{
  "id": 35534,
  "title": "Self-taught spinal tumor patient builds mind-controlled wheelchair in two days",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/self-taught-spinal-tumor-patient-builds-mind-controlled-wheelchair-in",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-02T08:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/self-taught-spinal-tumor-patient-builds-mind-controlled-wheelchair-in-two-days-5103945.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wang Ning, a 33-year-old man, lost feeling in his fingers due to a spinal tumor and became paralyzed after surgery. Three months later, another tumor in his spine left him unable to feel pain anywhere. Doctors told him the damage could not be repaired, but Wang self-learned rehabilitation techniques and built his own program. By 2023, he could take a few steps. His wife supported him through this difficult time, encouraging him to keep moving. Wang, with a background in arts and some programming experience, taught himself embedded development, circuit soldering, 3D printing, and AI algorithms. He created various tools, including a mirror that analyzes rehabilitation movements and exoskeletons for leg lifts. At a hackathon, Wang built a mind-controlled wheelchair in just two days, which took first place in the hardware track. The device reads electrical activity through a headband and can now turn, move in several directions, and control various devices. Wang and his wife have made comparable equipment more affordable by reducing costs from over CNY100,000 to between CNY20,000 and CNY30,000.",
  "summary": "A Shenzhen man twice left paralyzed by spinal tumors has built a wheelchair he steers with his thoughts, winning the top hardware prize at a Shanghai hackathon.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}