Using buttons on a special walking stick as a kind of remote control, Merger sends instructions to the chip, which orders the electrodes to stimulate his legs into movement. Merger originally received the implant in a ten-hour operation last December, only to have to undergo a repeat procedure in February when the chip developed a bug. By early March he was able to stand and after a few short weeks of practice make a first attempt at walking. The technique brings hope for thousands of paraplegics like Merger whose muscles remain healthy despite damage to their nerves. When you're raised on Jetsons-style dreams of the future, where smart robots handle all life's daily chores, it's a pretty depressing year 2000 where you still have to wrestle a vacuum cleaner around your dirty floors.
Help is at hand.
With three onboard computers and 50 sensors, the Dyson DC06 spirals its way methodically toward the center of a room, avoiding stairs, obstacles and curious pets along the way. The cleaner has a short 30-minute battery life, but recharges in only an hour. These are black dog days to be a pirate. Sure, piracy is at an all-time high. But time was you could make a dollar on an iffy copy of the latest albums, movies or software.