Comments on: Athletic world record using space tech-enhanced prosthetic leg http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 19:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: solpatrol http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300038 solpatrol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300038 @3, 7 See the story regarding a double-amputee South African runner who was disqualified from competing in the Beijing Olympics by the IOC based on a "scientific study" that his prosthetics used 25% less energy than regular legs: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7141302.stm Notably, while he would not have been a medal contender, the runner's times aren't Olympic medal-class (his career best in the 400m is 46.34), but would have won, for example, the Ohio high school championship last year.. @3, 7

See the story regarding a double-amputee South African runner who was disqualified from competing in the Beijing Olympics by the IOC based on a “scientific study” that his prosthetics used 25% less energy than regular legs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7141302.stm

Notably, while he would not have been a medal contender, the runner’s times aren’t Olympic medal-class (his career best in the 400m is 46.34), but would have won, for example, the Ohio high school championship last year..

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300039 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300039 <i>performance-enhancing surgeries</i> I fully expect to see Beverly Hills housewives getting elastic surgery so that they can stretch more impressively in yoga class. performance-enhancing surgeries

I fully expect to see Beverly Hills housewives getting elastic surgery so that they can stretch more impressively in yoga class.

]]> By: dainel http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300810 dainel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300810 Runners - will longer legs not give you longer strides, faster speed, more endurance? Long jumpers and high jumpers - longer legs. Throwing sports (javelin, shot put) - long arms. Shooting & archery - better eyesight. Runners – will longer legs not give you longer strides, faster speed, more endurance?

Long jumpers and high jumpers – longer legs.

Throwing sports (javelin, shot put) – long arms.

Shooting & archery – better eyesight.

]]> By: angryhippo http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300311 angryhippo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300311 #15: I would say having shorts on is an advantage if you are a male. Those berries sure can jostle when running at top speed! #15: I would say having shorts on is an advantage if you are a male. Those berries sure can jostle when running at top speed!

]]> By: AirPillo http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300314 AirPillo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300314 <blockquote> I believe there will come a point when Olympic athletes reach the absolute limits of human performance, and can only match the world record. Paralympians will just get better and better as materials technology improves. Who knows, maybe the Olympics will eventually be overshadowed by the Paralympics, as the athletes in the latter perform ever more awe-inspiring feats while the Olympians just can't keep up.</blockquote> <b>Coverage of the 2048 Cyborg Olympics is brought to you by...</b>

I believe there will come a point when Olympic athletes reach the absolute limits of human performance, and can only match the world record. Paralympians will just get better and better as materials technology improves. Who knows, maybe the Olympics will eventually be overshadowed by the Paralympics, as the athletes in the latter perform ever more awe-inspiring feats while the Olympians just can’t keep up.

Coverage of the 2048 Cyborg Olympics is brought to you by…

]]> By: kryptik http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300065 kryptik Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300065 I believe there will come a point when Olympic athletes reach the absolute limits of human performance, and can only match the world record. Paralympians will just get better and better as materials technology improves. Who knows, maybe the Olympics will eventually be overshadowed by the Paralympics, as the athletes in the latter perform ever more awe-inspiring feats while the Olympians just can't keep up. I believe there will come a point when Olympic athletes reach the absolute limits of human performance, and can only match the world record. Paralympians will just get better and better as materials technology improves. Who knows, maybe the Olympics will eventually be overshadowed by the Paralympics, as the athletes in the latter perform ever more awe-inspiring feats while the Olympians just can’t keep up.

]]> By: pauldrye http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299852 pauldrye Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299852 Just to be clear, the world record long jump is Mike Powell's 8.95 metres (29', 4 1/2"). I presume this is the Paralympics record. Just to be clear, the world record long jump is Mike Powell’s 8.95 metres (29′, 4 1/2″). I presume this is the Paralympics record.

]]> By: Junglemonkey http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299863 Junglemonkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299863 Is it just a trick of the camera, or is his existing calf bizarrely sharp and pointy looking? Is it just a trick of the camera, or is his existing calf bizarrely sharp and pointy looking?

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299875 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299875 Thanks for the clarification Pauldrye. I was starting to wonder if we had finally reached the point when athletes will be tempted to replace body parts with prosthetic ones for maximum performance. Still pretty cool, though! Thanks for the clarification Pauldrye. I was starting to wonder if we had finally reached the point when athletes will be tempted to replace body parts with prosthetic ones for maximum performance. Still pretty cool, though!

]]> By: Duffong http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299902 Duffong Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299902 I just had a materials science-gasm. I just had a materials science-gasm.

]]> By: Ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299910 Ocker3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299910 JungleMonkey I think that's because he's turning a bit as he jumps, it looks like the lower-leg muscle on his right leg is whipping to the side a bit for some reason. JungleMonkey I think that’s because he’s turning a bit as he jumps, it looks like the lower-leg muscle on his right leg is whipping to the side a bit for some reason.

]]> By: Kieran O'Neill http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300428 Kieran O'Neill Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300428 #12: Thanks, you beat me to it. Looks like pretty much the same prosthesis in both cases, too. #12: Thanks, you beat me to it. Looks like pretty much the same prosthesis in both cases, too.

]]> By: Count One http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300941 Count One Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300941 If you were hosting the Cyborg Olympics, what criteria would you use to make it interesting? You could maybe say that the contestant and his equipment would have to fit into a slightly larger than human case, and their power supply should consist of stored energy of no more than say x man hours. That way a rocket pack and a giant spring might be on an equal footing. If you were hosting the Cyborg Olympics, what criteria would you use to make it interesting?

You could maybe say that the contestant and his equipment would have to fit into a slightly larger than human case, and their power supply should consist of stored energy of no more than say x man hours.

That way a rocket pack and a giant spring might be on an equal footing.

]]> By: RedMonkey http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299922 RedMonkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299922 I, for one, welcome our cyborg overlords. I, for one, welcome our cyborg overlords.

]]> By: AirPillo http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299923 AirPillo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299923 I've long wondered whether a really cutting edge leg prosthetic gives someone an advantage over another athlete, in terms of endurance. While I know there is still plenty of exertion running even if you had two prosthetics... not having to supply blood and oxygen to all those hard-worked leg muscles would seem to give someone the potential for greater stamina. That's a question that's sat at the back of my mind for years (of course waiting for me to be drunk or see something related to leap to the front of my mind and puzzle me again!) I’ve long wondered whether a really cutting edge leg prosthetic gives someone an advantage over another athlete, in terms of endurance.

While I know there is still plenty of exertion running even if you had two prosthetics… not having to supply blood and oxygen to all those hard-worked leg muscles would seem to give someone the potential for greater stamina.

That’s a question that’s sat at the back of my mind for years (of course waiting for me to be drunk or see something related to leap to the front of my mind and puzzle me again!)

]]> By: MrsBug http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-299958 MrsBug Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-299958 Resistance is futile. (C'mon...someone had to say it!) Resistance is futile. (C’mon…someone had to say it!)

]]> By: spazzm http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300755 spazzm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300755 #16 Angryhippo, just apply cold water beforehand. I wonder if replacing some of the heavier bones in the human body would give enough of an advantage? Carbon fibre is a lot stronger than bone, weight for weight. I guess the major problem would be immune system rejection. Would the weight saving be enough to make up for the detrimental effects of surgery? Would it show up on an x-ray? #16 Angryhippo, just apply cold water beforehand.

I wonder if replacing some of the heavier bones in the human body would give enough of an advantage?
Carbon fibre is a lot stronger than bone, weight for weight. I guess the major problem would be immune system rejection. Would the weight saving be enough to make up for the detrimental effects of surgery?
Would it show up on an x-ray?

]]> By: Count One http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300251 Count One Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300251 Presumably there is a rule that you can't use any device that would enhance the athlete beyond what a non-disabled clone could achieve. Otherwise someone would turn up with a Saturn V rocket strapped to each leg. Perhaps that's why the ancient Greeks competed naked. A pair of shorts either provides a competitive advantage or a disadvantage. If they provide an advantage then ban them (or equip everyone with identical shorts). If they provide a disadvantage then what's the point. Presumably there is a rule that you can’t use any device that would enhance the athlete beyond what a non-disabled clone could achieve.

Otherwise someone would turn up with a Saturn V rocket strapped to each leg.

Perhaps that’s why the ancient Greeks competed naked. A pair of shorts either provides a competitive advantage or a disadvantage. If they provide an advantage then ban them (or equip everyone with identical shorts). If they provide a disadvantage then what’s the point.

]]> By: kaosmonkey http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300005 kaosmonkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300005 @7 I don't know about endurance, but it certainly seems to help his boinginess (boingosity?) @7

I don’t know about endurance, but it certainly seems to help his boinginess (boingosity?)

]]> By: toxonix http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300010 toxonix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300010 Carbon fiber reinforced plastic? That's not all that cutting edge anymore. There's still a long way to go with carbon fiber though. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic? That’s not all that cutting edge anymore. There’s still a long way to go with carbon fiber though.

]]> By: JonKimmel http://boingboing.net/2008/10/03/athletic-world-recor.html#comment-300029 JonKimmel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-300029 This brings to light the dilemma of not just performance-enhancing substances, but of performance-enhancing surgeries. There will surely be attempts, if there haven't already, of 'athletes' using voluntary body modifications to improve their abilities. Obviously, I am not claiming this is a case of that...simply that this story reminds me of that. This brings to light the dilemma of not just performance-enhancing substances, but of performance-enhancing surgeries. There will surely be attempts, if there haven’t already, of ‘athletes’ using voluntary body modifications to improve their abilities.

Obviously, I am not claiming this is a case of that…simply that this story reminds me of that.

]]>