Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only his thoughts

Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by greydius on Tuesday March 01, 2016 @05:42AM (#11201918)

The recent thread on Ghost in the Shell reminded me of this. It's only a matter of time before technology can build fully functional replacement limbs. This is obviously great for people that rely on prosthetics, but when these new limbs become better than the ones we were born with, are we going to see people having their perfectly working biological parts replaced?

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by ccallebs on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @04:54PM (#11213343)

People dangerously modify their body for non-practical reasons already, so I think it's a given. Once technology catches up to science fiction, cyborgs will be a real (and probably common) occurrence. Hell, I would probably do it.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by cwe on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:30PM (#11213568)

Can I add the arms rather than replace? I often find myself wish I had an extra pair of hands. Or better hands, with two thumbs for example? Or tentacles instead of fingers? This could get very weird...

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by mhb on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @06:05PM (#11213792)

If you're a drummer: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/02/1...

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by melling on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:42PM (#11213644)

Why does it matter? Why do you care? Personally, I'd rather learn more about the technology than discuss the science fiction aspects that will happen in 50-200 years.

For example, "The part of the brain that controls the pinkie and ring fingers overlaps, and most people move the two fingers together," Crone says. "It makes sense that coupling these two fingers improved the accuracy."

I believe the ulnar nerve travels to both of these fingers. How does the part of the brain connect to this nerve. Is this a coincidence?

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by drcross on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @06:54PM (#11214064)

"The unexamined life is not worth living"-Socrates

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by melling on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @08:55PM (#11214546)

Next should we talk about what human life will be like when we can live for hundreds of years? Having premature conversations well in advance of the possibility really adds no value.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by Pfhreak on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:07PM (#11213424)

Absolutely. If that option was available today, I would strongly consider it. Your current biological parts are functionally machines. Pretty dang good ones. But when there's a better one available, why not change out to that machine instead?

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by nsxwolf on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @07:12PM (#11214134)

I think a lot of people would have an instinctual aversion to removing their natural limbs without some dire medical need. I certainly wouldn't do it.

If I could get similar performance gains by slipping on some kind of exoskeletal enhancements, I'd much rather do that.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by Pfhreak on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @08:55PM (#11214548)

That's also true. There's undoubtedly both communities. I didn't mean to imply that everyone, or even a majority would be willing to give up their natural limbs, just that there does exist a population that would gladly do so.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by atomic_cheese on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @07:39PM (#11214262)

Absolutely. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd happily switch to a GiTS-style full-body prosthetic if they were available.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by viraptor on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @10:53PM (#11214915)

I feel like every time GitS-style full body prostethics are brought up as a happy alternative, people forget all the downsides they came with. Undiagnosed failures (the new movie), privacy invasion (SAC), interface allowing outside hacking (almost all episodes), interference with real memories (AA), etc.

Replacements operated directly and only via the nervous system, with no extra interface - sure. GitS-style body parts - no, thank you.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by labster on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @04:56PM (#11213359)

Yes, I too am looking forward to the day when perfectly healthy people will become paraplegic from solar flares.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by vkou on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:38PM (#11213615)

Or bugs in over-the-air firmware updates.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by contingencies on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @08:09PM (#11214359)

Or the results of pranksters launching unscheduled firmware 0day-driven, forced opt-in, impeccably synchronized flashmobs of commuter exoskeletons dancing infinite loops of classics like Walk Like an Egyptian or Gangnam Style.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by agumonkey on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:46PM (#11213670)

And then think about the questions it brings about the self, identity. Even the mind.

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Re:Man moves individual fingers on prosthetic arm using only... by melling on Wednesday March 02, 2016 @05:49PM (#11213688)

Yes, I'm thinking those deep thoughts too.

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