Press Releases
For Immediate Release:
October 1, 2009
New CAST Member Showcases Robotic Technology at AAHSA House
Contact: Sarah Mashburn, 202-413-8062
Washington WASHINGTON - Think robots exist just in the movies? Think again. Cyberdyne, the Center of Aging Services Technology's (CAST) newest member, will showcase how its Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) can improve older people's quality of care and life at the American Association' of Homes and Services for the Aging's (AAHSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Chicago.
HAL is a wearable robotic suit that is designed to multiply a person's strength by reading bio-electric signals that the person generates. The suit uses those signals to guide the movement of robotic limbs strapped to a person's arms and legs. With HAL's help, even stroke patients may be able to walk and nurses have extra strength to move individuals who need assistance.
HAL is just one of the technologies being displayed in the AAHSA House, a 2,500 square foot concept house designed to illustrate how technology and design can be integrated to facilitate aging in place and continued participation in the community. The house, which will be open to the public during the AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition, November 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will feature design elements such as modified kitchens and bathrooms as well as technologies designed to improve older people's quality of life, while reducing health care costs, encouraging healthy behavior change and providing caregivers with support.
"Cyberdyne's involvement with CAST and the AAHSA House offers visitors the opportunity to see first-hand how assistive robotic technology can transform the future of aging," said Majd Alwan, Ph.D., CAST Director. "We look forward to sharing their knowledge with providers across the country."
HAL's inventor, Dr. Yoshiyuki Sankai, a professor at University of Tsukuba in Japan and presidentof Cyberdyne, is also excited about the partnership with CAST and AAHSA: "Partnering with CAST and having HAL in the AAHSA House gives Cyberdyne the chance to highlight to the aging-services community how our work can make a difference in the lives of older people and theicaregivers."
HAL's inventor, Dr. Yoshiyuki Sankai, a professor at University of Tsukuba in Japan and president of Cyberdyne, is also excited about the partnership with CAST and AAHSA: "Partnering with CAST and having HAL in the AAHSA House gives Cyberdyne the chance to highlight to the aging-services community how our work can make a difference in the lives of older people and their caregivers."
Dr. Sankai will be available to demonstrate HAL and discuss its benefits during a press preview tour of the AAHSA House on Monday, November 9, at 10 a.m. For more information, visit (www.agingtech.org).
About CAST
The Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) is leading the charge to expedite the development, evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies that will transform the aging experience.
CAST has four focus areas:
- driving a global vision of how technologies can improve the quality of life for seniors while reducing health care costs;
- accelerating technology research and development through pilot evaluations with seniors;
- advocating to remove barriers to the rapid commercialization of proven solutions; and
- promoting dialogue about standards to ensure interoperability and widespread access to aging-services technologies.
CAST is now an international coalition of more than 400 technology companies, aging-services organizations, businesses, research universities and government representatives working together under the auspices of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org). The members of AAHSA help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call home.
Archived CAST Press Releases
September 15, 2009
The State of Aging Services Technologies in Minnesota is Strong
Junuary 9, 2009
Interactive Report from CAST Maps Landscape of Technology for the Aging
November 7, 2008
Report: Research Shows Nursing Homes Lead the Way in Electronic Health Record Use
October 14, 2008
Report: Pennsylvania Leads in Aging Services Technologies
January 30, 2008
Capitol Hill Briefing Features Technologies That Could Transform the Lives of Seniors
May 16, 2006
Second Long Term Care Health IT Summit Announced
Summit to explore eight action items necessary to advance EHR/HIT adoption in LTC.
December 12, 2005
White House Conference on Aging Previews Revolutionary Technologies That Could Transform the Lives of Seniors
View photos from the CAST Imagine Pavilion at the WHCoA
July 11, 2005
Boomers Willing to Pay for Technology That Allows Parents, Selves More Independent Living
April 27, 2004
CAST participates in Senate Hearing
March 16, 2004
Aging Services Technology Demo on Capitol Hill Features Revolutionary Ideas to Help Seniors
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