The term “cybernetics” evokes images of the human-robot hybrids featured in science fiction novels and superhero sagas. Characters like Iron Man and the Six Million Dollar Man were fully biological humans before suffering near-fatal injuries. The introduction of advanced technology into their bodies saved their lives and enabled them to help others. While these types of cyborgs remain in the realm of fiction, cybernetic technology is already being used to prolong the human lifespan.
Cybernetics became widely known in 1948, when American mathematician Norbert Wiener published a book by that name. To Wiener, cybernetics was the “science of control and communications in the animal and machine.” This definition is broad enough to apply to today’s cybernetics efforts, though the advances in the field would have likely astonished Wiener — and may surprise you.
Let’s explore a few types of cybernetics that are helping older adults live longer, more independent and fulfilling lives.
Cutting-Edge Cybernetics Technology Now in Use
Let’s be clear: The robotic technologies discussed here are not intended to replace invaluable human medical professionals. Instead, they can prove helpful when personnel shortages occur, providing 24/7, at-home assistance — often a logistically complicated and costly proposition when the assistant is human.
Robot Assistants
Using cybernetic principles, scientists and technologists have designed assistive robots to help older adults complete a range of tasks or undertake them on their behalf. In addition to monitoring health metrics and detecting falls, these robots can help seniors navigate their homes safely, manage shopping lists and calendar tasks and perform other routine duties. Users direct these robots through voice commands or a touchscreen.
Robot Companions
Social or personal robots can interact with older adults in a variety of ways, providing companionship and helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation common among seniors. These robots offer stimulation by engaging in conversation, playing games and providing other forms of entertainment. They may also provide medical and routine task assistance.
Cognitive Assistants
Cognitive assistant robots are designed to aid older adults who suffer from cognitive impairments, such as dementia. They can provide reminders for daily activities, support memory exercises, conduct cognitive training and offer cognitive stimulation. Like their assistive robot counterparts, cognitive assistants often have a benevolent, humanlike appearance to encourage user acceptance.
Artificial Exoskeletons
Exoskeletons are robotic appliances that fit over existing limbs and assist older adults struggling with mobility, offering support during walking and serving as tools for rehabilitation when natural limbs become weak or injured. These cybernetics-driven devices could eventually eliminate the need for wheelchairs and walkers.
Adaptive Prosthetics
Adaptive prosthetics are not mere aesthetic devices intended to visually replace a missing limb, nor are they the wire-controlled mechanical limbs that have been in use for many years. Instead, they’re smart bionic (biological + electronic) limbs attached to a person that function via electrodes implanted within their body. As the embedded artificial intelligence technology learns a user’s movements and begins to predict their intended actions, the response time of the prosthesis is gradually shortened.
Extend Your Impact and Prepare for Greater Career Longevity
If helping people live not just more years, but healthier, more satisfying years empowered by innovative research, technology and treatments is your professional goal, the University of Florida offers online programs to help you achieve it:
Online Master’s Degree in Innovative Aging Studies (30 credits)
Examine aging from clinical, biological, psychological, legal, ethical and sociological perspectives with the aim of becoming an advocate for older adults. No thesis is required for this program.
Online Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology and Aging (30 credits)
If you’re uncertain which direction to take in your career, expand your options with a unique master’s degree that combines key focus areas from our innovative aging studies degree and our medical physiology graduate certificate.
Both online master’s degree programs offer courses that will fuel your interest in technology and longevity, including:
Online Graduate Certificate in Aging and Geriatric Practice (15 credits)
Enhance your skills and bolster your medical school application with our online graduate certificate program. If you later decide to pursue one of UF’s master’s degree programs in aging, up to 15 credits from this certificate program can be applied toward your degree, enabling you to finish in half the time!
UF’s Exceptional Educational Experience
UF ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 lists for:
- Best National Universities
- Top Public Schools
- Best Value Schools
- We don’t require GRE scores or clinical experience for admission.
- Our tuition is surprisingly affordable for an institution of our standing.
- Our aging program faculty consists of researchers and experts.
- We offer flexible, convenient courses in an entirely online, asynchronous format.
- Our programs allow you to earn a valued credential in as little as one year.
Don’t wait! Apply now to your program of choice.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/science/cybernetics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10178192/
https://www.newamerica.org/weekly/adaptive-technology-prosthetics/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkNY73Fdhuw&t=16s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipw_2A2T_wg&t=38s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-iRnTidzo