Want an extra thumb? Check out the Third Thumb, a prosthetic extra digit designed by London’s Royal College of Art grad student Dani Clode. The idea is that the additional finger can provide more versatility for gripping and interacting with objects than with just five fingers.
Basically, this additional finger attaches to your hand with a strap and is connected to a bracelet with a motor and battery that powers the movement. The gripping is controlled by a pressure sensor in the heel of your shoe, which is relayed to the bracelet using Bluetooth. After seeing the video demonstration, I think I could use another thumb. Looks pretty handy. Pun intended.
Dani says the Third Thumb was designed to “reimagine what we think of as a prosthetic – something that adds capabilities, rather than just replacing those lost.” It is a cool idea. We’re going to need some extra body parts if we are going to keep up with the robots.
[via The Verge via Geekologie]
Prosthetic limbs have evolved considerably from the rudimentary wooden appendages of just a few decades ago. They can be bionic, brain-controlled and loaded with features -- and even mimic the sense of touch. But they're still a way off truly replica...
Open Bionics announced today that its 3D-printed Hero Arm prosthetic will be available for purchase in the UK next month. The company's founders started Open Bionics because they were interested in developing prosthetic limbs that were less expensive...
It's been possible for a while to control bionic limbs with your brain, but there's been something missing: kinesthetic feedback, or the nervous system signals that give your limbs a sense of presence. You frequently have to stare at your artificial...
Scientists dream of prosthetics and robots with electronic skin that can convey heat and pressure just like the real thing, but there's a big problem getting in the way: the outside world. Bumps and scrapes can damage these sensors, and it's not rea...
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a prosthetic hand inspired by the bionic one given to Star Wars' Luke Skywalker. What sets this one apart from other prosthetics is the amount of dexterity it offers, allowing users to move individual finger...
Elon Musk isn't the only one looking to rummage around inside your skull. DARPA announced on Monday that it has selected its five grant recipients for the Neural Engineering System Design (NESD) program, which it began at the start of this year. Brow...
