Giant robot paint-shaker as a ride
The Robocoaster is a bad-ass thrill "ride" built on a giant robotic arm that acts as a gigantic paint-shaker (with riders in place of the paint-can).
Link
(Thanks, Jakobw!)
Update: George sez, "Four years ago, my son died when he was shaken by a child care provider (a 51 year old grandmother). Since then my wife and I have been working to prevent shaking injuries to young children.
"It is appalling that young kids at Legoland are being subjected to the same kinds of rotational forces that induce shaking injuries. This is a link to the American Academy of Pediatrics technical memo on SBS. The AAP memo states shaking is dangerous to children as old as 5. The danger should be apparent from the vivid graphic demo."
Update 2: Chris sez, "I'm totally sympathetic to the story given by George, but in fairness to Legoland I want to point out that their Robocoaster ride has 5 levels of action. Kids below a certain size are only allowed to do levels 1 & 2, which have less much less violent motion and acceleration, and never turn the riders upside down."
Update 3: John sez, "It's quite right to be concerned about Shaken Baby Syndrome, but the motion and forces applied on the Robocoaster are quite different than those applied to a shaken child. When a baby is shaken, it is the forward-and-back motion that causes damage to the brain and spine (as seen in the linked video). Although the Robocoaster generates a great deal of side-to-side and up-and-down motion, riders' heads are braced against the seat backs, so the "whiplash" cannot occur. Of course, any thrill ride can be dangerous to those with medical conditions - that's why they always post those signs - but they're not inherently hazardous for healthy adults or children."
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Cory Doctorow
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