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Bionic Hand Makes it to Market
root_42 writes "The BBC reports that a Scottish company has developed a bionic prosthetic hand, which is now going to market: 'The thumb and fingers can move and grip just like a human hand and are controlled by the patient's mind and muscles ... Mr Gow, who is the director of rehabilitation engineering services at NHS Lothian, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's the first hand to come to the market that's actually had bending fingers just like your own hand."' The device really seems very "cool", compared to other prosthetics, and seems to allow the patients a wide variety of day-to-day activities. Also check out the patient gallery."
The important question is: does it come in shiny brass color, and can it hold a lightsaber?
Finally, I will no longer live in fear of being introduced to counts, those cute lovable jawas, having a drink at the Cantina, bringing prey back to my cave, being reunited with my father or vice versa!
Yes sir, I can now tell the next robed guy where to shove it when I'm told his aren't the droids I'm looking for.
My work here is dung.
It sounds from the article ("Now I can pick up a Styrofoam cup without crushing it. With my other hand, I would really have to concentrate on how much pressure I was putting on the cup.") that there's some form of feedback mechanism, but I thought that was years away. Without pressure sensors, a you really have is a 'Waldo' attached to your wrist, you've got no way of knowing how much force you're exerting on an object.
Then, of course, you really want the rest of the sensory package, touch, temperature, pain feedback, and all the other things your hands do for you.
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These people look really happy. I'm so excited for them. To have regained this much manipulation is amazing. Best of luck for these patients and this company
...did anyone else reading the headline first think that the hand escaped and found its own way to the market?
This replaces the hook as my limb-replacement of choice.
I can't imagine making something like this without attachments that extend it's use beyond that of the human hand.
The goal shouldn't be to replace a hand, it should be to provide something much cooler.
21st-Century-Citizen
But does it run Linux? Of course, Linux runs on Palm devices!
One ring to bind them - should probably have more fiber and less rings in their diet.
6 million dollars.
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
Well if they aren't going to create a Bionic women, a Bionic hand is the next best thing I guess. This may cause some very interesting trips to the ER.