Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video)(bbc.co.uk)
bbc.co.uk
Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13378036
1 comments
Awesome technology. How do they even get the nerves to interface with the bionic arm?
Many amputees can still move the muscles/surface at end of their limb. So they put a sensor and then try to make an intuitive map of those skin/muscle movements to the bionic arm motions. I don't know how exactly they map the motions (statically vs a learning algorithm, etc), but apparently they can make it good enough that people can learn how to use the bionic arm naturally.
(Forgot exactly where I saw this. Hopefully someone can provide a source.)
EDIT: Looks like recently they've been able to actually rewire nerves. Short video here: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/02/bionic-arm-wi...
(Forgot exactly where I saw this. Hopefully someone can provide a source.)
EDIT: Looks like recently they've been able to actually rewire nerves. Short video here: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/02/bionic-arm-wi...
I would imagine that with time their control of the hand would be much closer to feeling natural than you might imagine, due to neuroplasticity.