Cybernetic Prosthetics for Amputees

A. J. Perkins writes "Returning amputees from Iraq are getting computer-driven artifical limbs allowing greater balance and mobility. These futuristic limbs have hydraulic pumps visible through its clear plastic shell. They are loaded with an on-board CPU and rechargable batteries. The Utah3 Arm, which allows simultaneous motion in the elbow, hand and wrist, offering movement old prosthetics could not. These are coupled with the SensorSpeedHand, which has electronic sensors in the fingertips that make it easier to grip objects. The C-Leg monitors motion 50 times per second to assist with balance."

Comments

Civilian Application

[drivinghighway61]

As with many military innovations, it will be interesting to see the future of computerized limbs when they reach the civilian population. I've met a few people with prosthetics, and devices like this would certainly help them. Despite views on war, this can only help.

Re:What would be nice...

[bburton]

Actually that is an interesting comment. I have often wondered about that same topic. Will people, in the distant (or maybe even near?) future volunteer to swap their human body parts for machine replacements?

If technology keeps developing at the rate it has been, how long will it be before prosthetic limbs become superior to the ones we are born with? Imagine super stong mechanical arms or legs, which are controlled through your nervous system. Imagine replacement livers and hearts and maybe even brains that are immune to disease...

Hmmm, excuse me, I think I'm going to go watch Ghost in the Shell now.

Re:Yay!

[MmmmAqua]

Yeah, parent was a troll, and yeah, this is off topic, but seeing as how I'm sitting here in Baghdad, I just want to point something out:

Nobody here who actually picks up a rifle and goes out looking for bad guys is doing it for anything other than the guys fighting beside him. Don't get yourself all worked up about how we've been duped, and lied to, etc. etc.

We know the score. We know what the real reasons for the war are. There isn't much blind flag-waving Bush-terbation here. But we don't have a choice about when and where we fight; we just have a job to do, and lives to save and take in doing it.

We don't want your pity, and we don't want you using us as martyrs in your protests against the government. We want you to leave us alone to do our jobs, and have some respect for those poor bastards who come home minus an arm or a leg or a hand.

Good and Bad

[atlasheavy]

It's good to hear that returning veterans are being treated better and more rapidly than in the past, and that technological improvements are going to improve their quality of life. Nonetheless, if it wasn't for the failed war policies of this administration, kids our age (and yes, at 22 I definitely consider myself a kid) wouldn't be put into this sort of horribly traumatic situation in the first place.

Mod me down as flamebait or a troll if you want, so be it, slashdot karma isn't worth glorifying the mess our great nation has ended up in due to the arrogance of a small group of people in Washington.

Re:Good and Bad

[Charcharodon]

I hate to tell but all wars are the result of "failed" policies and this particular one has been brewing for the last 50 years not just the last 5.

As for the small group of the arrogant Washington I think you are being to selective. It would be more like a large group of arrogant gits around the globe are why we are in one of these messes every decade or two.

Re:Yay!

[Anonymous Coward]

If you know you've been lied to and still continue, you're pretty much a criminal.

I'd prefer biological replacements...

[moz25]

While these developments are quite good, I think the best would be biological replacements. Is there any development in that area?

On the other hand, I wonder if these replacements have any use in making the wearer of it stronger than with the (original) biological component.