From the article, I gather that it happens like this:
He still has nerves in his chest. When you try to move your arm, you(probably unknowingly) have to move your chest muscles in a certain way as well. They do some readings to determine what moves(or specifically, what nerves are fired) when he tries to perform an operation, and program them into the machine. Then go.
So on the topic of whether it will work the same for everyone: it's highly unlikely. The implementation must depend on the extent of whatever damage was caused that made you lose the limb in the first place, then further the programming of the machine must depend on the specific signals sent out when person x tries to move missing appendage y.
Summary: No, it's highly dependent on what parts of your body are still in tact that your brain would send signals to in order to move your missing limb.
However, could you have a default set of controls? Like map some other voluntary movement to correspond to moving arm/hand. Flare nostrils == close hand?
Slashdot Mirror
Very clever...I needed that laugh today.
From the article, I gather that it happens like this: He still has nerves in his chest. When you try to move your arm, you(probably unknowingly) have to move your chest muscles in a certain way as well. They do some readings to determine what moves(or specifically, what nerves are fired) when he tries to perform an operation, and program them into the machine. Then go. So on the topic of whether it will work the same for everyone: it's highly unlikely. The implementation must depend on the extent of whatever damage was caused that made you lose the limb in the first place, then further the programming of the machine must depend on the specific signals sent out when person x tries to move missing appendage y. Summary: No, it's highly dependent on what parts of your body are still in tact that your brain would send signals to in order to move your missing limb. However, could you have a default set of controls? Like map some other voluntary movement to correspond to moving arm/hand. Flare nostrils == close hand?