iPhone-Controlled Prosthetic Hands Allow Double Amputee to Perform Complex Tasks

[MacRumors]

After running into a downed power line in 2008, Jason Koger lost both of his hands. Five years later, he has almost a full range of motion after being the first double amputee to be fitted with prosthetic hands that can be controlled by an iPhone app, reports CNN.

The i-limb ultra revolution, made by Touch Bionics, is the newest in prosthetic technology. According to the developers, it is the closest thing to a real human hand.

With the i-limb ultra, your prosthesis looks and moves more like a natural hand than any other powered prosthetic hand. Each finger bends at the natural joints so that it can accurately adapt to fit around the shape of the object you want to grasp.

Unlike standard prosthetics, the i-limb features five individually powered fingers, which includes a thumb that is fully rotatable. The wrist rotates as well, and the app allows for 24 additional grip patterns like a tripod grip to pick up a pen. With the hand, Koger can do things like use tools and shake hands.

Koger, who has even customized a grip pattern of his own, detailed what he thinks of the technology.

You know, I love it. These have motorized thumbs. it has an app that comes with it so that you can do several different grasp patterns it gives me the ability to do more things that I want to do.

He goes on to say that for the first time in five years, he can hold onto his daughter's hand. "I can't tell you what a gift that feels like."

Article Link: iPhone-Controlled Prosthetic Hands Allow Double Amputee to Perform Complex Tasks

 

[pancakedrawer]

He can finally hold it correctly!

 

[Satori]

Utterly awesome!

I'd love to know some more about the tech behind it... off I go to google it!

 

[Phil A.]

That looks incredible and it's a brilliant use of technology. I do wish CNN had hidden the stupid banner (or at least made it smaller) - it obscured loads of important bits in the video!

 

[Yvan256]

Wait, what?

After running into a downed power line in 2008, Jason Koger lost both of his hands. Five years later, he has almost a full range of motion after being the first double amputee to be fitted with prosthetic hands that can be controlled by an iPhone app, reports CNN.

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?

This reminds me of this scene in Futurama.

 

[3282868]

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?

This reminds me of this scene in Futurama.

I was pondering the same thing, it seems as though his left hand is still intact or am I misreading the matter?

Otherwise, extremely incredible what is happening in regards to bio-technology. Wow!

 

[GenesisST]

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?

This reminds me of this scene in Futurama.

Or something like this:
http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_8_30-error-messages-you-never-want-to-see_p32/#5

All kidding aside, even if you have to use your other hand, there could be a lot of usefulness that two-handed creatures like me cannot truly understand.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?
...

The prosthetics seem to be automatically controllable by his nerve endings. All the app allows him to do is customize/swap grip patterns. He's able to operate the app while wearing a capacitive finger sleeve.

That last bit is in the video, BTW, around the 1:26 mark.

 

[qtx43]

nevermind

 

[everything-i]

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?

This reminds me of this scene in Futurama.

Watch the video, there is a conductive covering over one of the hands that lets him use the iPhone touch screen with the prosthesis. Amazing use of technology.

 

[Simplicated]

He needs at least one hand to control the iPhone but both of his hands are controlled by the iPhone... am I missing something?

This reminds me of this scene in Futurama.

Judging from this video (I didn't watch the entire video), he seems to be using a stylus.

 

[Skika]

That must be very handy for him.

 

[fiveainone]

In before Skynet comments..

 

[3282868]

In before Skynet comments..

I can never get enough Skynet jokes, my WLAN's name is Skynet

 

[Apple Key]

I wonder if he can type on a computer keyboard.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

In some ways, it seems he's actually more flexible than ordinary people are. His wrists are able rotate all the way around multiple times (probably for forever,) whereas most human hands only get 180˚ in either direction (and some people have extra joints allowing up to 360˚ in either direction, I understand...)

 

[madsci954]

Step 1: Appendages controlled by an app.
Step 2: Robots controlled by an app.
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit

(and by profit I mean the extinction of the human race at the hands of our glorious robot overlords. All praise to Skynet!)

 

[devilbond]

I know what my first *complex task* would be.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Am I a terrible person for this story coming to mind when seeing some of the people from the Boston marathon explosion right now?

 

[Mike Oxard]

A fantastic idea until Apple pull the app from the app store

 

[SeaFox]

In before Skynet comments..

No-no-no. This is no time for Skynet jokes...

It's the time for ISR jokes.

In Soviet Russia, phone controls hand!