Santos can actually predict human motion and behavior based on human performance measures such as energy, joint torque or discomfort. Like that of real humans, its motion is task-based. Thus, it can answer questions as to comfort, ability to reach, among others, in relation to trying out new products. Understanding the impact of anatomy and physics can have a substantial corresponding impact on a wide variety of peace-time industries as well as those in the military.

The embedded sensors and computers in the robotic legs act like an extension of a person’s own nervous system which gathers information on the direction being moved while continually redistributing the weight to make it feel like a barely perceptible burden.

 The DVD Times are reporting that Universal Playback are releasing the UK Region 2 DVD of Bionic Woman: The Complete Series on 12th May 2008. All 8 episodes will be included along with features such as ‘Pilot’ commentary with Exec Producer David Eick and ‘Real Life Bionics’.

More here.

“We saw it with [Fox's] Terminator [The Sarah Connor Chronicles], and we saw it with Bionic Woman: big openings, big branded titles, draw open the tent, and the show didn’t deliver on that $10 million pilot. What we’re doing with Knight Rider is we consciously delivered it on air [in February] so that we had nine months to make sure that series is great.”

What a shame BW didn’t have a fall-guy to learn from. Well, actually it did – there are many shows that go the way of BW every year.

“I just felt that the process was so frustrating, and the conditions under which we were making that show never really came to fruition in such a way that I felt like we could make the show well. We just didn’t ever bring it all together like we did with Battlestar. At a certain point, when it becomes that frustrating, I think you’re better off to say, ‘Let’s try again another time,’ and let it go.”

Eick goes on to rightfully defend Michelle Ryan for her part in the shows downfall, whilst unsurprisingly he doesn’t point the finger of blame at the writers, stating that some of it was “good”. He must be referring to the first episode then. Basically it wouldn’t be clever of him to ostracise writers which he may need in the future (the Re-imagining of the Six Million Dollar Man, perhaps? That’d please Lee Majors!).

So, there we have it, straight from the horses mouth – or at least the saddle, since only NBC can officially cancel the show. I just think Eick owes a better explanation than the ones he’s given. It’s amazing that the ball was dropped, especially when i’m reminded of all the hype and promise.

It must be an odd situation for Ryan, who has to promote the show launch in the UK, whilst knowing that it probably wont see the light of day again in the States. Her “big break” left in tatters, some have argued that she’s now left relying on the country she left this time last year to see something positive in BW that America (and online viewers have missed). 
However, she is all too aware that despite having a good premise, the scripting and creative changes are at fault for it’s likely NBC-axing:

“It’s had creative changes; some things didn’t work, but in launching a TV show that’s all part of the process.”

You can bet your bottom dollar that the UK press just love the fact that she’s now back in the UK with her metaphorical tail between her legs. Last year, a few (very) bitter people believed that she was turning her back on the UK by aspiring to be America’s next top star!

Let’s hope BW’s failure wont deter Ryan from future aspirations – it looks like she’s still confident by taking the positives out of her US experience:

“To get six months on air – or even the three that we did – is an achievement. To have a hit show that runs for years… the likelihood is one in a million.”

Ryan also reveals that should a miracle happen and NBC perform a U-turn, she and the rest of the cast will be back on BW in a hot-minute.

Well Ryan, here’s hoping – although it looks like we’ll have to wait until May for a definitive answer.

It’s almost as if there are two different worlds running parallel yet opposite to one another - one in which the UK Press (understandably) don’t even mention the fact that the show is seemingly about to be cancelled, and one in which the US press gleefully take aim at the Bionic Woman’s kneecaps. You could call it the ‘looking glass’ effect.

Take this recent Observer interview with Michelle Ryan for example.

Bionic Woman starts in the UK next month (it’s so strange saying that!)

The Telegraph aslo have an article dedicated to Ms Ryan and her ‘upcoming’ role in Bionic Woman.

Whilst the show is coming to an end in America, BW still has episodes to air in New Zealand, and one source there argues that teenaged girls are too smart to buy into this modern day remake. I think that this is more down to the scripting rather than the actual premise of bionics in today’s world.

Tv Squad report on the Daily Mail’s suggestion that Michelle Ryan is “defeated and depressed” over the shows failure. Well it’s hardly surprising – this was Michelle’s big break, it could have been oh so different, and it should have been. I feel that some quarters have let her and the rest of us down – this show should not have failed as it had so much going for it. The same report is also suggesting that NBC are pointing the finger of blame at Ryan – this is ridiculous, did they even watch the show? Do they even know the scripts that theysanctioned? Sorry, but Ryan held her own and importantly she was improving all the time. If they’re going to blame Ryan then they might as well blame Miguel Ferrer or Will Yun Lee. Again, ridiculous. I know they had high hopes for Ryan and she is the lead character, but I can’t see how anyone else could have saved the show on their performance alone..not with those scripts! Any good show needs good foundations and an actual long-term plan.

The Guardian reports:

US drama Bionic Woman, starring former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan, is not expected to return for a second series after NBC omitted it from its list of post-strike returning shows.

The US network today confirmed which shows would be returning from their post-writers’ strike hiatus, and the superhero series was noticeable by its absence.

US trade magazine Variety reported that the show had been “essentially cancelled”, confirming rumours that have dogged the series for months after its ratings dropped away following a strong launch last autumn

I must say I am surprised. I was one of those confident that no news was good news, in regards to NBC’s tight-lipped silence throught the strike. However, I will wait for official confirmation before taking this news as canon.

Kristin, from E! Online, has more on the potential end to the strike:

It seems this week’s rumors that the writers’ strike is coming to an end may indeed be true. We are hearing from several sources that the WGA and the AMPTP are “very close” to a deal, which could be announced as early as later today.

According to reliable insiders who asked not to be named, the writers and producers were in talks for nine hours yesterday and made a “staggering amount of progress,” as all of the major sticking points have been settled.

“We are 99.9 percent of the way there,” one source inside the negotiations said. “As of late yesterday, just a few small issues remained.”

The stickiest issue of all, compensation for new-media projects, has been agreed upon by both sides, according to sources. Said one: “There is most certainly light at the end of the tunnel, and we are rapidly approaching it.”

So, are we any closer to getting our show back? I sure hope so!