Finnish Guy Gets Prosthetic USB Finger Storage

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Finnish Guy Gets Prosthetic USB Finger Storage

Posted by samzenpus on Friday March 13, 2009 @07:39AM from the I'd-still-choose-a-shotgun-leg dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Jerry had a motorcycle accident last May and lost a finger. When the doctor working on the artificial finger heard he is a hacker, the immediate suggestion was to embed a USB 'finger drive' to the design. Now he carries a Billix Linux distribution as part of his hand."

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Cool by JWW · 2009-03-13 07:41 · Score: 3, Funny

This is really cool.
Now... where'd I put that knife....?
1. Re:Cool by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 08:17 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  He can also boot linux while performing the shocker.
2. Re:Cool by denzacar · 2009-03-13 11:03 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Just a couple of nights ago, I was thinking about something similar. Not "where's my knife?" but regarding prosthetic limbs.
  Why are researchers out there trying to recreate five-fingered prosthetic hands when for example three-fingered hand could do most things you need thumbs for?
  Two extra fingers could be used for detachable USB drives, bluetooth communication with a "palm-computer" built into the hand, mobile phone, mp3 and video players...
  Talk to the hand could get a whole new meaning...
  
  --
  Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
3. Re:Cool by von_rick · 2009-03-13 12:57 · Score: 1
  
  If you use ReiserFS, won't need a knife. You can chop everything to pieces, including your ...
  
  --
  Face your daemons!
4. Re:Cool by ORBAT · 2009-03-13 15:40 · Score: 1
  
  If you use ReiserFS, won't need a knife. You can chop everything to pieces, including your ...
  ... carrots?
5. Re:Cool by aliquis · 2009-03-13 19:43 · Score: 1
  
  There are already tool prosthetics [ottobock.com] that are better for working with than a hand-shaped end.
  Yeah, you try convince the ladies that.
6. Re:Cool by narcberry · 2009-03-14 17:23 · Score: 1
  
  I dunno, everytime I ask him to boot linux he gives me the finger.
  
  --
  Modding me -1 troll doesn't make me wrong.
7. Re:Cool by Zashi · 2009-03-16 22:58 · Score: 1
  
  Because part of a prosthetic is to make the wearer feel whole again. It's an emotionally trying ordeal to loose a part of their body for most people.
  
  --
  Skiffy is Spiffy, but Ort is tort.
how is this useful? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 07:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

he still would type with all of his fingers, right? so wouldn't sticking his finger in a usb slot make it that much harder to type?
1. Re:how is this useful? by Smiling_Jack · 2009-03-13 07:45 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  It's a prosthetic finger, right? I imagine it detaches. One hopes it's not actually bolted onto his hand.
2. Re:how is this useful? by MBGMorden · 2009-03-13 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Either that or I can imagine this guy plugged into his Linux box yelling "WHOA . . . I know kung-fu!".
  
  --
  "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
3. Re:how is this useful? by phantomfive · 2009-03-13 07:52 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  You can see some better pictures on his flickr stream. It looks like he has several fingers he can put on at different times. Also, it appears to be a slot in one of the fingers where he can stash some flash cards. I am not sure you'd really be typing very well with such a finger, it might just be easier to learn to type just using your other fingers. The pinky already takes care of a ton of the keys geeks use [{]}\|=+-_/?'" so adding in a couple more wouldn't be too bad I would think.
  
  --
  Qxe4
4. Re:how is this useful? by interkin3tic · 2009-03-13 08:01 · Score: 1
  
  It seems to be slashdotted. Maybe it has a cord, or the whole finger is detachable, or you could take the USB port out of the prosthetic.
5. Re:how is this useful? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 08:12 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  You are obviously not using Dvorak. Turn in your card, sir.
6. Re:how is this useful? by eln · 2009-03-13 08:15 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  he still would type with all of his fingers, right? so wouldn't sticking his finger in a usb slot make it that much harder to type?
  No worries, this guy strikes me as the type who's used to typing one-handed.
7. Re:how is this useful? by Chabo · 2009-03-13 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  Based on the photos of just the hand, I'm guessing the face/hand photos are mirrored. Many webcams (especially by Apple) have mirroring on by default. This means it's his left hand that has the missing finger.
  Personally, I find my left ring finger to be far more useful than my right ring finger in typing, despite being right-handed. Part of it has to do with my typing style -- I'm self-taught, so I do some weird, non-standard things. For one, years of playing FPSs has made it so that my left hand goes to WASD by reflex instead of ASDF. I also tend to move my hands around the keyboard more than people who were taught the standard style -- typing "were", I use my left middle finger on the 'w', then move my index finger back and forth for "ere". I also tend to use my right middle and ring fingers for punctuation rather than my pinky.
  
  --
  Convert FLACs to a portable format with FlacSquisher
8. Re:how is this useful? by Velska1 · 2009-03-13 08:33 · Score: 1
  
  The same thing occurred to me. And the location of my USB ports would make for an uncomfortable posture (my midi tower's on the floor, with some USBs in the front panel).
  He can always copy the stuff he wants to use from his USB to the HDD, unmount, get to work, and at the end of the day, give his box the finger again (or however many times he wants to update). If it does come off, then it's different, of course. I just checked the pics on the blog, and it looked to me like it wouldn't easily be removed.
  I'd still rather keep my fingers where they belong, and my USBs in my pocket... My father's fingers had been pruned somewhat, and it didn't slow him too much, but some things were a little difficult.
  Although I understand why he went for it. For geek points.
  
  --
  Every problem has a solution that is simple, easy and wrong. Selling our Liberty for a little Security is a much too de
9. Re:how is this useful? by slyn · 2009-03-13 08:34 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  If you take a look at his flickr photostream, you can see its just a small rubber finger that functions as a small USB flash drive and nerd attractor.
10. Re:how is this useful? by jsiren · 2009-03-13 08:36 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The digit in question seems to be the left ring finger. Depends on one's typing style which particular keys would fall under that finger, but I find I use it mostly on the 1qwa<zx keys. See Finnish keyboard layout for reference, and while you're at it, take a moment to appreciate the pure genius that is the placement of all the characters essential in programming, particularly the Perl language, such as @$\|{[]}. My right wrist hurts even as I think about this.
  
  --
  Usage: km/h for speed (kilometers per hour); kph for very slow impulses (kilopond hours).
11. Re:how is this useful? by cortesoft · 2009-03-13 09:06 · Score: 1
  
  I love how the first couple of pictures on the flickr feed are of the bike he crashed on to lose the finger, posted only a couple of months before the accident. Awesome.
12. Re:how is this useful? by merreborn · 2009-03-13 09:55 · Score: 1
  If you take a look at his flickr photostream, you can see its just a small rubber finger that functions as a small USB flash drive and nerd attractor.
  That flickr page serves as an odd timeline of events
  My brand new bike Uploaded on Apr 30, 2008
  (Motorcycle crash happens in May)
  USB Finger Beta (sealed) Uploaded on Sep 3, 2008
  Man. He didn't even have the bike a whole month before he crashed it.
13. Re:how is this useful? by uigrad_2000 · 2009-03-13 09:57 · Score: 1
  
  You are obviously not using Dvorak. Turn in your card, sir.
  And you are obviously a very bad poser. All of those symbols are pinky-controlled in dvorak.
  
  --
  Free unix account: freeshell.org
14. Re:how is this useful? by vandelais · 2009-03-13 10:47 · Score: 1
  
  Fun flickr fact Finn's fuck finger ferries flash!
  
  --
  Game: Player 'Donald J Trump' now has AI skill level 'experimental'.
15. Re:how is this useful? by ChunderDownunder · 2009-03-13 11:29 · Score: 1
  
  Typing? that's so 19th Century...
  Jerry and that Linux guy are both from Finland. Jerry has an embedded Linux device. Coincidence, or not?
  The guy only now has to think and the characters will appear on screen.
  This whole article reeks of a sinister plot by Doctor Torvalds to take over the world! I'm no electronics expert but poor Jerry is probably now receiving subliminal messages from Dr Torvalds. Forget Linux on the desktop, we are witnessing the birth of a vast cyborg army.
  (Perhaps I shouldn't have watched that Cybermen episode of Dr Who the other night!)
16. Re:how is this useful? by Mozk · 2009-03-13 12:34 · Score: 1
  
  You use your pinky for all those? The only key I use my right-hand pinky for is the shift key. I've never used that slow and awkward "home row" method that's taught in schools.
  
  --
  No existe.
17. Re:how is this useful? by palegray.net · 2009-03-13 13:03 · Score: 1
  
  Experienced riders lay down bikes, too. Happens all the time; some asshole who isn't paying attention performs an unintended "pit maneuver" on you at 50 mph, and down you go.
  
  There's a very old expression about bikers: if you haven't laid down a bike, you haven't been riding very long. I love motorcycles, but there's a reason people call them "donorcycles."
  
  --
  512 MB RAM, 20 GB disk, 200 GB transfer, five datacenters. $19.95/month.
18. Re:how is this useful? by lordtoran · 2009-03-13 13:04 · Score: 1
  
  He was probably a beginner on an overpowered bike without wearing full protective clothing. That combination calls for disaster. It's best to become confident on a 250 ccm machine for the first year or two. You won't be able to do risky overtake maneuvers and other stunts on a 250, but it's fast enough to easily go along with highway traffic.
  
  --
  Want to hear the voice of GOD? cat /boot/vmlinuz > /dev/dsp
19. Re:how is this useful? by lordtoran · 2009-03-13 13:28 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, it sucks on my German keyboard, especially as I do a lot of programming, but having the umlauts next to the Enter key and moving the brackets and slashes to AltGr + Number row seems to make more sense in regard to normal typing.
  AFAIK some Eastern European countries which adopted the German layout also have an alternative programming layout where special chars are accessible without shifting. I'm jealous.
  
  --
  Want to hear the voice of GOD? cat /boot/vmlinuz > /dev/dsp
20. Re:how is this useful? by kylben · 2009-03-13 15:17 · Score: 1
  
  Personally, I find my left ring finger to be far more useful than my right ring finger in typing, despite being right-handed. Part of it has to do with...
  
  All that, and because the right hand is usually busy with something else.
  Hey, c'mon, I meant the mouse. Jeez, get your minds out of the gutter.
  
  --
  Insightful and funny are really the same thing, except one has a punch line.
21. Re:how is this useful? by aliquis · 2009-03-13 19:46 · Score: 1
  
  If only I had a sex and the city rabbit prothetic accessory, that should had made me popular with the ladies.
Awkward to use... by MaineCoon · 2009-03-13 07:43 · Score: 2, Funny

... if it isn't detachable, and he has to keep his 'finger' plugged in all the time it is in use.

--
Hunt your preferred prey at Aliens vs Predator MUD. Join the war at avpmud.com port 4000
1. Re:Awkward to use... by Onaga · 2009-03-13 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  You think that's awkward, imagine Bobbit plugging in.
2. Re:Awkward to use... by QuantumRiff · 2009-03-13 08:05 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Not to mention airport security..
  
  --
  
  What are we going to do tonight Brain?
3. Re:Awkward to use... by cthulu_mt · 2009-03-13 08:27 · Score: 1
  
  The Singularity is near!
  
  --
  Virginia is for lovers. EVE is for griefers.
4. Re:Awkward to use... by Tetsujin · 2009-03-13 11:18 · Score: 1
  
  You think that's awkward, imagine Bobbit plugging in.
  You don't need to imagine, you can go watch the video...
  
  --
  Bow-ties are cool.
It detaches... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 07:49 · Score: 1, Informative

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerry_jalava/with/2823985839/
Too Obscure? by rlp · 2009-03-13 07:50 · Score: 1

Is the finger made of glass?

--
[Insert pithy quote here]
Only 2Gb? by homesnatch · 2009-03-13 07:50 · Score: 4, Funny

Why skimp and only use a 2Gb finger drive? Surely you can justify paying extra for the 32Gb model?
1. Re:Only 2Gb? by The+2nd+.+Oracle · 2009-03-14 00:14 · Score: 1
  
  Gb = gigabits
  GB = gigabytes
  
  ...it really isn't that hard.
Bastard, showing his middle finger to everybody.. by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 07:50 · Score: 5, Funny

And yes, it does run Linux.
And for the circular saw hobbyists: you can have a beowulf cluster of these...
Linux at his fingertips... by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 07:50 · Score: 1, Funny

He's got Linux at his fingertips....
I got your files. by internerdj · 2009-03-13 07:50 · Score: 5, Funny

Right here.
New technology by billy901 · 2009-03-13 07:52 · Score: 1

Cool! But, wow, wouldn't it suck for him if some new technology came out and all he had was a small amount of memory in his fancy finger. I guess it could always be replaced, but it would be probably pretty expensive.

--
Please visit http://www.mederbil.com/ i7, GTX 275, 4 1TB Caviar Green in RAID 0+1 array, EVGA X58 3X SLI Board, Silver
Re:Worth it by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · 2009-03-13 07:53 · Score: 1

Worth chopping off my finger, I think. Heck, I'd cut my leg off for a more portable external hard drive.
How about the joystick?

--
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Disgusting by GilliamOS · 2009-03-13 07:54 · Score: 1

Simply put. Must not go through security checks or metal detectors often either.

--
"There might be intelligent beings created by God in outer space even if there are none here on Earth." -Anonymous
1. Re:Disgusting by Hijacked+Public · 2009-03-13 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  Adding USB storage isn't going to make that suck any worse, it is already a mess for anyone with any kind of prosthetic or a lot of surgical metal in them.
  
  --
  "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
He's really from the future... by hal2814 · 2009-03-13 07:57 · Score: 3, Funny

He actually has 5 prosthetic USB keys for his fingers and when he finds them all he'll learn that he's really a robot sent back in time to resurrect the human race after an alien invasion and radioactive plague.
1. Re:He's really from the future... by Mr.+Slippery · 2009-03-13 09:53 · Score: 1
  
  he'll learn that he's really a robot sent back in time to resurrect the human race
  
  Darn it, I wanted to be the one to post a Demon With A Glass Hand reference.
  
  --
  Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
  You cannot wash away blood with blood
Secure in their persons... by JayPee · 2009-03-13 08:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm curious about the 4th Amendment aspects of this.
Since U.S. customs can pretty much search your laptop with impunity at the border, what about this thing since it's part of your "person".
1. Re:Secure in their persons... by cplusplus · 2009-03-13 08:09 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  I think they can search an artificial limb for drugs and such. Would similar rules apply here?
  
  --
  "False hope is why we'll never run out of natural resources!" - Lewis Black
2. Re:Secure in their persons... by arekusu_ou · 2009-03-13 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  Obviously you haven't gotten a cavity search yet.
3. Re:Secure in their persons... by rhook · 2009-03-13 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  Customs searches prosthetics all the time.
4. Re:Secure in their persons... by Bartab · 2009-03-13 15:26 · Score: 1
  
  Your person is not immune to searches at the border either. All they need is "reasonable suspicion" which is itself unimpeachable and can be as simple as "I felt something was wrong" by the officer in question.
  
  --
  Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo.
Re:Worth it by sakdoctor · 2009-03-13 08:08 · Score: 4, Funny

People just don't want 3.5" floppies these days.
Go-Go-Gadget USB Finger Drive! by jameskojiro · 2009-03-13 08:11 · Score: 1

Cool, now he can be just like Inspector Gadget!

--
Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
Data by BlindSpot · 2009-03-13 08:23 · Score: 1

Cool, but they should have done it so he could access it by peeling back his fingernail - then he'd be like Data!
He got the wrong thing... by thewils · 2009-03-13 08:31 · Score: 1

I would have put a wireless video camera in there.

--
Once I was a four stone apology. Now I am two separate gorillas.
Lots of possibilities by rmcd · 2009-03-13 08:34 · Score: 4, Funny

This gives a new meaning to digital storage.
And when he's running linux and he "fingers" someone, he really means it!
Linux on the desktop .. by koutbo6 · 2009-03-13 08:41 · Score: 3, Funny

is finnished!

--
You speak London? I speak London very best.
Re:Instead.... by RobertB-DC · 2009-03-13 09:05 · Score: 1

I think I would have asked for a finger that looks like a finger instead of something you get from a halloween store. Or went the other route and got something that doesn't look at all like a finger but has some utility. Would be nice to have both, but what he ended up with doesn't really seem worth the bother in either case.
Haven't you read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress? You don't want one arm (finger), or even two. You want a whole closet full, from the "social" one that looks normal, to the one with the manipulators for microscopic-level repairs, to the hydraulic one that you can use to work on your car.
If I ever lose a limb, I'll be sad... then I'll start working on cool hacks.

--
Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
Good luck typing with one hand stuck by Anonymous Coward · 2009-03-13 09:18 · Score: 1, Funny

Good luck typing with one hand glued to the computer.
DO WANT by 4D6963 · 2009-03-13 09:19 · Score: 1

Oh I totally need something like that, I don't creep girls out efficiently enough with my greasy hair, body odor, extreme weight, dirty clothes, authentic UNIX guru beard, fascinating explanations of why software patents are evil and posters of RMS and Star Trek.
Plus keeping a USB key in your pocket is so cumbersome..

--
You just got troll'd!
three questions. by will_die · 2009-03-13 09:23 · Score: 1

What is the size of the flash drive? We know he has a movie and a linux distro so at least an 8 gig. even then what do you do when your finger gets to small for any practical use?
Finally, is that guy still on drugs?
But WILL IT BLEND? by Dogbertius · 2009-03-13 09:45 · Score: 2, Funny

But WILL IT BLEND?
1. Re:But WILL IT BLEND? by Laser_iCE · 2009-03-13 11:07 · Score: 1
  
  But WILL IT BLEND?
  I'm gonna go out on a limb here... and say yes.
Just imagine... by wjsteele · 2009-03-13 10:18 · Score: 1

what John Wayne Bobbitt would do with this technology!!!

Bill

--
It's my Sig and you can't have it. Mine! All Mine!
Re:Bastard, showing his middle finger to everybody by cybernanga · 2009-03-13 10:26 · Score: 1

This makes 2009 "the year of linux on the palmtop" for this guy ;-)

--
www.Buy-Proxy.com - A "buyer-driven" global marketplace.
Re:The year of the linux finger! by jfreaksho · 2009-03-13 11:58 · Score: 1

This is the year of Linux on the fingertip!
J.
He was confused.. by Pvt_Ryan · 2009-03-13 12:05 · Score: 1

Noone told him it was a thumb drive....
That's nothing! by WWWWolf · 2009-03-13 23:05 · Score: 1

That's nothing! When I grow old, I want my dentures to be made out of microSD cards! I want to be remembered as The Wise Old Man With a Terabyte Smile.
Groinal socket ala Kryten by Sumbius · 2009-03-14 08:43 · Score: 2, Funny

USB fingers are cool, but if you really want to show everyone who's boss you will need a USB Groin Attachment Socket(tm). Just think about plucking your groin in a USB drive of a library computer... The ladies will like it too. "Small USB memory detected. Booting up Groinal Linux..." Now where did I leave my scissors?...
why stop at a finger by azaana · 2009-03-14 10:19 · Score: 1

my uncle has a whole prosthetic leg how large a raid array could he carry with him???
Kevin Warwick - human cyborg by VShael · 2009-03-15 21:31 · Score: 1

can go frak himself. Embedding an RFID chip under your skin doesn't make you a cyborg.
This guy has a better claim.