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."

Comments

Other Prosthetics implementations

[vmxeo]

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.