Moving closer to better prostheses–thought controlled prosthetics being tested
We’re a step closer to bionics, cyborgs, etc. A thought-controlled arm is being tested that is getting some great results.
it appears that Claudia Mitchell has regained her sense of movement using a slightly different apparatus. Touted as wearing the “world’s first” bionic arm controlled by thought alone, she now has the ability to carry out simple, albeit quite critical tasks again such as cutting up food. Doctors have re-routed the nerve endings in her arm to “a patch of skin on her chest,” essentially enabling her prosthetic arm to respond to her thoughts concerning movement. Furthermore, a recent study of her wrist, hand, and elbow functions revealed that she could perform tasks “four times quicker than with a conventional prosthesis,” and the team hopes to install “touch sensors” on the artificial hand in order to allow for tactile feedback in the future.
Source: Bionic armed woman regains sense of touch – Engadget
Now, tactile feedback, even thought-control is a tough thing. My mind boggles at making the right connections, training the brain. Do we even understand everything involved? Man. But wow it is exciting isn’t it?
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