I want a scorpion tail

No because I'd forget how to balance without it. I'd just use a cane.

yes

Is it like a prosthetic limb that you can learn to control? That’d be cool.

Well I'd need some kind of evidence that it works beyond a Japanese engineer just deciding that its a good idea.

Why? If it doesn't prevent falls, you still get a dragon tail.

Because, its likely that for an elderly person simply adding an appendage to your frame is harmful.

Ok, but dragon tail.

Hell yeah!

no need to think, instant yes, and i dont have the slightest issue with balancing rn

Can it be covered in fur?

Or scales

Probably not. I'd assume it has a gyroscopic sensor in the base and will automatically try to compensate if it detects excessive tilting.

And then you use it to fight Kaiju.

I'm not even sure if that could even be possible since unlike prosthetic limbs which can detect feedback from minor muscle movements in the stump, there isn't really anything like that for the tail since primates lost their tails so long ago, there just isn't anything there in the form of tail muscles.

I don't see why not. There's no reason why it couldn't be customized. Probably won't come with those options by default though.

Ok, but herniated disc.

We have stuff like segways and "hoverboards," I'd say it's possible.

Yeah cuz our balance is shit

Its mounted to the hips.

But if there were wings, I would accept the risk.

Mecha Pensioner

It opens up a whole new tier of enshittification

Maybe I'm crazy, but I feel like adding additional weight to someone who already is struggling with walking in their old age is not the best idea?

The suit? Oh, uh, it helps keep the tail attached.

Its mounted to the hips.

So is your spine. The sacroiliac joint takes the hit in this case, so the L3-L4 disc.

sure sure

But dragon tail

When I was 13 (basically 800 years ago mid 90s), I visited my friend in Luxembourg, whose family had moved there temporarily for his dad's job. I slipped on their front steps during an epic super soaker battle (I'd brought the water blasters with me because they weren't sold there) and hurt my lower back. Hours later, when I couldn't sleep, they took me to the ER. I don't recall all the details, but I very clearly remember the doc saying that something was wrong with my sacroliliac (I thought she said it was dislocated, but that may be a false memory). She injected me with a huge needle (to this day, my friend and his family won't tell me how big it was (still not sure why they were all allowed to see this do still a huge needle in my back)) and then physically massaged/shoved things back in place. I was told later that in my home US, docs would never have done that physical manipulation, meaning I'd have recovered in a wheelchair for a while.

Anyway, I just saw you write "sacroliliac" and wanted to share my story about my sacroliliac. Believe it or not, it doesn't come up in conversation often.

Body horror x Enshittification is something I really don't want to see. Cyber psychosis from CP2077 it's probably the most extreme form. But being lucid and losing control of your own body on account of "wellbeing technology" would be terrifying.

But presumably some are not struggling because of weakness but lack of balance

I'd put stickers

I want one now

I'd put it on backwards and pretend it was my peen.

It's probably all carbon fiber and gyros, maybe a couple of servos, and likely weighs very little.

Edit: and dragon tail, cone on

Silver Texallium

The lube? Um, it's for the mechanical joints...

[sound of legions of furries reaching for their wallets]

I had the Very Big Needle this week for basically the same reason (a fall.)

give them mechanical legs too

Damn.

Herniated disc > dragon tail.

Is it just a tail or is it mechanised? A mechanised tail that I'd have some control over sounds awesome.

Well, depending on where the controller goes...

You don't want your cochlear implants to start playing ads?

I don't think you have much control over it, it likely just has a gyro that reacts to your movement.

Wheels would be more stable. We could even mount a chair to them so they don't have to stand.

Can I put spikes on the end?

What if they want to sit?

Then you sit on the tail like a kangaroo! 😜

I suspect this will be alot more popular with furries than oldies.

I could see it being popular among old furries, there are definitely older people in the furry community. I think I'll definitely crosspost this to !greymuzzle@pawb.social to see what they think there.