AGNES Allows The Young To Experience Instant 'Aging'
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Most of us have at some point or another become impatient with a 'slow, bumbling' elderly adult or a grandparent 'moaning' about aches and pains. Would we be as dismissive, if we knew what they were going through?
Now, thanks to the AGNES (Age Gain Now Empathy System) suit developed by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Age Lab, we can all experience the plight of the elderly.
Thankfully, however, the transformation is not a result of an irreversible chemical reaction, but a temporary condition caused by different gadgets that are attached to the suit. To emulate slow movement and joint pain, two stretchy bands, restrict the legs from extending all the way. A special helmet with straps attaches to the spine and alters body posture, so that person can experience how it feels to walk around with a little stoop.
Special shoes restrict the gait by reducing hamstring flexibility. And that's not all - Wear the gloves that come with the suit, and you will realize why the elderly cannot lift things as deftly as a young person. To complete the experience, AGNES comes with special earphones that make it difficult to hear to hear really sharp or soft sounds.
While an AGNES experience is bound to emanate some sympathy for the elderly, that is not the primary purpose behind its creation. It has largely been invented so that designers and engineers can create safer crosswalks, stairs, accessible grocery aisles and so on - A very important consideration given that the elderly population in the US alone, is expected to exceed over 7.2 million, by the year 2030.
In addition, AGNES has been modeled after an adult who has led an extremely unhealthy life, hence projecting a senior citizen in the worst possible health condition. By doing so, the scientists are hoping to encourage today's youth to make better food choices and remain active, which in turn, will help them age better.
So, the next time you are feeling lazy or eating too much junk, be sure to reflect back on AGNES and, while 75 may seem like eons of years away, it will come by sooner than you think - Just ask your grandparents!
Resources: latimes.com, tested.com,odditycentral.com
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186 Comments
soccergod123over 13 yearsthat suit looks soooooooooooo funny. Also, I dont think that they need to teach us kids how an old person lives.- shawnover 13 yearsi like to add on want reilly said why are they wearing that suit
- Robert.Jover 13 yearsI think the point of view in this article is to inform the fifth graders to keep their body healthy,so when they get older their bones won't be broken when they lift something. Another reason is that when kids get about 48 or older they will be in shape. How you can do these things is by getting active or exercise and eat fruit, vegs and other important foods, and not fast food like Mc D or buger king.
- Jackie.Kover 13 yearsWhen your old to not die young is exercise a lot more. Eat healthier to make your body stronger. Get a lot of sleep so you wont be tired when you go to work. Don't do drugs and that bad stuff so when you are older your lungs will turn brown.
- Reilly.over 13 yearsI think it woukd be kinda wierd to wear that suit around town. I am wondering 2 things, 1: Who came up with the suit and 2: What happens when it gets really hot out?
- Sofia M.over 13 yearsNow little ones when you are young, you will need to exercise and eat healthy. You want to do this because this will effect your body in a good way. Also, if you do these things, you will be healthy. What you do to your body when you are younger will always effect you body when you are older.
- Vincent Wover 13 yearsWOW! those suits must be tough to grab things from tall shelves. I wonder how people react to this suit. how could these people put things on a higher level? if the suit is tied up would it take more force to grab something or less?
- Anthony L.over 13 yearsYou should take care of yourself when you are young because when you grow old you can't change what you have done to yourself. When you are old you will have a lot of pain because you didn't take care of yourself. It will also make you die quicker if you aren't nice to your body. You guys don't keep on eating junk food or else you will be very fat. Also junk food can be bad for you too. Remember to take care of yourself when you still can!
omgbeckylookitover 13 yearsthats cool- Christian C.over 13 yearsAll you little whippersnappers better eat right, exercise everyday, & stop being a couch potater! If you don't, it will be hard to move around, just like it is for me. AGNES is something o remind you to do these 3 things. Take this from 140 year old, Jon Swerd.