Ever met a youngster who complains more than an elderly person? The Age Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has created a unique suit called “Age Gain Now Empathy System” (AGNES) that gives the wearer an idea of what it might feel like to be limited in everyday tasks that may be taken for granted. Outings like going to the grocery store or even traversing up the stairs can be quite a different experience when you’re a senior, and the A.G.N.E.S. will allow researchers to learn more about this.
The device has bungee cords that compress the spine, shoes that are covered in foam to affect balance, bands on the arms and legs that reduce the range of motion in these limbs, and goggles that offer similar vision loss to that of a senior.
The overall goal of the suit system is to help researchers learn more about the challenges that some of the elderly community faces, more specifically when trying to age-in-place and drive safely.