Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
HELLO
AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF ON ASSIGNMENT. I'M ALEX VILLARREAL.
AND I'M PHILIP ALEXIOU, SITTING IN FOR IMRAN TODAY. FIRST UP: SCARRED FOR LIFE, VOA'S CORRESPONDENT
IN PAKISTAN GIVES VOICE TO VICTIMS OF ACID ATTACKS.
IT MAY BE TWO YEARS AWAY, BUT THE U.S. IS ALREADY GEARING UP FOR THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. BUT WILL WE SEE HILLARY CLINTON ON THE BALLOT?
THEN IT'S TECHNOLOGY TIME, WITH CARS THAT DRIVE THEMSELVES. AND A ROBOT ALLOWING THE
WHEELCHAIR-BOUND TO WALK.
STAY TUNED. ON ASSIGNMENT STARTS RIGHT NOW.
DESPITE LAWS AGAINST ACID ATTACKS, THE HORRIFIC PRACTICE CONTINUES. IN PAKISTAN, MEN, WOMEN
AND CHILDREN HAVE HAD ACID POURED ON THEM AS PUNISHMENT.
VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT SHARON BEHN TALKED WITH VICTIMS OF ACID ATTACKS WHO ARE TRYING
TO PUT THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER. ON ASSIGNMENT'S REBECCA WARD CAUGHT UP WITH SHARON TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THEIR STORIES. BUT WE SHOULD WARN YOU, THIS SEGMENT CONTAINS IMAGES THAT VIEWERS
MAY FIND DISTURBING.
THEY HAD TAKEN A PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE. THEY HAD BEEN PROVIDED SOME MONEY TO BE ABLE TO
GET A CAMERA, AND TO BE ABLE USE THAT CAMERA TO GO OUT AND PHOTOGRAPH OTHERS, AND SEE THE
WORLD THROUGH THE CAMERA. AND THEN THEY HAD AN EXHIBIT WHERE THEY WERE PUTTING UP THEIR
PHOTOGRAPHS. AND WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS ACID ATTACK SURVIVORS DOING THIS, I THOUGHT I REALLY
WANTED TO TALK TO THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING THEIR COURAGE TO BE ABLE TO JUST COME OUT
AND NOT HIDE ANYTHING. AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN PAKISTAN WHERE PHYSICAL
BEAUTY IS ACTUALLY QUITE IMPORTANT. THEY HAD BOTH GONE THROUGH A NETWORK CALLED THE ACID
SURVIVORS NETWORK.
VALERIE KHAN, CHAIR OF THE ACID SURVIVORS FOUNDATION IN ISLAMABAD, SAYS BREAKING THE
STIGMA OF THE SURVIVORS' SCARS IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL.
"IT'S ABOUT REBUILDING YOUR MIND, YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, AND IT'S ABOUT RECLAIMING YOUR SPACE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND IN THE PUBLIC SPACE AS A MAN, A WOMAN, WHO DESERVES AND WILL OBTAIN RESPECT
AND DIGNITY AGAIN."
IT'S JUST SO SAD THAT THERE HAS TO BE AN ACID SURVIVORS NETWORK. SO WHY ACID? HOW DOES THIS
PLAY INTO THE CULTURE THERE?
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ACID ATTACKS WERE SOMETHING RELATIVELY NEW. BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY ACTUALLY
DATE BACK CENTURIES. IT'S A VERY OLD FORM OF PUNISHMENT. BUT THE PUNISHMENT ITSELF,
THE REASON FOR ACID RATHER THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS THAT THE PUNISHMENT IS FOR THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE - THAT YOU WILL BE SHUNNED BY SOCIETY - THAT YOU WILL BE FOREVER MARKED. AND I THINK
WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THESE TWO IS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH, NOT ONLY YEARS
OF SURGERY AND PAIN, SEARING PAIN -- AND AS YOU KNOW MUHAMMED HAD NO NOSE, ONE OF HIS
EYES WAS BURNED OUT BY THE ACID -- NOT ONLY TO OVERCOME THAT BUT BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE AND STAND UP IN FRONT OF SOCIETY AND SAY I AM WORTH SOMETHING. THEY
WERE AMAZING PEOPLE.
AND WHAT REALLY STRUCK ME TOO WAS THAT THERE WERE FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THESE ACID
ATTACKS. WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FAMILY IF ANY AT ALL?
WELL YOU KNOW FAMILY IS ESSENTIAL TO PAKISTAN, ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO PAKISTAN AND TO THE
PAKISTANI SORT OF SOCIAL FABRIC. AND THAT'S PART OF THE PUNISHMENT IS THAT YOU ARE FOREVER
OSTRACIZED FROM YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY IS NOT GOING TO WANT YOU BACK.
I ASKED HER YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR HUSBAND, AND SHE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE
LEGAL SYSTEM AND MANAGED TO GET HIM INTO JAIL FOR TEN MONTHS -- AND THEN HE CAME OUT AND
TOOK HER YOUNGER KIDS. SHE WON'T TALK TO HIM. SHE ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO TALK TO HIM AND
HER DAUGHTER WON'T TALK TO HIM EITHER. AND SHE RETURNED TO HER FAMILY. BUT IN A LOT OF
CASES THEY CAN'T RETURN BECAUSE IT'S SEEN THAT THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG. SO THERE'S
ACTUALLY A VERY COMPLICATED SOCIAL THING THAT GOES WITH IT.
THERE WERE 143 ACID ATTACKS REGISTERED WITH THE ACID SURVIVORS FOUNDATION IN 2013. MOST
WERE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. NUSRAT BIBI'S BROTHER REFUSED TO MARRY INTO HER HUSBAND'S
FAMILY. SHE PAID THE PRICE. SHE'S HAD 17 SURGERIES TO REBUILD HER FACE AND BODY.
"ANYONE WHO SAW ME GOT SCARED. THEY SHOWED MY PICTURES TO MY CHILDREN TO SCARE THEM,
TELLING THEM THEIR MOTHER WAS FRIGHTENING AND HAD BECOME A GHOST."
I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT ABOUT 40% OF THESE ACID ATTACKS WERE AGAINST MEN.
I FOUND THAT REALLY SURPRISING. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MYSELF. AND INTERESTING WITH MUHAMMED,
IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME REASON.
MUHAMMAD FAROOQ REFUSED TO MARRY THE WOMAN HIS FAMILY HAD CHOSEN FOR HIM. HIS PUNISHMENT:
HAVING CORROSIVE ACID THROWN IN HIS FACE.
"IT FELT LIKE WATER, BUT I WAS WRONG. THE ACID BURNED MY FACE AND BODY, MY SKIN SOUNDED
LIKE DRIED LEAVES CRACKING."
THE ACID SURVIVORS NETWORK TOLD ME THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG BOYS THAT ARE BURNED WITH ACID
IF THEY REFUSE A *** OVERTURE OF SOME KIND. A LOT OF GIRLS ARE BURNED BECAUSE HERE THEY
TEND TO SLEEP WITH THEIR MOMS AND THEY POUR THE ACID ON THE MOTHER, THE LITTLE GIRLS -- I'M
TALKING REALLY LITTLE GIRLS -- WILL BE BURNED AND DISFIGURED FOR LIFE ALSO. IT'S NOT JUST
THAT ONE VICTIM. IT CAN BE MULTIPLE VICTIMS FROM ONE ATTACK.
OH MY. SO WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING? WHAT IS THE TACT THEY'RE TAKING TO TRY TO COUNTER
THIS?
WELL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACTUALLY PASSED A LAW. THERE IS A LAW AGAINST ACID ATTACKS BUT
THERE ARE MANY CASES THAT ARE NOT FOLLOWED UP. BECAUSE IN THE SOCIETY, IT'S STILL SEEN
WELL YOU WERE PUNISHED THEREFORE YOU MUST HAVE DESERVED IT. I THINK THINGS ARE CHANGING
SLOWLY. I THINK THERE'S A GENERAL CONCENSUS THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. BUT IT'S VERY,
VERY SLOW AND THESE ATTACKS ARE STILL TAKING PLACE.
ALL RIGHT AND AGAIN THAT WAS VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT SHARON BEHN. ACCORDING TO ACID
SURVIVORS TRUST INTERNATIONAL, SOME 15-HUNDRED THESE ACID ATTACKS HAPPEN WORLDWIDE EVERY
YEAR, BUT MANY MORE ATTACKS GO UNREPORTED.
AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST ABOUT THE MOST COWARDLY ACT ANYONE CAN DO ON ANOTHER, THAT IS BASICIALLY
WHAT THAT IS. WELL MOVING ON...2014 IS A CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION YEAR IN THE U.S., AND VOTERS CAN
EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY
CLINTON CAMPAIGNING ON BEHALF OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATES.
POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THEY EXPECT HILLARY CLINTON HERSELF WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN
2016. I TALKED ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY WITH VOA'S JIM MALONE.
JIM, LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, HOW LIKELY IS THAT HILLARY CLINTON
WILL RUN?
WELL OF COURSE, SHE HAS SAID SHE'LL FORMALLY DECIDE LATER THIS YEAR. USUALLY THE CANDIDATES
WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE MID-TERM ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND MAKE THEIR FINAL CALCULATIONS.
ALL SIGNS POINT TO PEOPLE ARE READY FOR HILLARY TO RUN, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS AND ESPECIALLY
WOMEN WHO'D LOVE TO ELECT FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT. SHE STAYED RELATIVELY OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHTS SINCE SHE LEFT HER POSITION
AS SECRETARY OF STATE. HOW LONG CAN SHE KEEP THAT UP?
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. NORMALLY THAT...DURING HIS FIRST TERM TO TALK ABOUT HER RECORD, SHE
DID SERVE IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2016, IT'S LIKELY
NO MATTERS WHO RUNS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THEY WILL WANT TO HAVE SOME SEPARATION FROM
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS POLICIES. THE PRESIDENT IS NOT TERRIBLY POPULAR AT THE MOMENT.
ANALYST STUART ROTHENBERG SAYS THAT PRESENTS A CHALLENGE.
"THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, WHOEVER THAT IS, IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE
OR SHE RUNS A VERY SEPARATE, DISTINCT, DIFFERENT KIND OF CAMPAIGN."
THAT'S A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE FOR HILLARY CLINTON WHO'S BEEN ON THE NATIONAL SCENE SINCE
1992. BUT SHE ALSO HAS A RECORD OF REINVENTING HERSELF, WHEN SHE RAN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
AND THEN AGAIN WHEN SHE SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND WHAT ABOUT HER CURRENT FEELINGS ABOUT EVENTS GOING ON. I KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN HER
RECENTLY WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT WHEN SHE PREVIOUSLY WAS PRETTY QUIET...HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT
HER SUPPORT?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIT OF RISK HERE BECAUSE WHEN SHE'S BEING A GREAT SPHINX, NOT SAYING
ANYTHING, THE POLL RATINGS HAVE SHOWN SHE'S BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR CANDIDATE IN EITHER
PARTY FOR 2016. A RECENT POLL SHOWED ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THOSE ASKED WOULD CONSIDER VOTING
FOR HER OF ALL VOTERS, WHICH IS AMAZINGLY HIGH FIGURE. IN SOME WAYS HILLARY CLINTON
CAN ONLY GO DOWN IN THE POLLS NOW AND SO WHEN SHE WEIGHING IN ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, ON
DOMESTIC ISSUES, SHE IS GOING TO TEND TO WIN SUPPORT FROM SOME QUARTERS BUT MAYBE MAKE
SOME ENEMIES IN OTHERS. SO SHE HAD A GREAT RIDE SO FAR BUT BOTH, SHE AND HER HUSBAND,
ARE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNS FOR DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL
ELECTIONS. BILL CLINTON, OF COURSE, REMAINS A CELEBRITY, BUT HE IS ALSO A BIT OF AN ISSUE
FOR HER AS SHE CONSIDERS RUNNING AS WELL. SOME PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT GO BACK
TO THE CLINTON YEARS WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT, BUT OTHERS THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE TO BE
ABLE TO VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN.
AND SHE DOES HAVE SOME CONTROVERSY THAT WILL FOLLOW HER, OF COURSE, OVER THE ATTACK IN
BENGHAZI. WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES DOES SHE FACE AS A CANDIDATE, IF SHE DOES INDEED DECIDE
TO RUN?
SHE HAS A VERY STRONG RECORD AS A SECRETARY OF STATE. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SIZED ON THE
MISSION ATTACK IN LIBYA AND WHAT SHE KNEW ABOUT IT, HOW SHE RESPONDED TO IT. THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO LET THAT GO. SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO COME UP AS AN ISSUE. YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION
TOO IS WILL SOMEBODY RUN AGAINST HER, IF SHE DECIDES TO RUN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.
THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR THAT WOULD BE VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. TWO VETERAN DEMOCRATS
GOING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE POLLS SHOW HAS A CLEAR LEAD OVER THE VICE PRESIDENT AT THIS
TIME, BUT HERE'S THE THING ABOUT PRIMARIES FOR EITHER PARTY - THERE IS ALWAYS THE UNEXPECTED
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN DERAIL SOMEONE OR START TO BRING DOWN THEIR POLL RATINGS
AS THEY START TO WEIGH IN ON THESE VARIOUS ISSUES.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON BEING IN CLEAR LEAD AMONG POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. WHY IS THAT? WHY IS SHE SO POPULAR?
WELL, COUPLE OF THINGS. SHE HAS A GREAT NAME RECOGNITION, HER PERFORMANCE AS A SECRETARY
OF STATE AFTER A VERY DIFFICULT LOSS TO BARRACK OBAMA IN THE PRIMARIES. LET'S FACE IT, THAT
WAS REALLY TOUGH, IT WAS CLOSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE GET A LOT OF CREDIT FROM PEOPLE FOR WILLING
TO SERVE AS HIS SECRETARY OF STATE. GENERALLY GOT GOOD MARKS FOR THAT, BUT ALSO IT'S HER
PERSONALITY. SHE SEEMED TO EVOLVE FROM KIND OF A MORE STERN FIGURE IN THE NINETIES TO
SOMEONE MUCH MORE AT EASE WITH HERSELF AND WITH PEOPLE AND THAT'S A GREAT ASSET IN POLITICS.
THAT'S ONE OF A GREAT THINGS SHE HAS GOING FOR HER. ALSO WOMEN VOTERS ARE A BEDROCK IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 AND THEY WERE HAPPY THAT BARACK OBAMA
BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER. NOW THEY WANT TO BREAK THAT GENDER BARRIER VERY MUCH. SO WOMEN
VOTERS WILL BE VERY ENERGIZED TO WORK FOR HER IN 2016, AGAIN, ASSUMING THAT SHE DECIDES
TO RUN.
AND AGAIN OUR THANKS TO VOA NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE. NOW, IF HILLARY DOES IN FACT DECIDE
TO RUN, SHE ALREADY HAS SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF "READY FOR HILLARY," A POLITICAL ACTION
COMMITTEE SET UP TO ORGANIZE A POSSIBLE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW. BUT COMING UP, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CARS OF THE FUTURE.
YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, YOUR CAR MIGHT BE DRIVING ITSELF DOWN THE ROAD, WHILE YOU
RELAX INSIDE. AND CAR BODIES COULD EVEN BE MADE WITHOUT TOOLS -- MANUFACTURED INSTEAD
BY 3D PRINTERS. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ADVANCES THAT INDUSTRY INSIDERS SAY ARE ALREADY
REALITY.
JOINING ME NOW IS VOA'S GEORGE PUTIC TO TALK ABOUT THESE CARS OF THE FUTURE. SO LISTEN
GEORGE ... YOU'VE GOT AUTO-PILOT ... AND PRINTED CAR BODIES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH
JUST BLOWS MY MIND. BUT LET'S FIRST GO TO THE AUTO-PILOT CARS... WHERE ARE WE THAT IN
THE FUTURE?
WE ARE CLOSE. THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY HERE. GOOGLE HAS A VERY ADVANCED AUTO-PILOT CAR,
AND IT DRIVES PERFECTLY. IT HAS BEEN IN TESTING STAGE FOR A LONG TIME. HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR
ACCIDENTS. AND OBVIOUSLY THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE BUT WE HAVE TO GET USED TO IT.
NOW IT'S HERE -- IS IT REFINED ENOUGH? SO YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT 10 YEARS AWAY WHERE THE
MAINSTREAM PUBLIC COULD KIND OF ACTUALLY SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE?
IT'S VERY REFINED. IT CAN REACT TO MANY MANY UNFORESEEN FOR A REGULAR DRIVER CIRCUMSTANCES
AND IT REACTS PERFECTLY. SO IT HAS BEEN AS I SAID IN TESTING PHASE FOR A LONG TIME AND
HASN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR LAWS.
WELL I'M SURE IT'S COMING I ASSUME, SO WE CAN DRINK OUR CAPPUCINO AND WATCH THE TV WHILE
THE CAR IS DRIVING FOR US. NOW WHAT ABOUT THESE 3D PRINTED AUTO BODIES THAT YOU SHOWCASED,
BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER MIND BOGGLING TECHNOLOGY.
THAT IS AN EXPERIMENT BY A GERMAN FIRM AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING, YES. 3D PRINTERS ARE
NOW INDUSTRIAL SIZED, THEY CAN PRINT VERY LARGE OBJECTS. AND OBVIOUSLY A PRINTED CHASSIS.
WHEN THEY SAY PRINTED CARS, IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY PRINT THE ENGINE. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A
CHASSIS IN ONE PART. THEY TOOK THE SAMPLE FROM THE BODY OF A TURTLE. THE TURTLE'S SHELL
IS VERY VERY HARD SHELL AS WE KNOW AND IT CAN WITHSTAND A LOT OF STRESSS. SO THEY DESIGNED
A SHELL THAT LOOKS LIKE A TURTLE SHELL SOMEWHAT. IT'S NOT A CAR, IT'S JUST A CHASSIS.
WELL I CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE MY TURTLE SHELL CAR THAT DRIVES FOR ME. THANKS A LOT. GEORGE
PUTIC, FOR VOICE OF AMERICA.
WELL MOVING ON NOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKING A SHORT BREAK. ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'RE GONNA
TAKE A LOOK AT A NEW DEVICE THAT'S HELPING THE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND GET UP AND WALK. YOU'RE
WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
MANY OF US TAKE THE SIMPLE ACT OF WALKING FOR GRANTED, BUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD DO NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY. AND FOR THOSE CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR, WALKING UPRIGHT
MAY SEEM LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.
BUT A NEW DEVICE IS CHANGING THIS REALITY FOR SOME. IT'S A "WEARABLE ROBOT" THAT PROVIDES
THE DISABLED WITH THE SUPPORT AND ABILITY TO MOVE. IN THIS SEGMENT, VOA'S CAROLYN PRESUTTI
REPORTS ON THIS REMARKABLE DEVICE AND TALKS WITH ME ABOUT IT.
THERAPISTS AT GOOD SHEPARD REHAB CENTER ARE MEASURING AMELIO AND ADJUSTING A HIGH TECH
SUIT THAT WILL LIFT HIM OUT OF HIS WHEELCHAIR AND PROMPT HIS LEGS TO MOVE. THE HARDWARE
IS AN EKSO BIONIC EXOSKELETON, A WEARABLE ROBOT. WHEN THE THERAPIST PUSHES THE BUTTON,
THE EKSO GUIDES THE PATIENT FORWARD AND UP. THEN THESE BATTERY POWERED MOTORS TAKE OVER
AS MUSCLES, ENCOURAGING THE LEGS TO MOVE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM ORIGINALLY?
HE HAD A SPINAL CORD TUMOR. AND HE WENT IN FOR AN OPERATION TO GET IT REMOVED, THEY REMOVED
THAT ONE BUT THEY FOUND ANOTHER ONE WHICH THEY COULDN'T REMOVE. AND HE HAD BEEN IN A
WHEELCHAIR EVER SINCE.
BOB AMELIO LEADS THE FREEWHEELERS BASKETBALL TEAM. BUT TODAY, HE'S SCORING IN A DIFFERENT
WAY.
IT'S BOB'S FIRST DAY TO WALK ALONE ... IN 26 YEARS.
HOW DID YOU ARRANGE TO BE THERE FOR THAT?
IT'S FUNNY HOW I STUMBLED ON THE IDEA OF DOING THIS AS A STORY BECAUSE SOMEONE HANDED ME
A MAGAZINE ARTICLE AND SAID, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD STORY IDEA FOR YOU. AND I LOOKED AT
THE STORY AND THOUGHT, UM, BUT THE MAGAZINE PAGE HAPPENED TO TURNOVER AND IT WAS A STORY
ABOUT EKSO BIONICS AND I THOUGHT, NOW THAT IS THE STORY I WANT TO DO. SO, I EMAILED THE
COMPANY AND I SAID I WANT TO BE THERE WHEN SOMEONE STANDS UP FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
AND IT TOOK NINE MONTHS. AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, HIS DAUGHTER DIDN'T
EVEN SEE HIM WALK BEFORE. SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER HER DAD WALKING BECAUSE SHE WAS SO YOUNG WHEN
THIS HAPPENED.
IT HAS OTHER EFFECTS ON PEOPLE IN THAT SORT OF SITUATION. WHAT, WHAT ELSE DOES IT DO FOR
THEM ?
IT ALSO DOES SOMETHING FOR THEM MENTALLY. IT GIVES THEM HOPE LIKE KEVIN HAD MENTIONED.
KEVIN OLDT IS AN EKSO SUCCESS STORY. HE SAYS EKSO BRINGS MORE THAN PHYSICAL CHANGES.
WHEN YOU PUT INTO SOMEBODY THAT LOST HOPE IT CHANGES THERE WHOLE WAY OF LIVING IN LIFE.
100 PERCENT. THAT WORD HOPE IS A POWERFUL WORD.
RUSS ANGOLD IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF EKSO BIONICS.
"THEY STILL BEAR THEIR OWN WEIGHT ON THEIR OWN BONE STRUCTURE. THE EKSO JUST PROVIDES
THE SUPPORT AND ABILITY TO MOVE."
"WHEN YOU ARE SITTING DOWN, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING DOWN ON YOU AND YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK UP AND
MANY TIMES YOU DON'T HEAR WELL WHEN YOU ARE SITTING DOWN. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE
EYE TO EYE."
WELL, HOW DOES THE GOOD SHEPARD REHAB CENTER CHOOSE PATIENTS TO BE A PART OF THIS?
THEY HAVE TO WANT TO BE A PART OF IT FIRST OF ALL. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT FOREARM
STRENGTH TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AND THEY WORK WITH THEM FOR MONTHS UNTIL THEY GET THE STRENGTH,
THE BONE DENSITY THAT THEY NEED TO DO THIS TO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH THIS AND THEY SAY IT'S
NOT TO REPLACE A WHEELCHAIR BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM OF THERAPY FOR THE PATIENT.
ARE WE SEEING THESE TYPES OF THINGS IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
NOT ONLY EKSO BUT THERE ARE OTHER WEARABLE DEVICES AROUND. THEY'RE IN EUROPE, THEY'RE
IN SOUTH AFRICA AND MEXICO AND JAPAN AS FAR AS WE KNOW. EKSO HAS 50 OF THESE DEVICES ALL
OVER, ONLY FIVE BELONG TO INDIVIDUALS.
WHERE DOES THE FUTURE GO FROM HERE?
MORE NIMBLE. RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD TELL IN MY STORY BUT IT'S VERY CUMBERSOME.
YES.
DID YOU NOTICE HOW THE WALK IS...RIGHT. AND EVERY TIME THE EKSO MOVES BOB'S LEG YOU HEAR,
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH. THAT'S THE SOUND OF THE DEVICE, AND JUST HOW IT OPERATES. SO, THEY
WANT A MORE NIMBLE DEVICE SO THAT IT'S A NATURAL GATE FOR SOMEONE WHEN THEY'RE WALKING. THEY
MAY COME UP WITH SOMETHING SMALLER BUT AGAIN, IT NEEDS TO BE THAT BIG TO LIFT THE BODY UP
FROM THE CHAIR.
HOW HEAVY IS THIS THING?
IT WEIGHS ABOUT 50 POUNDS, WHICH IS ABOUT 22 KILOGRAMS. BUT REMEMBER THE PATIENT ISN'T
WEARING IT PER SE. THE WEIGHT GOES INTO THE GROUND BECAUSE IT'S HELPING THE PATIENT STAND
UP SO THEY'RE NOT CARRYING IT ON THEIR BACK.
"OH WOW!" "YOU OK?"
"GREAT!"
AMELIO'S SERVICE DOG NAMED "BEAR" GETS PROTECTIVE --- HE HAS NEVER SEEN HIM STAND BEFORE.
"I FORGOT HOW TALL I WAS."
WITHIN THREE MINUTES, AMELIO WALKS.
"WALK HER FORWARD. 1-2-3. "YEAH! "HE'S KICKING IN!"
ALL OF OUR STORIES GO ON YOUTUBE, THIS STORY IS ON YOUTUBE AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME
COMMENTS. WHAT ARE YOU READING?
WELL, ONE PERSON WROTE, AND I'LL READ YOU WHAT THEY SAY. THEY SAY, "I AM STILL WAITING
FOR THE QUADRIPLEGIC VERSION OF THIS DEVICE." AND I CALLED EKSO ON THAT AND I SAID, WHAT'S
THE DEAL HERE CAN THEY USE THIS? AND THEY SAID, ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A BIT
OF FOREARM STRENGTH THEY CAN WORK ON THAT. AND THEY SAY THEY'VE ALREADY WORKED WITH HIGH
LEVELS OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES SO THERE IS HOPE FOR THAT POPULATION AS WELL.
VOA'S CAROLYN PRESUTTI. AND JUST A SIDENOTE, ALEX ...BOB AMELIO'S DAUGHTER IS GETTING MARRIED
SOMETIME THIS YEAR AND HE PLANS TO WALK HER DOWN DOWN THE AISLE.
THAT IS INCREDIBLE, FANTASTIC. STAYING IN THE REALM OF HEALTH SCIENCE... RESEARCHERS
SAY EXPOSURE TO RHYTHM MAY HELP PEOPLE WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES LEAD BETTER LIVES.
AND TO HELP THEM IN THEIR EXPERIMENTS, THEY ARE TURNING TO A WELL-KNOWN DRUMMER IN THE
WORLD OF ROCK AND ROLL. VOA'S STEVE BARAGONA HAS THE STORY.
SCIENTISTS SAY THAT TIMING IS A KEY PART OF HOW THE HUMAN BRAIN WORKS, AND WHEN THE TIMING
IS OFF, SO IS THE PROCESSING OF INFORMATION. USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCHERS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, ARE MONITORING THE BRAIN OF MICKEY HART. THE
DRUMMER FOR THE WORLD-FAMOUS ROCK GROUP THE GRATEFUL DEAD IS TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH
A COMPUTER GAME USING A SET OF ELECTRONIC DRUMS.
"MORE MUSIC PLEASE!"
NEUROLOGIST ADAM GAZZALEY SAYS THE EXPERIMENT COMBINES NEUROSCIENCE, GAMING AND THE VIRTUAL
WORLD.
"SO WE COUPLE THESE THREE DIFFERENT WORLDS TOGETHER AND USE THEM TO INFORM EACH OTHER
AND CREATE REALLY THE MOST POWERFUL REAL TIME NEURAL ACTIVITY VISUALIZER THAT ANYONE HAS
EVER SEEN."
MICKEY HART WEARS A SPECIAL HEADGEAR WITH SCREENS AND SENSORS AS HE PLAYS. IN THE OTHER
ROOM, SCIENTISTS MONITOR HOW HIS BRAIN RESPONDS TO THE RHYTHMS, TOGETHER WITH HIS EYE MOVEMENTS,
PULSE AND TEMPERATURE. ALL THIS TRANSLATES TO A REAL-TIME DISPLAY OF HIS BRAIN'S ACTIVITY.
HART SAYS HE IS INTRIGUED TO KNOW HOW WHAT HE CALLS, "THIS MASTER CLOCK," WORKS.
"WHAT IS THIS POWER AND HOW DO WE USE IT AND HOW TO WE REPEAT AND HOW CAN WE MAKE A BETTER
WORLD USING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. THIS SUPER ORGANISM, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER
THAN THIS, THIS MASTER CLOCK." RESEARCHER ADAM GAZZALEY SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE IF RHYTHMIC
PATTERNS COULD POTENTIALLY RE-WIRE DAMAGED CONNECTIONS IN A PATIENT'S BRAIN.
"SO THE IDEA IS IF WE CAN TEACH THE BRAIN HOW TO BECOME A BETTER TIMING MACHINE, BETTER
RHYTHMICALLY, THAT YOU, YOUR BRAIN CAN PERFORM AT A MORE OPTIMAL LEVEL AND IT WILL TRANSLATE
INTO HOW YOU INTERACT WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU AND LEAD TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE."
SCIENTISTS SAY THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO USE RHYTHM TRAINING AND EVEN VIDEO GAMES TO IMPROVE
COGNITION AND HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, WITH AND WITHOUT NEUROLOGICAL
ISSUES.
AND SPEAKING OF TIMING ... THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR OUR PROGRAM TODAY
. BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE'D LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO PEOPLE WATCHING US ON CORES TV IN SOFIA,
BULGARIA, AS WELL AS OUR VIEWERS ON TV SAYAZE IN ELDORET, KENYA.
AND AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN CHECK US OUT ANYTIME ON VOANEWS.COM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. SO THANKS
FOR WATCHING EVERYONE. SO LONG UNTIL NEXT TIME.