Thursday, September 24, 2015

Paralyzed Man Can 'Feel' Again with Brain-Connected Prosthetic Hand by Cameron Rutledge



Prosthetic limbs have been around for hundreds of years, but just recently the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed a prosthetic hand that allowed a paralyzed man to control the robotic limb with his mind and even feel what the prosthetic touches. The man (who had been paralyzed for more than a decade) had electrodes attached to his sensory cortex (the part of the brain used for identifying touching sensations) and his motor cortex (the part of the brain that controls body movements). Wires were then run to the prosthetic, connecting the man to the machine. Through this the man was able to use his thoughts to manipulate the prosthetic in the same way a hand would be used normally. Additionally he could sense when the hand was being touched by something, even when he was blindfolded. DARPA's program manager Justin Sanchez said that prosthetic limbs controlled by thoughts and that can feel "shows the potential for seamless bio-technological restoration of near-natural function".

Questions:
How essential do you think this technology is?
What do you think is the most important use of this technology (Medical, Manufacturing, Military)?
Should this be covered in insurance?
How do you think this may effect sports?


11 comments:

  1. This is really entertaining and also informative
    -Isaiah Dupree

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  2. I think this is a step in to the future of prosthetic's
    -Joe West

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  3. This is really interesting, I think its amazing that they were able to do that. This absolutely opens up infinite possiblities

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  4. I think it should be covered by insurance because someone should not be paying for something like this if they need it. it could improve their life. -Hannah Zenk

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  5. With technology advancing everyday, who knows what can come from this. This gives people the ability have have what they didn't have or the closest to what they can get. Truly amazing
    -Nick Grove

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  6. With technology advancing everyday, who knows what can come from this. This gives people the ability have have what they didn't have or the closest to what they can get. Truly amazing
    -Nick Grove

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  7. With technology advancing everyday, who knows what can come from this. This gives people the ability have have what they didn't have or the closest to what they can get. Truly amazing
    -Nick Grove

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  8. I think that these should be covered with insurance because the patient has already been through so much and they should be able to have them
    -Max M.

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  9. That's crazy that technology can do that these days
    Jake Dunbar

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  10. I don't think it should be covered insurance because it is really expensive and not necessary for life, even though it would be really nice to have.

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  11. I don't think it should be covered insurance because it is really expensive and not necessary for life, even though it would be really nice to have.

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