Okay, so there are a lot of things I'm not falling in love with so far about James Cameron's
Avatar, particularly according to the first trailer. I have an excellent suspension of disbelief, but there was one thing I couldn't grasp: a guy in a wheel chair in the 22nd century. Paraplegia? Huh? Call me optimistic, but by the time we're traveling to the moons of the gas giants, I think we'll have paraplegia covered... whether it's a fix that is organic or mechanical, there should be a way to get an otherwise healthy person walking by that era.

Now, to be fair, in the second (bootleg) trailer that was released today, some superior officer tells the marine that if he does his job right... he'll get his legs back, his "real legs". Soooo... the technology and treatment exists, but the military withholds it? And
bribes their soldiers? I understand I haven't seen all of it yet, but Mr. Cameron, I must say, you are losing me a bit on this one.
Some examples of where current technology is headed with this:
Nanotechnology:
Neuro-electronic interfacesRobotics:
Exo-skeletons getting smaller & more efficientMedicine:
Stem Cell Therapy -
breakthroughs with less controversial "adult stem cells"