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New Interface Could Wire Prosthetics Directly Into Amputees' Nervous Systems
cylonlover writes "Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have announced a breakthrough in prosthetics that may one day allow artificial limbs to be controlled by their wearers as naturally as organic ones, as well as providing sensations of touch and feeling. The scientists have developed a new interface consisting of a porous, flexible, conductive, biocompatible material through which nerve fibers can grow and act as a sort of junction through which nerve impulses can pass to the prosthesis and data from the prosthesis back to the nerve. If this new interface is successful, it has the potential to one day allow nerves to be connected directly to artificial limbs."
Stop punching yourself.
Stop punching yourself.
Stop punching yourself.
They aren't by chance starting a company called Sarif are they?
I know this is still a research project and they don't know how well it's actually going to work in practice, but the fact that we're approaching a machine-nerve interface at all is incredible. If they are successful, they will end up with a permanent, prominent place in our history books.
Good work, people.
Excellent! Now we can build Copters, Thinkers, Drop Pods and start work on the The Cyborg Factory.
"Don't feel bad for me child; I'm the monster that hides under your bed."
Can't wait to replace all my tablets, touchscreens, wireless mice, and keyboards with my new virtual cybernectic tail. Cybernectic telephathy is the future. Rest in piece copyright, tellivisons, and hand held cell phones.
Yes... Insurance costs too much not because the companies providing it are greedy and profit driven, but because of all those amputees ruining it for the rest of us. (fyi, dont do a Google image search for "amputees" with safe search turned off. Need mind bleach).
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
http://xkcd.com/644/
Are cyborgs safe from becomming zombies?
If so- I want all my body parts converted to artificial parts BEFORE the zombie apocalypse. Afterwards it would be too late.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Overlords? You need to step up to the hacker challenge.
Step one: Install root kit in 7 of 9's interface. Step two: Party!
Have gnu, will travel.
You can always take out the battery
I think, and my thoughts cross the barrier into the synapses of the machine - just as the good doctor intended.
But what I cannot shake, and what hints at things to come, is that thoughts cross back.
In my dreams the sensibility of the machine invades the periphery of my consciousness.
Dark. Rigid. Cold. Alien.
Evolution is at work here, but just what is evolving remains to be seen.
-- Commissioner Pravin Lal,
"Man and Machine"
The idea of direct neural interfaces has intrigued me all through my years of reading about cyborgs and brain-in-a-bottle science fiction.
But when it comes to practical application, one thing has always puzzled me: How do you disconnect the device once it's "grown" into being part of your nervous system? How do you replace failed parts or repair the electronic/mechanical component of such devices?
The "Six Million Dollar Man" made for entertaining TV, but in practicality, was he supposed to lie on a guerney for days while they repaired a leg?
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
I am a doctor. In fact, I am a neurologist (IAAN). This article is fascinating, and I hope they keep working on this technology and get it working. That being said, I would never plug one of these things into my own amputated limb. Going to medical school and doing residency have turned me into something of a Luddite. Medical technology is cool, but every treatment has potential benefits and toxicities. The adverse event I would worry about most with this technology is neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to treat. What if you plugged this device into some amputee's limb and gave them excruciating pain? I would rather have a metal hook for a hand.
Rooting her kit comments in five... four...
Ignore this signature. By order.
Also allows for the remote control of robotic surrogates. Think Avatar.
My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
Ok it's cool that amputees get new organs, but jesus, people should be directing this tech at regular people.
Would totall cut off my little index finger to interface with a pc directly. Amputees don't have money. Geeks do.
Oh god want
One day we will truly master the art of connecting human nervous systems to computers. And on the following day, some asshole will create the first neurological malware.
The future is a tech-illiterate grandma driven insane by trojans, trying to claws her own eyes out just to try and make the continuous loop penis enlargement ads stop.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
"Give me Deus Ex"
Go-Go-Gadget [insert appendage/organ name here]!
"It is a fine line between lazy and efficient."
This is the one where the coyote buys robot legs to chase after the roadrunner ... it didn't work out to well for him, if I remember correctly.
2)Organics do minor self repair, for free (if time+ food = free). They are built to accept the minor damage it gives (see option 1) above.
3) Organic maintenance is limited and automatic inbuilt. We call it SLEEP. Electronic maintenance involves constant attention to detail - oils, software patches, etc.
4) Organics are evolved/designed to run far inside maximum tolerances. In extreme circumstances, they have hidden reserves that suddenly become accessible.
5) Organics are self-replicating. No need for a factory.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
It'd make sense to retain the pain response for the purposes of avoiding damage - the mechanics of the arm might handle high temperature for a while, but the plastic artificial skin would melt on contact.
You mechs might have copper wiring to reroute your fear of pain, but I've got nerves of steel.
The scientists have developed a new interface consisting of a porous, flexible, conductive, biocompatible material through which nerve fibers can grow and act as a sort of junction through which nerve impulses can pass to the prosthesis and data from the prosthesis back to the nerve.
And they call it: Conjunction Junction.
#DeleteChrome
NF2 trashes the auditory nerve. This technology will be useless to you in its current form. It may, though, lead to advances in the understanding of neural encoding which will be able to improve those ABS implants.
While a bionic arm might be able to move faster, would possibly be more durable, and could be designed to crush those really formidable keg cans between bicep and forearm, it won't convey the owner with the power to lift cars. Connected merely to bone and muscle, a mere human anatomy wouldn't support a car's weight, and the arm would likely just tear itself free (that being said, consider that people *have* lifted cars and it goes to show just how amazing our own body is). You would need support to the floor, perhaps running down the back connected to bionic legs, etc. Still, getting punched by a bunch of metal can't be good, and all you future Dr. Doom's should be wary.
If this new interface is successful
As with so many articles I see about "breakthroughs", this is the key bit. The researchers probably just needed another round of funding so they released some information about it. Call me when we actually have serious trials and it's about to start final testing.
You know the thing about UDP jokes? I don't care if you get it or not.
This has been done already a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.
If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.
I'd seven her nine, if you get what I mean!
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
Nice but, I'll be even more impressed the day we learn how to regrow limbs.
Entering the matrix or becoming Borg.
Major issue was the strange sounds that went with it when in operation, that and time seemed to slow down. Was somewhat expensive, costing ~6 million to out fit a person with a few limbs. Hope this is an improvement.
Free as in "the Truth shall set you..."
I wonder if this eventually could have ramifications for certain cases of vision and hearing loss.
gold dust!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Cybermen
So, you’re saying you’d be two inches too small?
Ignore this signature. By order.
...would you give up a finger to get a virtual finger interface?
Just think of the possibilities...
Firmware upgrade?
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
I'd look at it more like a robot LEG plus bonus Vicodin for the pain.
good grief, can't you do anything right?!!!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Bubba Ho-Tep is about a mummy and it has Elvis and JFK!
I only look human.
My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
I want a windshield wiper wired into my crotch for obvious reasons.
No, but I would give my left arm!
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
I'm going to be waiting impatiently for the second run of RAM and ROM implants. I'm guessing the first batch will have naughty flaws. :)
Geekism is your _only_ God!
Pain nerves are separate from temperature or touch nerves. I'd just want to recalibrate the pain to be appropriate to the hardware's durability. Silicone based skin should be able to handle a few hundred degrees Fahrenheit easily. I'd also want at least two, maybe three different sets of limbs; one realistic, one strong and durable, one light, fast, and dexterous. #2 and #3 wouldn't need to look at all human.
And of course, now I HAVE to do it...