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Open-Source Prosthetics
D H NG writes "Wired News has a story about the non-profit Open Prosthetics Project. The organization was founded last year by Jonathan Kuniholm, a graduate student in biomedical engineering at Duke University who lost his arm below the elbow in Iraq. Open Prosthetics Project applies the ethical and intellectual property foundation of open-source software to the task of building better artificial limbs. So far, the project has produced a 'handful' of useful homebrew prosthetic hacks, and is closing in on a solution that would dramatically improve the functionality of the common hook device."
prosthetics with MS drivers had a tendency to inexplicably hurl chairs all over the place.
Just last week I heard amazing news.
Bionic Arm.
It's really important that almost anyone could obtain this independence restoring medical device should they need one. Open Source ought to help with that, since I can just see some company trying to own a part and charging $5000 for a chip that you could get for $5 in Hong Kong.
Oh You POS
closing in on a solution that would dramatically improve the functionality of the common hook device
Ya think? I mean aside from being perfectly designed to hang from the passenger door handle of teenage lovers' cars, a hook it not exactly the most useful interface in the modern world. How do you dial (or push) a telephone with a hook? How do you type with a hook?
Bravo for open source! It's about time someone designed something better than a hook, like maybe five knife fingers or a chainsaw.
The adaptive grasp concept is freaking awesome. For a glove full of rice it seems a very elegant solution. I tip my hat to these guys.
So, are they gonna do a "Prosthetics Hacks" book? I see a lot of interesting Perl scripts coming our way ;-)
I didn't think the house band in Hell would play this badly.
First, it was 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day, then Microsoft released an "IE Patch", and now we're discussing hooks? Sounds like we'll have that global warming thing reversed in no time!
The affordable, disposable implants and prosthetics industry is here now. You can buy three mainstream cybernetic devices for under $40 and six under $500!
SEO Copywriter. Just Say ON
The main problem is twofold. The human hand is complicated and we dam well lack any decent actuators. The human hand has a lot of degrees of freedoms. Our fingers can move a remarkable amount of ways. Now you have to realize that there aren't any actuators that can operate like muslces in small spaces without either taking up space or be bulky. Anyway the solution isn't going to come from a robotics person but a materials science.
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
I can't believe you'd make a joke like "a-hand-up" dept. or "handful" of hacks. If I met you, mano a mano, I'd know how to handle your type, you're nothing but two left hands, all hands and no action, I'd really hand it to you. You're lucky I'm at work now, I gotta take off for my All Hands meeting. I'm assuming someone will take the handoff here to pick up the good fight against types like you.
For a sec there I thought it said Open-Source Prostitiutes.
This would be great if it continues towards transhumanism. I really hope open source can help us towards the singularity. It really fits with the idea well.
Grow them. (Just published on Wired's site.)
Can your legs run linux?
I'd figure I would post this for two reasons. One it just sounds cool and it's related to the discussion. Unfortnately, it seems like we have a long way to go to completely replace a human muscle.- armwrestling.htmr ah/the-human-opponent.htm
http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/eap/EAP
http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/eap/ame
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
Should be a hot topic - I am sure most people would rather lose their arm then their manhood.
After an artificial arm is all but indistinguishable from a 'real' arm, someone will try using prosthetics as an enhancement. I'm not sure where the third and fourth arms will attach, but someone will try.
What the market demands, someone eventually builds.
...what this code would do:
while (3 != 5)
{
openFist();
closeFist();
}
Do not mark in this space. For official office use only.
Ah well. Maybe next time.
As someone who is way overdue for a new artificial eye, I'm all for this development model.
(Unfortunately, my particular case can't be handled by mechanical engineering. It's all about the steady hand of an artisan.)
Please do not doubt the life-changing/enhancing work that will come out of this.
It's high time for other assistive living devices, like Open Source hearing aids. Digital hearing aids are outside of the affordability range for many people who don't have insurance (i.e. thousands of dollars for a pair). I have a hard time believing that the devices are priced competetively at all, and suspect that putting some open source designs out there may really jumpstart the market and improve quality of life for the hearing impaired.
Not to mention, it would be nice for HA wearers to be able to make fine adjustments to their own HA's. Use your bluetooth PDA as an interface to more advanced functions.
For doing mechanical work and operating heavy equipment I can see extra hands as being pretty spiffy.
I bet they still cost an arm and a leg.
Oh wait...
w00t
I thought it said Open Source Prostitutes.
So, people with the means can get fancy new prosthetic hands, with lifelike and semi-functional fingers. People with limited funds, or an ideology driving their choice, can get the open-source 'Stallman Hook.'
'Aye, Matey' exclaims an idealist gimp, with enthusiasm.
I'm trying to imagine different product and company philosiphies applied to prosthetics. I think it'd go something like this:
Mac- Extremely stylish. Has a slot for your ipod. Comes in two colors - white and black. Only left-handed version available.
Gentoo- Roll your own limb. Pick your material (fiberglass? carbon fiber? titanuim?) and choose from a dizzing array of cast types. Select anything from a simple hook to the latest robotic digits. Spend a good 6 months to a year molding, casting it, and trying to get it working together.
Ubuntu- Includes such gestorial based languages as ASL, ESL, FSL, and internationally recognized rude gestures.
DRM- Goes limp if you attempt non-manufactured approved tasks. Additional functionality, such as picking things up, gesturing, or waving can be purchased seperately on a subscription basis.
Spyware- Free, but steals money and credit cards out of your wallet when you aren't looking.
HP- Like spyware, but only steals^H^H^H^H^H^H "pretexts" your phone records.
Wii- Just point to what you want with your other arm.
Windows Vista- Still not yet available. Maybe next year.
Shameless plug for my photos on Flickr
I for a second misread the title as "Open-Source Prostitutes".