Rather, it provides supported movement and an opportunity for participation.
This was precisely the distinction Debby emphasized when discussing her invention.
The goal was not to promise parents that their children would suddenly walk on their own.
It was to give children experiences that might otherwise be unavailable to them.
A Different View of What "Walking" Means
For a child without mobility difficulties, walking can seem completely ordinary.
Children walk to their parents.
They run toward toys.
They wander around the garden.
They hold someone's hand while exploring a new place.
They walk into a kitchen to see what is happening.
They follow their siblings.
They look at the world from approximately the same height as everyone around them.
For a child who cannot stand independently, however, many of these experiences can be fundamentally different.
A wheelchair provides mobility, but the child's physical perspective remains different.
Being carried provides closeness, but it is not the same as actively moving through an environment.
Upsee attempted to bridge some of that gap.
A child could stand with a parent, move through a room and participate in activities alongside family members.
The device could therefore be understood not simply as a walking aid but as a tool for participation and inclusion.
The UK's Health Research Authority described Upsee as a community mobility device for young children with cerebral palsy, noting that children with CP may show an ability and interest in standing and stepping with parental or equipment assistance even when they cannot achieve independent mobility.
That distinction is central to understanding why the invention attracted attention.
The First Steps Were About More Than Steps
Some of the most emotional stories surrounding Upsee involved ordinary family moments.
According to reports about Rotem, the device enabled him to stand and interact with his family in ways that had previously been difficult or impossible.
One particularly meaningful possibility was being able to hug his siblings while standing beside them.
Another was simply being able to walk outside with his parents.
These experiences may sound small.
For families living with severe physical disabilities, they can be enormous.
A child being able to participate in a family outing at eye level with siblings can change the experience for everyone.
The child is no longer simply being transported from one place to another.
They are participating in the movement.
They are part of the activity.
They can look around.
They can interact.
They can explore.
And they can share the experience with the people they love.
That was one of the ideas that helped Elnatan's invention attract international attention.
From One Family to Families Around the World
For years, the concept remained closely connected to Rotem.
But eventually, Elnatan's invention attracted the attention of Leckey, a Northern Ireland-based company specializing in equipment for children with disabilities.
The company worked with Elnatan to develop the concept into a manufactured product.
In 2014, the Firefly Upsee was launched internationally.
Contemporary reporting by The Independent described how the device had been developed from Elnatan's original idea and was being made available to families in the UK, North America and other markets.
Reuters also reported on the international launch, describing how Elnatan had developed the support harness for Rotem and how the device allowed a child to stand upright and take steps together with an adult.
A private family experiment had become an assistive-mobility product.
That transition was significant.
It meant that an idea born out of one mother's frustration could potentially address a similar problem faced by thousands of other families.
What the Upsee Actually Does
It is important to understand what the device does — and what it does not do.
The Upsee is designed to facilitate supported standing and movement.