Will it reek of Ben Gay and include a lap counter for the mall?

I just hope it can assist with stair climbing better than the ASIMO. It's funny when a robot does the turtle, but it's not so funny when an old person is doing that.

.....ok, maybe not AS funny.

set to break with 'break dance'

"gives the wearer an appropriate boost, lengthening his or her stride"
sounds like a groin pull waiting to happen. I can't wait to see this metal Jock Strap on anyone! Stick to the wheelchairs, please?

i want the ben heck model.

Sure, being demoed by a slim and healthy 20-something Japanese guy.

I rather walk like Asimo than not walk at all.

I can't see any problems with this technology, honestly. It'll help keep old people out of homes, off of clunkier, harder-to-use walking devices, and make them stop walking down the sidewalk so damn slowly! People want to go around, you know! Arrrr! *foams at the mouth*

"That's great Grandma. It really does look natural. Hmmm. What's this? Let's try this 'Gangsta Walk' mode."

It looks as thought Version 2.0 could have the belt squeeze your abdomen to help with those difficult BM sessions, as well.

Jokes aside, my concern is not with tools like this helping the elderly. (Those old people need all the help they can get.) My concern is when the overweight or completely lazy start wearing items like this to keep from doing any actual 'exercise' (if you call walking 'exercise').

Is it "stair-approved?"

+ Watch video

+ Watch video

@Earthslide: I don't think this was intended for those who couldn't walk at all. If anything, you have to be able to walk at some point to get 2 hours of use outta this gadget to begin with.

@Monty: If this gets distributed to the overweight, I'm getting my shotgun. The herd will need to be thinned. You're not disabled, you're just f***ing FAT!!! Accept it or change it, but quit hiding behind it like it's a disease or something.

@Monty: Well you can't really prevent lazy people from abusing exploiting devices that are designed for those that actually need them, though if you intend to start going around pushing them off of their rascals, I won't complain.

Walking can be exercise, if you travel very long distances regularly that is. Takes me about an hour to get from Wall St. to Flushing Avenue over the Bklyn Bridge :P

@strider_mt2k: That's pure gold.

@Monty: Walking can be excellent exercise. Compare sitting around the house all day to taking a couple laps around the block. Or consider that having moved to a desk job from one that required walking all day every day, I had gained several pound and had to increase exercise time elsewhere.

@riqgeez: In fact it says right at the bottom of the press release:

"This device is designed for people who are still capable of walking on their own."

I think this would put a lot of extra stress on the joints and skeletal structure - especially on the elderly whom it is being marketed to.

Give these to seniors and the next thing you know hip shrapnel is flying everywhere.

@DaOtter: Try to keep your unbounded sensitivity in check, please.

@DaOtter:
case closed. **gavel slams**

@strider_mt2k: It's a good thing they brought out that privacy screen to save the robot's dignity.

@Monty: I sure as hell hope its excercise. I do it at least 4 times a week and its improved my cardio resistance considerably, not to mention what its done for my legs and backside. Its also now my main source of stress busting. All that combined can NOT be bad.
PS-It also seems to have raised happiness quotient of the old guys who live in my neighborhood. They all get a smile and a wave, and quite seem to enjoy it.

@Curves: Heck I feel like smiling and waving at my computer after reading this.

@Kaiser-Machead: Don't. That would be just weird.

@GadgetPlay: My sensitivity flings where it may. The system is not there to be abused. My thoughts are mine, and you don't have to share.

@Curves: It is my understanding that geezers like the badonkadonk. I actually heard my grandfather refer to it by name.

And I agree walking is good exercise. Also helps with the sun tan. I was quite pasty until I started walking, now I am just a bit pasty.

I love this device. Having been paralyzed from the waist down due to an injury, this would have really helped in my rehabilitation. The first few weeks are very scary when you start walking again.

@Geisrud: Damn. Too late :-[

@jdhuck: badonkadonk is a particular type of butt. Apples, Peaches and the like are in no way related to the badonkadonk, but if not taken care of, or fed too much fried chicken, can become badonkadonk.

There is no doubt that it will be tweaked. Double the voltage input, some extra amps, Viagra, Cialis (your choice)... There will be more sales of this device than Kindles.

@Kaiser-Machead: badonkadonk is another fun google image search (NSFW), though more predictable than "Pindor" as suggested yesterday.

@Curves:
Who can take a nothing thread, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile...
(!)

@jdhuck: LOL. I had to look that up. Urban dictionary is so informative and such pictures! They also mention the term GAZONGAS (in with 146 other terms for breasts), which I found amusing.
Is it possible that the old guys just like a lady who smiles and waves at them? Does it have to be sexual? OK, so I maybe they admire my figure (or the red hair) but really, I hope its just cause I am nice.

@Curves: Yeah.
You keep thinkin' that.

lets hope that grandma has better attunement to stairs than asmio does.

@Curves: Aiee! Mixed signals! *brain explodes*

@Curves: My grandfather is a old, scary freak. I am fairly certain he is into the badonkadonk.

It is because you are nice. Don't let anyone else tell you any different. Unless it is my grandfather, then he is just a plain ole freak.

@Kaiser-Machead: I may be misunderstanding, but I am quite certain what a gravity defying, self-healing, nutritious badonkadonk is.

M.A.N.T.I.S ?

[scifipedia.scifi.com]

Thats really cool from you Honda! but answer these questions for me:

1.What is the speed limit can my gradma can reach with this thing?

2.Does it have an option for jumping

3. can she shake her ass with it

4.She love to be a dancer like Step Up 2: the street, so can she be a dancer?

5.Does it beep when she walk backward

:)

@jdhuck: If he is a scary old super freak, I am probably already dating him. See you at the next family function. ;)

If you start going downhill and get going too fast, do you run the risk of blowing your Walking Assist Device?

Seven league boots!

I'd buy it but only if it makes the bionic man 'Naa, Naa, Naa, Naa, Naa sound as you move. That'd be sweet..

MPG city? Highway?

Don't they ever think of the acronyms when they're naming these things? I mean, I know *I* don't wanna walk around with a WAD on my back and legs.

@bwildrick: How about
FRED: Fitted Robotics for Enablement of the Disabled
or
MARS: Movement Amplification Robotic Suit

I wonder when and how potential users will get to test this... it'd be great for my mum.

VTEC JUST KICKED IN YO!

Today a man wearing a Honda Assisted Walking Device fell asleep at the wheel (so to speak) and drowned when he walked into a nearby lake. We turn to Tracy at the scene:

Bill, it's really strange. Sun-tanning witnesses say the man just walked into the water and disappeared. Police have sent out divers in an effort to locate the man but there's no telling how far he could walk under water. And there's also a chance the dead man could walk out of the lake right into a nearby schoolyard, frightening children. The man's next of kin are very upset and are planning to sue Honda for what they assert amounts to body snatching.