Controlling prosthetics with the mind is not a novel idea. It has been around for quite some time, and a lot of prosthetics already use mind control. What sets this particular prosthetic apart is the fact that it is "osseointegrated," meaning that it is surgically connected directly to the bone. This allows the arm to connect to the nerves in such a way that it allows the user to control it much like we control our own arms - with little to no effort. Other prosthetic arms use "surface electrodes," which are placed on the skin. However, this method does not work properly, because the arm becomes unstable due to interference from other movements and due to environmental changes, like temperature.. This new prosthetic arm, though, is so deeply connected to the nerves that there is little to no chance of instability. The user has full control over the movements and speed at which the arm or hand moves. This really is a big step towards making prosthetics that resemble the human arm, making it a remarkable technological advancement.
More information and videos can be found here: http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/mind-controlled-prosthetics-are-ready-for-real-life-2398710
Sounds like something out a of sci-fi movie to be honest. Definitely in the future there will be half human android people who are part metal. That would be something extremely interesting to see.
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool! I've seen a lot of anime (fullmetal alchemist) where characters have what they call automail and it reminds me a lot of this invention. This could really help people who have lost arms or legs, so I'm hoping that they make it fully operational.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting! It is really cool, if this can be done then can a type of an athletic one be made? A prosthetic that can be made specifically for athletic use can have a great future in the world of sports. If this can be done then maybe even a new type of olympics can start.
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