Monday, June 30, 2008

Oscar Pistorius: Let the man run !



Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius is known as the "Blade Runner" and holds the world record for paralympic sports in 100, 200 and 400 m races. The ban on the use of "devices" for running was overturned, and he was allowed to compete. Should Oscar quality for South Africa, it will be one of the most important moments in the Beijing Olympics, raising a whole host of questions.

Medical devices are already making us part bionic part human. Although we are a long way away from the Hollywood's potrayal of bionic human beings, Oscar's struggle to race against able-bodied men is the beginning of a turning point in medical history.

It is important to note that an MIT Professor conducted significant testing to prove that these feet don't give him any technical superiority. This topic will be the subject of many debates, but eventually it will be replaced with the inevitability and presence of bionics in the world around us.

No comments: