Finally, our first end-user of mobility technology. Meet Melissa DiVierti, aka “BLUE EYE QUEEN,” as she joins Dr. Tom Suggar, aka “Sugar Daddy Jetpack Tommy,” and me, Bobby Marinov, aka “Therion,” as we discuss how we can make exoskeleton technology look more colorful and accessible. It is no secret that the world of wearables and wearable robotics is dominated by men, with only a handful of the 100+ startups being led by women. That has translated into the design aesthetics, creating metal and wires and walking robocops, which can be most unappealing to the general population. This and much more on Episode 20 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics podcast:

Main Topics: 00:00 Introductions 01:40 How did you discover this medical technology and the Shirley Ryan Rehabilitation Center? 05:12 Using the Biomotum device at the Shirly Ryan AbilitiyLab 11:05 Did the exoskeleton help you walk? 15:31 The perfect suit for sacral agenesis. 20:02 Home use availability? 22:08 Adding colors and visual customization to wearables. 28:48 What else do exoskeletons need? 37:54 We need more ladies working on and showcasing exo technology! 40:58Combining prosthetics/orthotics with exoskeletons. 47:52We need everyone, especially non-engineers with distinct points of view. 52:35 Where to follow along with Blue Eye Queen! 56:34 Call to action: have exos on real people in real scenarios who don’t already know you.

Melissa is a unique individual who can benefit from physical walking assist devices and has both an art and an engineering degree. She sits at the perfect intersection between understanding the usability, practicality, and user appeal of wearables. We were very lucky to have her on the podcast, and Tom and I hope that you enjoy this episode!

If you would prefer to listen rather than watch, our podcast is available on all major media streaming channels:

Special thanks to all of our Patreon supporters for your encouragement and for offsetting part of the production and publishing costs!

Summary Transcript:

The episode follows Melissa DiVierti, also known as the Blue Eye Queen, a lifelong wheelchair user with sacral agenesis, who has been seeking a practical, take-home exoskeleton: something that would allow her to stand to do chores, move around the house more easily, and meet people at eye level at networking events. She frames success not as marathon-level mobility, but as day-to-day independence: splitting time between chair and suit to exercise underused muscles and reduce deconditioning.

Melissa describes growing up and living with a missing sacrum, using a scooter, wheelchair, and crutches, and spending roughly a decade following exoskeleton technologies. Early exposure came via a Japanese system, and despite being repeatedly told she was “too petite” for various devices, she persisted, asking companies to keep her on the list as the tech evolved.

To get hands-on experience, Melissa traveled from South America to Chicago to visit a major rehabilitation center. The team welcomed her, gave a tour of a large, multi-floor facility overlooking Lake Michigan, and supported a structured trial with an ankle-assisting system. The trip, arranged largely through persistent outreach, highlights the motivation required for prospective users to access these opportunities.

The device trial starts with donning a back-mounted battery pack with suspenders and slim, clear tubes running down to footplates—an aesthetic Melissa found cleaner and less intimidating than bulky “RoboCop”-style suits. Sizing was still a barrier, though: even a build labeled for a “ten-year-old” was too tall, underscoring the ongoing fit gap for smaller adults.

Asked about real-world use, Melissa imagines starting with domestic tasks, washing dishes, doing laundry, moving about the home, then gradually shifting some daily exercise from wheels to walking. Beyond function, standing at eye level matters socially and psychologically; a suit that enables half-day use could be “fulfilling,” even if a wheelchair remains essential.

She also outlines design needs for people with sacral agenesis: lock-in hip structures for stability, ankle assistance when feet can’t actively move, and configurations that explicitly consider pediatrics, little people, and adults of smaller stature. The message is to involve atypical body shapes as research partners so future “universal” designs don’t overlook them.

Access remains thorny. Based on her research, there may be a home-use option via a monthly retainer (she recalls a figure around $5,000), but gaining approval has been difficult, and in-home programs can be costly enough to require outside assistance. This pushes Melissa to keep exploring sturdier upper-body support and to advocate for partnerships that lower barriers for future consumers.

A major communication critique surfaces: too many brand images feel staged, “magazine-cover” sterile, or even intimidating. What she and other potential users crave are realistic, “in-the-wild” depictions, getting out of bed, transferring, and navigating stairs, so they can picture daily life in a suit. Without that, marketing can read as tone-deaf and exclusionary.

The episode closes with a broader call for inclusive aesthetics and representation, especially more women, in product imagery and design reviews. Customizable looks (colors, style “skins”) could make devices feel less like “bomb-looking” machines and more like personal gear, encouraging trial. Melissa also praises challenge formats that test devices on common household tasks (e.g., a plexiglass apartment setup) and urges companies to get hardware into real users’ hands to build trust and accelerate learning.