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Man Receives a Prosthetic Hand That Allows Him To Feel

New submitter CravenRaven76 writes: A 28 year old man who has been paralyzed for almost a decade has recently received a prosthetic hand that allows for him to feel for the first time. While prosthetics have previously been able to be controlled directly from the brain, it is the first time that signals have been successfully sent the other way. “We’ve completed the circuit,” said DARPA program manager Justin Sanchez in a statement. “Prosthetic limbs that can be controlled by thoughts are showing great promise, but without feedback from signals traveling back to the brain it can be difficult to achieve the level of control needed to perform precise movements. By wiring a sense of touch from a mechanical hand directly into the brain, this work shows the potential for seamless bio-technological restoration of near-natural function.”

21 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Feel what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't be so harsh. Wouldn't you spend the next 72 hours masturbating? I know I would. (double-checks to make sure the "Post Anonymously" box is checked.)

  2. Feelings....whoa, whoa, whoa by turkeydance · · Score: 1

    feelliinggs.

  3. Feedback loop?!?! by rmdingler · · Score: 1

    Who has a huge robotics chubby?

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

  4. Re:Feel what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not sure I would trust delicate equipment in a 1st-gen robotic hand...

  5. So How Does He Feel? by Greyfox · · Score: 1

    Lumpy.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  6. Safety by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's important that he stays off the Internet for his own safety. He's going to do himself an injury.

  7. Re:Feel what? by PPH · · Score: 1

    Perhaps not what you had in mind. But this?

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  8. Re:Feel what? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't you spend the next 72 hours masturbating?

    Of course. Why would I change anything just because I had a prosthetic hand?

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  9. Feel Different. by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    "You're holding it wrong."

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  10. Re:Feel what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Don't be so harsh. Wouldn't you spend the next 72 hours masturbating?

    Isn't it more interesting when you can't feel the sensation in your hand as well (usually by sitting on your hand for awhile first to put it to sleep)?
    I believe they call it "the stranger".

  11. Prosthetic hand by rossdee · · Score: 1

    The Force, Luke

    1. Re:Prosthetic hand by zarmanto · · Score: 1

      Ah... there's the reference I was looking for; it was just buried a bit. You get to keep your geek card, Ross.

  12. Re: Feel what? by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    Think of how that could improve psychoanalysis!

    There was a science fiction story about an amputee that had implants that allowed him to control robotic arms that had various properties and he went crazy with power, until someone found a way to make one of the devices punch him in the head, and I think the psychoanalyst thought it was because of his trauma that made him go mad, but thought that in a person who didn't experience trauma it would go better. Someone like himself, and he said something similar to what you did. Can't find a reference to the story though.

  13. This could have other applications too ? by Lennie · · Score: 1

    How about touch in virtual reality ?

    OK, I'll say it, because someone will anyway: how about touch, virtual reality and porn ? ;-)

    --
    New things are always on the horizon
  14. Pee-wee's Playhouse by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    "Jambi, your new hands are here!"
    "Thanks, Pee-wee! There's something I've been wanting to try for a long time."

  15. Meme friendly by PPalmgren · · Score: 1

    Yo Dawg, something something feels in your feels. I know that feel bro.

  16. Luke's hand? by zarmanto · · Score: 1

    Goes to comments... sees references to masturbation and PeeWee's Playhouse -- but inexplicably, not one single reference to Luke Skywalker's hand.

    Alright people: turn over your geek cards, this instant!

  17. Re:Feel what? by rwise2112 · · Score: 1

    Don't be so harsh. Wouldn't you spend the next 72 hours masturbating? I know I would. (double-checks to make sure the "Post Anonymously" box is checked.)

    Remember, practice on a hog dog first!

    --

    "For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert"
  18. Totally tasteless joke done the right! by MouseTheLuckyDog · · Score: 1

    All these lame jokes and no one gets the right one!

    Be careful how hard you squeeze, they are not zits you know.

  19. Re:Feel what? by Rakarra · · Score: 1

    Eeeh. That's the sort of thing that would really spur me to be completely ambidextrous.