Abstract:
Exoskeletons are technologies that can help to increase or improve mobility, dexterity, and strength. They can be used as assistive devices, to restore lost affordances, or for rehabilitation. While mechanical exoskeletons are passive and rely on the body\'s power for movement, powered exoskeletons are active mechanical systems that can assist or enhance a user\'s capacity, including in strength and performance. They also offer scope to augment or enhance beyond simple medical support, with potential in the future for superhuman power and strength. While these technologies present promising clinical opportunities, including for those who want to regain walking capacity, they also bring ethical questions, such as about data privacy and accessibility. In addition, the physical features of the technology can prove mentally, physically, and financially demanding, and may be deployed in contexts where user choice and autonomy is constrained. In this article, we discuss these issues, and raise some pertinent ethical questions, not all of which can be easily answered. We touch upon medical and therapeutic uses, for industrial and workplace settings, and in military contexts specially, given these are contexts where such technology may be required or even imposed. We argue that reasonable optimism for such technologies needs to be tempered by sufficient ethical assessment to identify and address barriers to research, development, and use. As well as managing any impacts and expectations for the health and wellbeing of users, the potential impact on autonomy and the risk of coercion, we have to consider what kind of data may be recorded or used, and the risk that these technologies could exacerbate existing inequalities or harms.
摘要:
外骨骼是可以帮助增加或改善机动性的技术,灵巧,和力量。它们可以用作辅助设备,为了恢复失去的负担,或康复。虽然机械外骨骼是被动的,并且依靠身体的力量进行运动,动力外骨骼是主动机械系统,可以帮助或增强用户的能力,包括强度和性能。他们还提供了扩大或增强超出简单医疗支持的范围,具有未来超人力量和力量的潜力。虽然这些技术提供了有希望的临床机会,包括那些想要恢复步行能力的人,他们也带来了道德问题,例如关于数据隐私和可访问性。此外,该技术的物理特征可以在精神上证明,物理上,经济上的要求,并且可以部署在用户选择和自主权受到限制的上下文中。在这篇文章中,我们讨论这些问题,并提出一些相关的伦理问题,并非所有这些都能轻易回答。我们涉及医疗和治疗用途,对于工业和工作场所设置,特别是在军事背景下,鉴于这些是可能需要甚至强加这种技术的背景。我们认为,对此类技术的合理乐观需要通过足够的道德评估来确定和解决研究障碍,发展,和使用。除了管理对用户健康和福祉的任何影响和期望,对自主权的潜在影响和胁迫的风险,我们必须考虑记录或使用什么样的数据,以及这些技术可能加剧现有不平等或危害的风险。