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Subscribe to RSSAustin Whitney, a UC Berkeley student who was paralyzed in an auto accident four years ago, walked across the stage at his commencement ceremony using the "Austin" exoskeleton, developed by Berkeley's Prof. Homayoon Kazerooni and his team of mechanical engineering students.
Graduation is a big step for any 22-year-old, but for Austin Whitney, it was huge: The UC Berkeley grad, a paraplegic since 2007, stood from his wheelchair and walked across stage at Saturday's commencement ceremony.
He did it using an "exoskeleton," a kind of robotic device that is worn on the legs, which look and act almost like a pair of leg braces. It was built by a team of UC Berkeley engineers. When Whitney reached the stage, he pressed a button on his walker that signaled the exoskeleton to step forward -- and the crowd burst into cheers.
“It was overpowering,” Whitney said at a news conference after the commencement ceremony. “I’ve stood in the [exoskeleton] machine a lot of times before, but I knew that it would be different up here (on stage), and it truly was.”
Whitney's life was changed forever the summer after high school: In July 2007, after a night of drinking with friends, he drove his car into a tree -- a crash that severed his spinal cord right above his hip.
He transferred to UC Berkeley as a sophomore, and in the fall of 2010 he began working with engineers at the university on his plans for his dramatic commencement ceremony walk. In fact, Homayoon Kazerooni, the professor of mechanical engineering who led the engineering team behind the exoskeleton, even named the device "Austin."
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Reminds me of Wallace & Gromits "Techno-Trousers"
Hope he is out there advocating to not drink and drive..
Oh, he absolutely is. I should've included that.
yes, you should've. also, don't drink and write. (in your case)
I, for one, welcome the arrival of our new cyborg overlords.
LOL! That's hilarious!
This story is a reminder that people in general (and the people in particular who designed, built, and funded this gizmo) are basically good and forgiving. All this time, money, and technology to benefit one person who severely injured himself during a drunken bar crawl.
Stop The Hypocrisy - what an idiotic post. I'm sure you've never done anything you shouldn't have. Nope you've just been lucky enough to not have to pay a dear price. And, the development of this device will help many people, including war vets. Maybe you should actually try to use your brain next time before you post.
@W.Goin - Which part of my post was inaccurate? And of course I've done some idiotic things in my life. But none that required the heroic efforts of so many disparate people to ameliorate like this kid did. So I'll merely repeat your own advice right back to you - engage brain THEN post.
All well and good that this kid was able to ''walk'' across the stage at his college graduation BUT why are we glorifying the scientific achievement of this professor and his graduate student team that allowed this to be possible...and all through a then kid whose stupid decision to drink and drive put him in this situation in the first place!!! I have Spina Bifida Myelomeningeocele and I would love to be able to know what its like to be able to ''walk'' and where is a team like this who could make that possible...out helping someone who created their own prison of an inability to walk through a stupid life choice...I didnt have choice!!!
No, he worked with the engineering team to help test and develop the exoskeleton so that others who cannot walk may have this chance someday. Others like yourself! Yes, he made a stupid choice as a teenager to drink and drive, which caused his life altering condition, however it doesn’t discount the achievements of the team that created this technology and his work with them. Everyone makes bad decisions in life, some worse than others, however it doesn’t mean he does not deserve to walk again if given the chance.
I’m sorry, did you say you were enrolled at UC Berkeley and in the engineering degree program at the same time as this young man? I feel sorry for your condition, however stop feeling sorry for yourself. This young man did something to turn his situation around, how about you do the same. He assistance with these other students hopefully has opened a new door for people like you to walk some day.
Well said PocketClam-20! Yes he made a stupid mistake, but perhaps from his mistake it will help others as well.
Bill, you don't see that the efforts of this young man and the engineering team will someday benefit you? This young man made a stupid decision as a teenager and has suffered for it. However, he is trying to make a difference because of that mistake. Bill, maybe it's up to you to join his cause and help fund raise for this device to be made available on a universal level. Like this young man, not only would you be helping yourself, but you would be helping others that find themselves in the same situation as you and Austin.
How many parents of teens live with the anxiety that their teenager may make a stupid decision that will effect them the rest of their lives? I know I lived with that anxiety when my kids were teenagers because teenagers do stupid things. Read up on the development of a teen's brain to learn WHY the do stupid things.
There is very little connection between the accomplishment of the professor and his students and the person that they chose to test out their device. The young man might have volunteered many hours to test the device. Or, perhaps they chose him because he was going to be graduating at about the time they expected the device to be ready. Or, perhaps this device isn't quite as "ready" as we are being told and the young man is still a bit of a risk-taker and in good health despite his paralysis--and they needed a risk-taker who was otherwise in pretty good health.
We really don't know a lot about this situation other than that this young man happened to be available and offered to work with the team. Now, if there had been a list of people waiting and they picked the kid-who-is-paralyzed-because-of-stupidity rather than sainted-individual-who-is-paralyzed-due-to-no-fault-of-his-own, maybe it would make sense to chat about the topic. But, all we know is that he was picked and that he looks to be in fairly good health apart from his injury. So, speculation seems uncalled for.
This is one reason why funding for public education needs to be increased, not decreased. The research done at these institutions is amazing and needs our support.
I wholeheartedly agree with Pocketclam-20. The irresponsible decision that this young man made by drinking and driving will haunt him forever, however he choose to not dive into a hole of self pity but to continue on with his dreams. I am confident that he has worked towards this day not only with himself in mind but for others who find themselves in this condition whether it be by choice or by misfortune. I for one applaud his efforts and his story made me smile. As for the insenstive and often selfish posts I've come across, go away from your computer, reflect, take a breath and come back and read this story once again, hopefully your anger will turn to hope...
Cool story! Amazing technology! "Homayoon Kazerooni",... wicked cool name! I'll have to do a search on the 'net for more about that dude. I wonder what country the name "Kazerooni" originates from. I love it!
My dad was injured in a fall while cutting branches 3 months before I was born and has been a paraplegic ever since. It's been 30 years and I would be thrilled if this technology could help me see my dad walk even one time. Not to mention it would do wonders for his outlook on life which has definitely declined in recent years. There are so many people this could help and I would love to know what I could do to help raise funding for this project.
What's up with all you simple minded people who only read this story to look for a reason to blame this young man. Did you not read of his college graduation and then look beyond to see what a large door has been opened for thousands of others. I saw this story on TV in a Las Vegas hotel room while I was attending a nurse practitioner meeting and had uncontrollabe tears of joy for what has been invented and how much this has meant to this young man and will flow on to others!!! I know of a young girl who took a flu vaccination last fall and soon became paralyzed. I have already mentioned the exoskeletan to her grandmother as another avenue of hope for helping her walk again. Please judgemental people, think beyond yourselves!!!!
The comments on MSNBC stories are filled with a bunch of negative people with nothing but hate to share. Welcome to the comments section.
I hate to be the downer, but as a fellow paraplegic, welcome to the wonderful world of employment discrimination. Either you won't get hired, as the interviewer will think of every reason in the book to have you take a hike, you'll get fired sometime in your first decade while the company hides behind the "at-will employment concept to rid of you, or you'll quit after earning your SSD rights, when you find out you've been payed much less than your prejudiced co-workers. Ive experienced these situations, but good luck anyway!
Wow, interesting perspective. Thanks for commenting.
Iron Man lives!
I agree with jbird 100%, I was born by Forceps that caused Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (half body). With the current economic situation and the downsizing of positions; they got rid of me because I could not take over 2 other positions with one hand. I am not feeling sorry for myself, I am now working on my 5th degree. Because I worked in the past and temporarily went back on SSDI to support my family. I make $150 to much to qualify for State or Government assistance but the cost of living still goes up.
Hmmm, let me think now - who should have been the first to be offered this new technology? A paraplegic Sergeant injured by an IED while serving his country in Afghanistan? Or a 22 year old kid who got schnockered to the gills then smacked his car into a tree while driving drunk? I'll have to ponder on this one for a while - the right answer is going to be real hard to figure out.
p.s.: Perhaps the Sergeant would have had a better shot at being the first if his SATs had just been good enough to get him into UC Berkeley, and simply forgotten about enlisting in the Armed Forces. That whole "serving your country" paradigm is so boring and passe' anyway.
@Stop the Hypocrisy - I do agree with you that there are more deserving people to receive this gift of an exoskeleton. However, does it really matter who receives the first so long as the end result is that those deserving of it get it in the future? To me, this story is moving nonetheless because of the hope it gives me for our future in offering patients with these injuries an alternative.
WHY are you such a TOOLMONKEY HYPOCRACY? Regardless if what the kid did did? The technology will benefit everyone.Still? Be cool if chip implants in leg muscles could be utilized instead.Lot less weight.And the muscles could ergain tone.Just floating an idea.
Yep, and you can relate to the fact that there is no way that any civil rights legislation, will EVER be compatible w the existence of "at-will" termination. Its just too easy to hide behind the latter, like the cowards most prejudiced managers are.
Again, you missed the point. The young man assisted in the development while in college. Hence, the "Austin" tag on the equipment. The Sergeant will now have the opportunity to avail himself of another piece of technology. The young man took lemons and made his lemonade, now others will benefit. Had the young man not made a stupid juvenile mistake, he may not have been as driven to overcome and this technology may have been delayed.
As far as the termination posts, mayhap it's the attitude of self pity that made the employee undesirable. I know that puppy can only whine so long in the back yard before I want to chunk a shoe at it!
i suppose that i am one of the lucky ones. when i drank and drove, no wrecks , caused or involved in. then, along came a family and i had a different set of objectives. go, arthur. i would like to shake your hand.
JGG
the kid's name is austin doofus
My father had polio since he was 3 yrs old and also had scoliosis. He never really got to walk his whole life. He went to college, graduated with a bachelors in communication and worked for the sheriff's department for 27 yrs before retiring. He never once was bitter about not walking and always took care of his family. I wish he was still alive to see this amazing technology that could have helped him. Im sorry to disagree with all the people on here that say that having a disability will keep you from a good job. I think this is a wonderful advancement in technology and the medical field. Who cares how or who tested it, as long as it can help those that need it.