Show Idea: Ben should build 'Interactive' crutches for children when they need them after surgery...

Yeah, ideally add a trigger as well that activates a machine gun sound

Might not be safe, but that really is the best secondary use for these crutches, makeshift toy machineguns!

Even having some lights, and some sound effects triggered as these things are used would be good at the end of the day... being laid up with a broken leg is really boring, anything that detracts from the drudgery would cheer them up.

Imagine lifting the crutch and it making a mechanical robot sound, or a squelchy monster foot sound when it hits the floor, that could be a lot of fun and also encourage kids to use the crutches.  When I broke my ankle when I was 8, I had these horrible, heavy wooden crutches, so horrible and heavy that I couldn't stand using them, and would just walk on my bad leg most of the time.  If my crutches made me sound like a bad ass robot, then I'd definitely be using them, and might not have that weird click in my ankle!

See, I knew I wasnt the only one that thought this would be a great idea.

Granted, lifting the crutch up to emulate a machine-gun isnt the most safe of options, but relieving the stress, boredom and overall 'ah poo, I'm on these things for 6 weeks' feeling is the point I was exactly trying to put across.

I think this would be a great thing for Ben to do, as hospitals from all over the world could invest in production models if it proved popular.

Can you imagine the other kids' faces when this little boy comes into school one day following his skateboard-related mishap with flashing feet (not his, the crutches), sounds, and some cool lighting effects?

I'd be jealous, and I'm 33!

Come on Ben, you gotta do this!

Rob.

Thanks for the idea, it would be cool to create some fun for the kids.

Cool! Hope you choose to do this on the show.

There's no real outlet for this kind of hobby in the UK, so I'd love to see some little lad or girl benefit from a nice suprise like this.

If you do them, how's about a cheeky shout out on the show, lol.

Thanks for looking, glad you like the idea.

Rob.

So help me understand this a bit better - the purpose would be to make the crutches into kind of a fun toy?

Not saying I don't like that idea, just want to make sure I know what your intention is.

-Ben

My main reason (or inspiration) was seeing those small kids not able to play or interact on any real level as they had busted limbs.

Imagine a young boy or girl's face if they were given a set of crutches that actually encouraged physical rehabilitation? The impact-sensitive lights alone would be a great force for wanting the kids to embrace their rehabilitation.

The tact or fabric switches would be another bonus that they could play with. I think there have been times in all our lives where comedy or love or music has helped keep your mind off pain? Imagine that with children.

Seeing them in the children's ward was a real source of inspiration, all things came to mind; automated gadgets, interactive physio devices (such as the Heck/Duke interactive locomotive propulsion aids - HDILPA).

Inspired? I think an aspect of fun would be great for the kids! No other intention other than 'augmented' physiotherapy!

I now feel that I should also point out that it was not my intention to gets kids to slip up or hurt themselves....

Quite the opposite in fact. I'm not sure if Augmented Physiotherapy is even a real term, but it should be!

I think that the strength of Robs idea is in making crutches or other similar aids a bit more fun and appealing.  Crutches are horrible things, boring, clunky, and annoying after the first 5 minutes you've had all the fun you can get out of them.  Something to encourage kids to use them would be great.

So I'd say, grab a pair of crutches, and see what electronic shenanigans you can fit inside, like sounds effects and lights.  Myself, well I'd go for a little accelerometer controlled robot sound, like with you lift the crutch, it makes a robot moving sound, when the crutch hits the ground have a stomp sound effect, and when you lift the crutch up so it's horizontal, a machine gun sound.  If it was a small unit, it could even be retrofitted into the standard aluminimum crutches, maybe added to that rubber grip on the 'foot' of the crutch.

I had crutches as a kid, and they really are hateful things, but as I said - if they made me sound like a bad ass robot, stomping around like ED209 - well I might not have hated them so much!.

Thanks Andrew,

I really think this would be a fantastic idea for the show. Anything that is good for kids and their well-being is ace in my humble opinion. Glad you agree with me, and I totally agree - any kid would LOVE to sound like ED209!

"Please open the door for me, you have ten seconds to comply" Haha, priceless.

I suppose the good thing about these things is their hollow nature; using prototyping board cut to five or six rows wide would fit (I may have even tried this with my crutches I'm currently using, lol)

I think that so far, everyone commenting on this thread would love to see it done. There's something very fulfilling in the idea of helping children.

Ben, please succomb to peer pressure, lol.

Rob.

So, Ben...

Are you considering carrying on the theme of the wheelchair episode by making the crutches?

It looks like people on here think its a great idea!!!