Author: youshouldgoanyway

Yesterday I wrote about some lifesaving technologies I appreciate that we already have access to. Today I thought I’d ponder some “dream” technologies which are either coming down the pipe or could be wonderful to have around.

1. Batteries that last for weeks and weeks

While I am very glad my chair can make it through the day without needing a charge, it would be wonderful to have batteries that last for weeks. Not only would this make traveling a bit easier, but on days when I play wheelchair tennis I would know for sure that I wouldn’t run out of juice before the day is up. It would also be great to have mobile devices and laptops that didn’t require a charge every day either!

2. Practical exoskeletons

Various groups around the world are working on exoskeletons that provide the wearer with tremendous strength and abilities. But right now they’re clunky and slow and I would never wear one even if it meant I could walk again. Unless it’s something I can put on and take off myself and allows me to walk with a normal pace, I won’t really consider integrating an exoskeleton into my life. The prospects, however, are amazing to think about.

3. Artificial muscles

Even more exciting than the idea of exoskeletons is the notion of artificial muscles. Whether they’d be implanted or leverage nano-technology to build them inside the body, I’d definitely sign up for something like that!

4. Super portable ramps

I would love to have a ramp attached to my wheelchair that could deploy on its own. I’d even settle for super thin and lightweight ramps that just attached to my chair and someone else could deploy. It’s great being able to tow my ramps around with me in my car but it would be really nice if I always had it on my chair.

5. A really easy and cheap way to get in and out of a pool or spa

Pool lifts are expensive and clunky. I wish there was a device, or a magical spell, that could take me from my chair into the water and back in the blink of an eye!

6. A device to lift me up from the floor

Sometimes it’s nice to sit on the floor or in the grass. A super portable device that could scoop me up and put me in my chair would be great to have around.

7. A cheaper way to modify vehicles for accessible driving.

I don’t know what could be done to make this possible but it would be nice if there was some way a wheelchair and a vehicle could be unified so that it’s as easy to get into a car as it is for someone without a chair. Again, this could be magical spell territory, but the idea is exciting.

What is on your technology wish list?

Someone asked me the other day what I would be doing as a career if I wasn’t involved in computers. The first thing that came to mind was something math-related, like a statistician. But can you imagine how much work would be involved in analyzing data without having access to computers like we have today?

So that got me thinking about some of the supporting technologies we have now that allow me to live a productive and happy life despite having muscular dystrophy.

1. Power wheelchair

Without a doubt the most important technology I use is my wheelchair. I am using it every waking hour. I can go places independently, meet with clients, take trips, do my daily routines at home, and virtually replace my legs. Without it I doubt that I’d be very happy.

2. Computers / Internet

Being able to work in a field that uses computers as the basis for everything is really a huge perk of living in this day and age. It is also a prime example of the perfect job for someone with muscular dystrophy. The physical workload is not terribly high and the majority of the work is produced by the mind. In an age without computers there would be few menstally challenging but physically non-demanding jobs I can imagine myself being able to do.

3. Cell phones / smart phones

These really could be lifesaving devices if the situation required me to make an emergency call or get help. But there have been many instances where having my phone on me has come in extremely handy. Take for example the time my truck doors got jammed with me inside and nothing else but a carton of ice cream fresh from the grocery store! I would have happily eaten the ice cream but I would have been stuck there all night too!

4. Vehicle technologies

From the advancements in accessible vehicle modifications way back to power steering and brakes, the technology in vehicles have made it easy for people who use wheelchairs to get around on their own. I can’t imagine having to rely on shuttles or others to transport me like before I was 16. It is do-able but restrictive!

5. The microwave

Cooking with a stove is still a possibility for me, but the convenience, combined with the safety of cooking with a microwave definitely makes a huge difference for me. I can easily heat up frozen vegetables or pre-cooked foods and also heat up water for tea or coffee. I don’t have to rely on anyone to do simple cooking tasks for me.

6. Remote controls

I can’t imagine a world without remote control technology. I am not just talking about television remotes either. I love my remote control that operates my van ramp and locks. I am also looking into remote vehicle starters for those cold days when you want the heat to be warm before you get into the car. Throw in garage door openers, remote light switches, and the new things that can be controlled by phone apps and it has never been easier to have a disability!

What “lifesaving” technologies do you appreciate?

We all have bad experiences. Something doesn’t go our way. We’re struck with some bad luck. Maybe we even made a blatant mistake. It took practice, but reflecting on bad experiences has helped me make trials and tribulations easier to deal with. Bad experiences really are learning experiences. Here’s what I do when I need to process and eventually get over something.

1. Examine how I felt throughout the experience.

When I am in the moment, I’m not always paying attention to exactly how I feel. Recently I had a phone conversation where the topic suddenly created this overwhelming anxiety and I just wanted to hang up! In that moment I wasn’t really paying attention to what I was feeling. But now as I sit here calmly and look back, the moment wasn’t nearly as harrowing as it felt while it was happening.

By looking at my feelings from start to finish, I notice when and what something was really affecting me. It’s also nice to realize that the feelings subsided after a short time.

2. Ask the difficult questions about the experience.

Sometimes it’s tough to reflect on difficult experiences. By difficult questions, I don’t mean, “Why did this happen to me?” I mean, “Was I reacting appropriately?” or “What can I do next time I am confronted with a similar experience?” or “What can I do to prevent this from happening to me again?” and of course “What can I learn from this?”

Was I reacting appropriately?
I know many people that could benefit from reflecting on this question. If you can look back and realize that perhaps you overreacted, then next time you might not be so inclined to go crazy. On the other hand, maybe you didn’t react enough and needed to be more vocal and stand up for yourself? Sometimes no reaction is worse than overreacting.

What can I do next time I am confronted with a similar experience?
The value of reflection is that it helps me be prepared for next time. By looking back and figuring out a better set of actions, I can be better able to tackle future experiences. Whether that’s actually dealing with outside circumstances or handling my own internal feelings, being prepared is ultra helpful.

What can I do to prevent this from happening to me again?
If the situation happened because I didn’t do my research or study hard enough or ignored warning signs, then I like to make myself aware of what I could have done differently. In my earlier example of the anxious phone call, I know now that I could have spent some time preparing and doing a little research. Lesson learned. Answering this question with “There was nothing I could have done” is okay, however I try not to come to this conclusion right off the bat because more often than not there is at least ONE tiny little thing I could have done differently.

What can I learn from this?
I can’t go back in time, so spending a lot of time being anxious over a past experience is not worth it. But it is worth asking what things I have learned by experiencing what I have experienced. In some sense that’s what this entire blog is about — looking at what might be called the “bad experience” of having muscular dystrophy and figuring out all the things I have learned along the way. Personally it makes what some might see as a bad experience, one that has been a tremendously beneficial one.

3. Acknowledge and move on.

I do find a ton of value in reflecting. But for me, it’s important not to dwell too long. Holding onto the feelings associated with a negative experience can make me lose sleep. It’s just not worth it. But when I find time to reflect and then become satisfied with my answers and lessons, I will consciously tell myself to move on.

So that’s how I do it. And of course this doesn’t mean all bad experiences feel like learning ones when they’re happening. I just trust that by looking at my bad experiences I am making my future difficulties easier to manage. And so far it seems to have worked for me.