Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video)

Posted by geuis on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @02:11PM
from the bbc.co.uk dept.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13378036

( 3 comments | 9 points | on HN )

Re:Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video) by kenkam on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @04:33PM (#2561675)

Awesome technology. How do they even get the nerves to interface with the bionic arm?

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Re:Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video) by wattsbaat on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @05:03PM (#2561811)

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...

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Re:Man demonstrates his bionic hand (video) by ZoFreX on Wednesday May 18, 2011 @06:30PM (#2562098)

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.

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