Cybathlon 2016: Robot-Assisted Olympics for Parathletes

I. Can't. Even.
I mean, sometimes, the future doesn't bother to wait for itself and just shows up. Right there. In front of you. And you realize that we're all living in some sci-fi movie. Only it's here and now. Real life. All around us.

[What on earth is she babbling about this time?] THIS:

Cybathlon Logo

Cybathlon is the Olympics for robot-assisted parathletes.

Robot-assisted parathletes. They're actually referred to as "pilots" on the Cybalthon website. As in, people who will operate various robotic prosthetics. And not just any robotic prosthetics, but some of the most amazing technologies we have to assist and even enable mobility:

arm and leg prosthetics,

powered wheelchairs,

functional electrical stimulation,

powered exoskeletons, and

brain-computer interfaces.

The functional electrical stimulation event is amazing: a bike race. I mean, check out the description:

Pilots with complete Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) will be equipped with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices, which will enable them to perform a pedaling movement on a cycling device that drives them on a circular course.

Complete spinal cord injuries. Powered by FES to cycle on an oval.

The powered exoskeletons are just as incredible.

Pilots with complete thoracic or lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) will be equipped with actuated exoskeletal devices, which will enable them to walk along a particular race course.

And the brain-computer interface events sound like something from the movies:

Pilots will be equipped with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that will enable them to control an avatar in a racing game played on computers. The game will be either horse racing or car racing. Special visual and auditory effects will be used to make the game exciting also for the audience. The image will be displayed on large screens in the stadium.