that people that I’ll never meet put in on his behalf. It is so appreciated.”
This heartwarming story showcases the power of community and the unbreakable bond between humans and their pets.
Amazing
Texas Zoo Fits Grasshopper with Miniature “Neck Brace”
In a remarkable display of veterinary ingenuity, a grasshopper at a Texas zoo was fitted with a miniature “neck brace” after experiencing a unique health issue. The grasshopper, a stick-like breed known as a Peruvian jumping stick, recently underwent a common process for insects: molting. At around six months old, these grasshoppers shed their exoskeleton, allowing for growth. However, this particular grasshopper faced a challenge after molting.
According to a recent zoo blog post, the grasshopper had a weakened area around part of its body resembling a “neck” due to a crease in its thoracic region. This crease caused its head to flop backward when climbing upwards, as these grasshoppers spend most of their time in tree branches.
To address this issue, zookeepers developed a miniature neck brace to temporarily support the insect’s neck in a neutral position while its exoskeleton hardened. The brace was created using a sterile Q-tip shaft and microspore tape to secure it. This innovative solution allowed the grasshopper to continue its normal activities without further injury.
The zoo emphasized the importance of providing exceptional care to all its animals, regardless of their size. “Whether it’s a mammal, reptile, bird, or even insect, all of our animals receive extraordinary care from our veterinary team, no matter how big or small it may be,” the zoo stated.
This story highlights the dedication of zookeepers and veterinarians to the well-being of all creatures in their care and showcases the creative approaches they take to ensure the health and safety of even the smallest residents.
Amazing
The Incredible Journey of Ullr: A Dog’s Survival After an Avalanche
In a story that sounds like it’s straight out of a movie, a dog named Ullr, who had been missing for almost a year, was finally spotted alive and well. Ullr, a mix of Border Collie and Rottweiler, had been living in the wild all by himself after surviving an avalanche. For Jacob Dalbey, Ullr’s owner, this news was the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel.
Jacob Dalbey’s world turned upside down on March 17, when he was caught in an avalanche near Chair Mountain while skiing with friends. The terrifying incident left Jacob seriously injured and hospitalized, and tragically, one of his friends did not survive. Amidst the chaos, Ullr, who was with them, ran away from the avalanche site. Rescue teams later found dog tracks leading away from the debris, sparking hope that Ullr had survived.
For 341 days, Jacob never gave up hope of finding his beloved pet. He set up trail cameras and left food in various locations, hoping to lure Ullr into view. And then, on a day that seemed like any other, the unimaginable happened. Ullr was captured on a trail camera not once, but two days in a row. “After 341 days, 11 months to the day…it has happened,” Jacob shared on his GoFundMe page, a platform where he had been updating supporters and raising funds to aid in the search for Ullr.
The joy and relief in Jacob’s message were palpable as he thanked his friends and supporters for their unwavering belief and support. “Knowing you believe in us really means a lot,” he wrote, acknowledging the tough journey and the difference their support made.
Jacob’s next steps are focused on bringing Ullr safely back home. In the meantime, he has asked for the community’s help in keeping an eye out for any signs of Ullr, including pawprints, barking, or sightings.
Jacob’s harrowing experience during the avalanche, where he was buried under the snow for over three hours with a broken hand and frostbitten fingers, adds a layer of awe to Ullr’s survival story. Jacob’s determination to dig himself out and survive mirrored Ullr’s own fight for survival in the wild.
Amazing
A Newspaper Carrier Who Saved a Home from Fire
In the quiet early hours of a St. Petersburg morning, an ordinary newspaper carrier named Josh Herring became a hero in the most unexpected way. At 3 AM, while most of the neighborhood was still fast asleep, Josh Herring was on his usual newspaper delivery route for the Tampa Bay Times when he stumbled upon a life-threatening situation that would change the course of a woman’s life.
The woman in question, Pam Smith, had no idea that her house was in imminent danger. The fire that had started on her deck was silently spreading, a threat lurking just outside her doorstep. It was Josh Herring, her dedicated newspaper carrier, who turned out to be her guardian angel that night.
As the flames inched closer to her home, Pam Smith was startled awake by a persistent banging on her front door. Wondering who could be at her door at such an hour, the 75-year-old approached cautiously. From the other side, a man’s voice rang out, “Pam, I’m your paper man, and your deck’s on fire!” She swung the door open, and to her horror, she saw the deck ablaze, with the flames threatening to engulf her house.
Without a moment to lose, Josh Herring sprang into action. He rushed to the nearest hose, which luckily was within reach, and began spraying water on the fire. In a state of panic, Pam Smith joined him, taking turns to battle the flames that seemed determined to devour her home. Together, they fought tirelessly for 45 minutes until the fire was finally extinguished.
Pam Smith, still shaken by the ordeal, couldn’t find enough words to express her gratitude to Josh Herring. With tears in her eyes, she said to him, “If you never stopped by, I might not be here today. I might not have my house.” Her heartfelt words conveyed the immense impact of Josh’s heroic act.
Josh Herring, a humble newspaper carrier who had been faithfully delivering papers for six years, downplayed his actions. He explained that it was purely coincidental that he had decided to make Pam Smith’s house the first stop along his delivery route that day. Had he chosen to start his route in reverse, it would have taken him about three hours to reach Smith’s residence.
Pam Smith’s response to this revelation was profound. She said, “Just to think, if I had never ordered the paper. I love the paper, and I will order the paper until I die.” Her unwavering loyalty to the Tampa Bay Times had led to this fateful encounter, where the simple act of ordering a newspaper had unknowingly brought her a real-life hero in the form of Josh Herring.
Amazing
Florida Man Plays Guitar During His Own Brain Surgery
In an extraordinary medical procedure, Christian Nolen, a man from Florida, played the guitar during his brain surgery at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. This unique approach helped doctors protect critical areas of his brain while they removed a tumor.
Why Play Guitar During Surgery?
The surgery was conducted while Nolen was awake. This method is used to continuously monitor a patient’s brain functions during the operation. Nolen was asked to play the guitar to give the surgical team real-time feedback on his motor skills. This was crucial because Nolen’s tumor was in his right frontal lobe, an area that controls important functions, including hand movement.
The Discovery of the Tumor
Nolen’s journey began when he noticed issues with his left hand while playing guitar. This symptom led to the discovery of the brain tumor. Only ten days later, he was in surgery to have it removed.
The Surgical Procedure
The surgery started with Nolen under general anesthesia. Then, for a critical part of the two-hour operation, he was awakened and asked to play the guitar. “Upon awakening, it was quite overwhelming to see everything around me and to fight the natural reaction to sit up,” Nolen recalled.
A Critical Moment
During the surgery, the doctors noticed that Nolen’s hand function began to decline as they were removing the tumor. The tumor was affecting the part of the brain that controls hand movements. Thankfully, the doctors were able to remove the entire tumor without injuring Nolen’s hand.
Unique Aspects of Awake Brain Surgery
During an awake craniotomy, patients can engage in activities that don’t increase pressure in the head. Dr. Komotar, part of the surgical team, mentioned that some patients even sing during brain surgery. This helps the surgeons assess their language capabilities while removing tumors from areas associated with language.
A Successful Outcome
Christian Nolen’s story is not just about the removal of a brain tumor; it’s about the incredible advances in medical science and the human spirit’s resilience. Playing the Deftones and System of a Down on his guitar during brain surgery, Nolen not only aided his medical team but also demonstrated an inspiring strength and courage.
-
Amazing3 weeks ago
The Incredible Journey of Ullr: A Dog’s Survival After an Avalanche
-
Amazing2 weeks ago
Texas Zoo Fits Grasshopper with Miniature “Neck Brace”
-
Amazing1 week ago
A Purr-fect Ending: How Paradise, California, United to Find Dundee the Cat
-
Cute3 days ago
Vermont’s Golden Haven: The Golden Retriever Farm Becoming a Tourist Sensation