Aphasia is a disorder that affects a person ’ s ability to communicate – speech , writing , reading and sign language . However , it does not affect intelligence . The person can still think , but cannot express him or herself through language . The disorder can be a result of a stroke or a traumatic brain injury .
“ The root problem with aphasia is that without language , people become isolated from society ,” said Chris Stapleton , Simiosys experience architect and producer . “ The root problem with astronauts in deep space is that they are isolated from society by the delay in communication … we correlate the isolation in the person with aphasia with the isolation of an astronaut as being the same human core challenge .”
Stapleton ’ s work is in story therapy and how to translate story troves , boxes of artifacts designed to spark imagination , into a mixed reality setting for astronauts . He has seen aphasia patients overcoming communications barriers when asked to engage with interactive stories .
“ Once we are able to create more effective techniques for virtual worlds , we can really improve everybody ’ s sense of connecting , relating with families and communities – that ’ s what ’ s important .”
Suffering from isolation is just one of a number of risks astronauts take . Another is exposure to radiation .
With multiple locations in Florida , Lockheed Martin has teamed up with StemRad Inc . in joint research and development for radiation shielding technology .
The result is a vest that covers from chest to hip , shielding the majority of stem cells in bone marrow located in the pelvis . Stem cells are important because they can have a healing effect – in this case against damaged or mutated cells from radiation .
“ As little as 5 percent of bone marrow can help the body cure itself and repair the damage ,” said Dave Murrow , Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company business development manager . “ We don ’ t believe that going to a full body suit is in the cards as it sort of goes beyond the point of being helpful once you ’ ve protected the main organs and main repository of stem cells in the body .”
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