Tang Jian looked in front of him excitedly.
A pair of bionic legs that were silver-gray in color and had a faint metallic sheen stood firmly on the ground.
It has a similar structure to a real leg. Due to the lack of muscles, it is much slender than a real leg, and the overall body presents a sporty line beauty.
He looked at the ordinary prosthetic leg on his leg, which was connected by a silicone socket and a steel rod. It exuded a cheap feeling from the inside out, and he suddenly felt a little ashamed of himself.
Under the guidance of the staff, he couldn't wait to take off his old legs and put on new ones.
Just like the installation method of the bionic hand, first insert the micro-nano electrode needle into the corresponding nerve on the residual limb, wrap it carefully, and then put it into the upper chamber of the bionic leg.
He noticed that at the base where the stump meets, there is a hidden honeycomb air cushion that evenly distributes pressure without pulling on any part of the stump.
Sure enough, after putting it in, it felt soft and comfortable, like wearing a tight-fitting, tailor-made high leather boot.
There is no longer the feeling of being pulled hard by pins on the skin, like bugs biting when wearing ordinary prostheses.
The connecting component under the socket is made of titanium alloy, and there is a large hollow rubber ball underneath, which allows the leg to rotate 180 degrees to the left and right.
Further down is the very flexible ankle joint, which can make some natural movements with the slight vibration of the motor.
Two carbon fiber blades are curled into a hollow foot shape and divided into two parts along the big toe.
This structure allows the prosthetic limb to cope with uneven ground, and it also means that he can wear flip-flops and walk on the streets in summer, which is very comfortable and breathable.
At the top of the foot blade is a small carbon fiber lever.
With each step, Tang Jian's weight causes the foot to flex slightly, and pushing the lever pulls the air out of the socket.
It can be seen that this design imitates human feet as much as possible and looks very cool.
Although it is not exactly the same as a real foot, it can simulate seven or eight functions very well.
Unlike ordinary prostheses, this is a prosthesis with sensory capabilities.
Of course, the main function of the legs is walking, so they are mainly equipped with pressure sensors and dynamic sensors.
There are no more temperature sensors or the like.
The result is that it can not only accept force feedback from the ground to adjust the best angle, but also adjust the angle of the ankle joint and the strength of walking through muscle electrical signals.
After putting on the new leg, Tang Jian tried to take the first step.
First he felt his heels being squeezed, and then his weight naturally pressed to the front of his feet.
Then the toes began to push the body forward, and the new leg exerted force and took a step forward.
The whole process was very comfortable. Once I took the first step, I couldn't stop.
After circling the testing room several times, he reluctantly stopped.
For three years, he has always felt that walking is quite strenuous.
But now, as he circled the room, he felt the joy of walking again.
Tang Jian took a deep breath, his eyes turned red, and a line of hot tears almost rolled down from the corners of his eyes.
He quickly suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, cheered up, and continued the test.
Next, the testing site was moved outdoors.
Walking on flat ground, walking on slopes, slow walking, fast walking, jogging, running fast, high jump, long jump, emergency stop, turn, etc., there are no less than dozens of actions.
After testing one by one, he found that the bionic leg was really flexible, far beyond his imagination.
The capture of muscle movement signals is very keen. After being fed back to nerve signals, it is a little slow at first, but it recovers quickly under the stimulation of electrical pulses.
After just two hours of training, he completely mastered the use of the bionic leg and became accustomed to its existence.
Whether he was standing or walking, he couldn't feel the existence of his legs and completed all movements subconsciously.
It was as if this leg had always been there and belonged to him originally.
The feeling and function are no different from real legs.
"This design is relatively simple, because the leg function is actually relatively simple."
Wang Dali explained: "If you want more functions, such as playing football and dancing, you need to make five toes and let them cooperate like hands to complete more precise operations."
"But in that case, the cost will be higher and the production will be more complicated, and ordinary people do not need to play football or dance ballet like professional players."
"So this basic version of the bionic leg is enough. It can run, climb mountains, and even rock climb. It can fully meet the needs of most people."
Tang Jian nodded repeatedly: "Yes, these legs are completely sufficient for me. I don't need any extra functions. It's too ungrounded."
"For us disabled people, being able to successfully climb a mountain is more important than any fancy gimmicks."
"If you really want to increase the functionality, you might as well put it all on the bionic hands. After all, the hands are used more than the legs."
Having said this, he suddenly felt something in his heart and asked tentatively.
"By the way, Director Wang, what should I do with these hands and legs after the test is over? Do I need to take them back?"
"Look at the price of my set, it must be very expensive. Can I buy it at my own expense?"
In just one or two days, he had become accustomed to a life of hands and feet, and he could no longer give it up.
These lost hands and feet allowed him to experience what it was like to be a complete human being.
He could no longer imagine what he would become after becoming disabled again.
Just thinking about such a scene in his mind would make him suffocate.
Wang Dali pondered for a moment and said, "As for the price, it will definitely be expensive, but it won't be too expensive."
It was as if he had not said this. Tang Jian was a little disappointed and continued to ask: "I heard that a smart bionic hand abroad costs 200,000 yuan. Sanqing shouldn't be so expensive, right?"
Wang Dali laughed and said: "Why, are you worried that you can't afford it? Don't worry, it won't be that expensive. I estimate it will only cost tens of thousands of yuan."
Tang Jian was relieved when he heard this, but then he thought, he not only lost a hand, but also a leg.
If one of them costs tens of thousands, the two together cost hundreds of thousands, which seems to be not much different from 200,000.
Suddenly I couldn't help but sigh: "But in addition to my hands, I also need legs. Two of them are expensive. I don't have a job yet, and the burden on my family is quite heavy..."
The more he spoke, the softer his voice became, and his head gradually dropped.
Wang Dali scratched his head. In fact, according to his idea, he wanted to give bionic hands to patients, but the price was indeed relatively expensive, and the company also had to consider cost issues.
It is impossible to recruit dozens of testers to try for a month and then directly deliver a set of products.
This is completely unnecessary, because volunteers are paid a certain amount for participating in the test.
Although the number is considerable, it is still far behind the price of a bionic hand.
Moreover, this is different from products such as artificial hearts. Artificial hearts are life-saving things. After they are put into the patient's body, they cannot be taken out and reused.
But the bionic hand is just like a capsule gastroscope. After the test, it can be used by the next person and has no impact on the patient's life.
Therefore, even if volunteers like it after using it, they can only wait until it is released and buy it themselves.
Just like a drug clinic, volunteers can only get free drugs during the clinical period. After the clinical period, volunteers must buy the drugs themselves if they want to continue treatment.
Wang Dali was helpless in this situation.
But he racked his brains and thought about it, and found a solution.
"That's right, because you lost one hand and one leg at the same time, the conditions are perfect. If you are willing to assist us in the research and development of bionic hands for a long time, actively give feedback on use, and attend relevant display activities, I should be able to help you Apply for a free spot.”
Tang Jian jumped up instantly and was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently: "Wow, is it true? Wow, that's great."
"Of course, the subsequent upgrade of the bionic hand is also very important. We need several experience officers to get timely feedback. Only in long-term daily life can we have a real experience and make corresponding improvements based on the feedback."
"It's just that, in this case, your bionic limb will send test data on time, and you may lose some privacy."
"In addition, we will also give you money to participate in company-organized activities and shoot promotional materials. The price will not be too high, maybe two to three thousand at a time. It can also subsidize your daily life."
"No problem, brother, you are really my savior!" Tang Jian grabbed Wang Dali's hand and said with tears of gratitude.
As long as he thought about saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and making some extra money from time to time, he would agree to any conditions.
"Okay, sign the agreement with me before you go back."
Tang Jian suddenly remembered his friend and said quickly: "Wait a minute, you just said you wanted to recruit several experience officers. I also know a few friends who are relatively poor and cannot afford expensive ones, so they use the ones given by the Disabled Persons' Federation. Free prosthetics and food delivery every day.”
"Take a look, do you want to give them a chance?"
He nodded and bowed, with a flattering smile on his face.
Wang Dali looked at him steadily: "Are you talking about the opportunity to test or the opportunity to get the product for free?"
Tang Jian nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Of course it's a chance to get a bionic hand for free."
Wang Dali thought about it seriously and said after a while: "It's not impossible, but we want very few experience officers, at most three, and we have strict standards."
"Firstly, the family must be poor, and secondly, the image must be positive. You know, you can't be the kind of person who is lazy and slippery. The best thing is to be self-reliant."
"If the degree of disability is relatively serious, it has to be two limbs missing, or one missing leg, which does not have much impact on life. It is best to give the opportunity to people who need it more."
Tang Jian slapped his chest loudly: "Don't worry, my friends meet these conditions."
"I have a friend who is missing two legs and insists on delivering food every day. He also has an old mother and daughter to support at home. The conditions are really difficult. He can never afford two bionic legs, so I want to apply for him. one time."
"Other friends are similar. Many are missing arms and legs."
Wang Dali couldn't help but said in surprise: "Your friends are really crouching tigers, hidden dragons. None of them should be underestimated."
He patted Tang Jian's shoulder with some emotion: "We'll talk about the experience officer thing later. You can let your friends test it first, try the bionic hand, and then make a little money."
"Yes!" Tang Jian nodded heavily, his heart full of expectations.
Three hours later, he left Sanqing, with his sneakers on his feet and his empty trouser legs becoming full again.
****
A few days later, Wang Dali held a list of volunteers who participated in the test. Looking at the records on it, he couldn't help but feel sad.
"Almost all of them are migrant workers from rural areas. Their family conditions are already very poor, and their disability has aggravated their poverty."
"Even if they are delivering food, the orders they can deliver every day are much less than normal people, and their income is only half or less."
"I often encounter complaints and negative reviews due to slow delivery. Fortunately, most customers quickly withdraw their complaints after learning about their disabled status."
"Disabled people in China are still a vulnerable group. They basically cannot afford expensive prostheses and can only use low-end prostheses worth a few thousand yuan. They often cause a lot of changes and injuries due to inappropriate sizes or battery problems."
"Many people can't even afford prosthetic limbs worth several thousand yuan. After the Disabled Persons' Federation provides prosthetic limbs for free, they can only work when they have the ability to move."
"In this way, they are still positive, work hard, and eat with their own hands. It is really admirable."
Wang Dali recalled his conversations with these people and couldn't help but feel in awe.
"They are running around for a living every day, and they may not have four-digit savings. How can they afford to buy a bionic hand worth tens of thousands of yuan?"
"But the price cannot be reduced too low. Both bionic hands and legs use a large number of sensors, as well as high-performance chips and alloys. The cost of hardware is very high."
"We won't lose money after it goes on the market because there are too few customers who can afford it."
Wang Dali couldn't help but frown. He rarely thought about selling prices, but this time, he was shocked by the user's poverty and had to consider business issues.
"Why don't you ask Mr. Wei? He will definitely be able to find a solution that has the best of both worlds."
After thinking about it, Wang Dali knocked on the door of the president's office.
"Oh, it turns out Dali, I saw your work report. The bionic hand has entered the functional testing stage. It's great. I saw you right."
Wei Kang raised his head and was a little surprised when he saw Wang Dali, but he soon showed a friendly smile.
Wang Dali was used to being straightforward, and he explained the whole story as soon as he sat down.
"Mr. Wei, this is probably the case. Do you think there is any solution?"
"It can not only make the disabled people with poor conditions affordable to use bionic hands, but also ensure the company's sales and profits?"
Wei Kang looked at him in surprise: "Dali, you never considered these issues before, why did you suddenly change your gender?"
Wang Dali said with a sad face: "The main thing is to talk to some patients who participated in the test and learn about their specific conditions."
"That's when I realized that the product was already made, but the target customers were so poor that they couldn't even afford it. This would cost them their lives."
"If I had known better, I would have made it simpler, lowered the cost, and lowered the price."
"Otherwise, no matter how good I do it, if customers can't afford it, what's the point?"
After listening to Wang Dali's complaint, Wei Kang asked: "Then you have lowered the price, can you produce the same function?"
Wang Dali shook his head like a rattle: "No, the bionic leg can still be used with low configuration, but if the function of the bionic hand is poor, it will not meet the requirements for daily use."
"The hardware cost is there, so much material must be piled up to meet the functional requirements."
"This is also thanks to the fact that Sanqing is a large company with large purchasing volume, so the cost is already low. If the volume is small, the hardware cost and worker processing fee will be 20% more expensive."
Wei Kang suddenly laughed: "That's it. It means that the bionic hand is not that cheap. You can't make a fake product and ruin the company's brand."
Wang Dali waved his hands quickly: "I don't dare. If I make a fake product, my face will be completely lost in the industry. I won't dare to see anyone when I go out."
"Although the product is a bit expensive now, no one will say it's awesome when I take it out!"
Wei Kang chuckled and said, "That's okay. You have some conscience. If you really dare to cut corners, you won't be able to pass my test."
"But, I do have a method you mentioned."
The corners of his mouth turned up, revealing an incomprehensible smile.
"It can definitely solve the problem of poor people not being able to afford high-priced bionic hands."
(End of chapter)
