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Here's an article that appeared at www.nextwave.org about Hugh Herr. I think you have to be an AAAS member to fully access the site.   If there is a mistake in an engineering design it can negatively affect a person's life and lead to human suffering. But a proper and functional design can be of enormous benefit and affect the world in a positive way.   Hugh Herr: Back on Top A Harvard Ph.D., an assistant professorship at Harvard Medical School, numerous patents, and a faculty position with the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. A lot of gifted academics might fit these roles. But how many are the subject of a National Geographic movie, an autobiography (written by a man only in his late 30s), and a Discovery Channel feature story? The list narrows to one gifted researcher and inventor, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard's Hugh Herr. But speaking with Herr in his Cambridge, Massachusetts, office you just might forget how all this got started. Hugh Herr is a classically understated, yet obviously determined, researcher and inventor whose work in novel prostheses and orthotics design and human motion study appears boundless. Avid Climber, Poor Student At age 17, Hugh Herr lost his legs below the knee following a climbing accident on Mount Washington in New Hampshire; hence his book (Second Ascent) and the movie (Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr), which premiered in 2002. Despite these injuries, the man who describes his former self as a terrible high school student

A more recent and ongoing project is a fully actuated ankle brace designed to improve the mobility of individuals suffering from stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. These people often suffer from drop-foot, a condition where, while walking, the forefoot falls uncontrollably toward the ground after the heel strikes it. Others of you must know the guy we met in Potrero Chico who was using a bungee cord for this. One foot wouldn't lift at the toes but he could press down. He had a weak elastic to snap the toe end up when he lifted the foot walking or climbing. Andy Cairns

Thanks, I really liked that. A more recent and ongoing project is a fully actuated ankle brace designed to improve the mobility of individuals suffering from stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. These people often suffer from drop-foot, a condition where, while walking, the forefoot falls uncontrollably toward the ground after the heel strikes it. Others of you must know the guy we met in Potrero Chico who was using a bungee cord for this. One foot wouldn't lift at the toes but he could press down. He had a weak elastic to snap the toe end up when he lifted the foot walking or climbing. Good friend of mine from college had that condition (he severed nerves in his lower leg with a circular saw...ouch). Could ski like no tomorrow, thanks to ski boots. We'd give him crap all day long for walking funny. Saw him at high school reunion, he'd shot his left eye out with a nail gun. No kidding.

you have to be an AAAS member to fully access the site. Great article.  I reposted it to several dozen climbers in the East, many who had at least met Hugh. Return comments were entirely positive, among which was: I'm really touched.  A boy overcomes mistakes and major adversity to become man with such vision and humanity.  It's what we all strive to be. Here, here Hugh. G

Here's an article that appeared at www.nextwave.org about Hugh Herr. I think you have to be an AAAS member to fully access the site. A Harvard Ph.D., an assistant professorship at Harvard Medical School, numerous patents, and a faculty position with the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. A lot of gifted academics might fit these roles. But how many are the subject of a National Geographic movie, an autobiography (written by a man only in his late 30s), and a Discovery Channel feature story? The list narrows to one gifted researcher and inventor, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard's Hugh Herr. ... Avid Climber, Poor Student At age 17, Hugh Herr lost his legs below the knee following a climbing accident on Mount Washington in New Hampshire; hence his book (Second Ascent) and the movie (Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr), which premiered in 2002. Wow.  And I thought he was amazing before moving to Cambridge! It should, however, be pointed out that the book about Hugh, Second Ascent , is by the talented writer Allison Osius.  It is an incredibly good book, if you can find it. Tom

he'd shot his left eye out with a nail gun. No kidding. Gray's Anatomy, the video