Man Controls Cybernetic Hand With Thoughts 81
MaryBethP writes "Scientists in Italy announced Wednesday that Pierpaolo Petruzziello, a 26-year-old Italian who had lost his left forearm in a car accident, was successfully linked to an artificial limb that was controlled by electrodes implanted in his arm and connected to the median and ulnar nerves. He has learned to control the artificial limb with his mind. According to CNet, Petruzziello says he could feel sensations in it, as if the lost arm had grown back again. The BBC has a brief video showing the arm in operation."
woohoo (Score:1)
bring on the cyborgs!!!!
I just want Slashdot to know (Score:-1)
Re:I just want Slashdot to know (Score:1)
Ah, but is it a break-through in the field of prosthetics?
Re:I just want Slashdot to know (Score:0)
Thank goodness (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Thank goodness (Score:2)
But will Gadget ever figure it out? Probably not.
I doubt he will, because Dr. Claw will get him next time. Next time.
That second link (Score:5, Funny)
C'mon, that's terrible even by my standards!
Re:That second link (Score:5, Funny)
You have to hand it to them though, I think they really pulled it off!
Re:That second link (Score:1)
Re:That second link (Score:2)
Despite your intended humor, the video makes it look like they have not actually attached it. Which does not seem like that big a surprises to me, since this limb would be so much heaver than a real hand that they would need to equip what remains of his arm with a bio-assist sleeve to allow him to use it in a way that resembles normal. Plus in order to be able to use this new arm for any signficiant portion of time, he would need to carry around an ungodly amount of additional weight in batteries.
I mean think about how much we complain about battery life in laptops which are mostly solid state. Now image how quickly laptop sized batteries would run out if powering an arm. Imagine just how many batteries you would need to get reasonable battery life in a robotic arm.
Re:That second link (Score:1)
Re:That second link (Score:0)
Oh give 'em a hand, I applaud their efforts - and now, so can he.
What happens when the patient thinks "wank?" (Score:0)
N/T
Yes, yes, yes! (Score:2, Interesting)
YES. EXCEPT THAT IS NOT THE HAND SKYWALKER LOST. EITHER OF THEM.
So anyhow, sweet. Amazed at the sensations part just as much if not more than the mental control. How sure can we be it's not just something like phantom limb syndrome? I assume they've done the whole behind a curtain "am I touching your hand" type dealie?
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:-1)
Ppl smrt nuff 2 hk up rbt arm 2 prsn, and prsn can grip bottle wif robot fingers, r smrt nuff 2 kno dat.
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:1)
Anyone smart enough to decipher that post would not only know that, but also the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:0)
I can decipher it! And the answer is 42. I thought Slashdotters were... actually, I'm not going to finish that sentence.
Translation to english for non stupid speakers (Score:0)
People smart enough to hook up a robotic arm to a person, and the person can grip a bottle with robotic fingers, are smart enough to know that.
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, they didn't give us any information about tha, nor whether or not there is a feedback system, but let's consider the feasibility: I'm no EE, but wouldn't there be some sort of change in resistance or ... something ... as the motors experienced load? I'm not sure the signal would transmit through relays or whatever they're using, but short of a specifically designed feedback system, is it possible, or likely? The nervous system operates on very low power, I know that much, so is there any sort of signal it could get and potentially interpret?
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:2)
Why yes, as you stated (and as I believe because a) I'm lazy and b) I couldn't imagine the nervous system using any sort of "high" voltage signal)))/*Close those parens!*/ I would think that a feedback system wouldn't be hard to develop, at least on the hardware side. Making something that can be affected by resistance - say, a hand touching the fake arm - shouldn't be difficult at all. While not entirely familiar with the technologies, something akin to touchscreen tech, the holographic stickers on old old old school Transformers toys, etc should be easily measurable.
The real problem, imho aianadosoee (and I am not a doctor or scientist or electrical engineer, of course), would be software. Err wetware. Err brainware. Whathaveyou, the point I'm trying to make is that measuring "touch" or sensations on an artificial limb is likely the easy part, the hard part is figuring out where to send the signal. As much as we know about the brain and the nervous system, we really don't seem to know much, but even so I don't see why the wiring couldn't be connected to the nearest nerve endings, perhaps through some sort of dongle? Sure, position tracking and sensitivity would be issues, but nothing some testing couldn't fix.
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:2)
Send them pretty much anywhere. The brain is very adaptive. Given a few months of use the guy will learn what the different feeelings correspond to. From their his brain will automatically map said feelings. It will quickly become unnoticable. Perhaps slightly different but for the individual they would not care.
I'm basing this off of many experiments, for example people being given vision through sensations in their tongue... The brain figures out what to do with the raw data quick enough.
Re:Yes, yes, yes! (Score:2)
http://www.trollaxor.com/2009/11/linux-2012-real-d (Score:-1)
http://www.trollaxor.com/2009/11/linux-2012-real-disaster.html [trollaxor.com]
Re:http://www.trollaxor.com/2009/11/linux-2012-rea (Score:0)
LOL
Finally (Score:1)
Re:Finally (Score:0)
I wish to purchase your shell, meatbag.
Re:Finally (Score:3, Insightful)
There is no replacement for brain yet, so your eternal mechanical life will eventually turn into an eternal Alzheimer's.
Re:Finally (Score:2)
Re:Finally (Score:0)
OOOO IT LIVES IT LIVES (Score:-1)
I can't hold it, I can't hold it
It's breaking up, it's breaking up
We can rebuild him
Why yes, I am happy to see you and no, that's not a banana in my pocket
Not there yet (Score:5, Interesting)
Looking at the video and articles it seems they haven't integrated the whole thing into an artificial hand attached to his arm. The hand he controls is shown separately from his body. Perhaps the unit is too heavy at the moment.
So Ratz can't have his russian military seven function force feedback manipulator just yet.
Re:Not there yet (Score:1)
Or maybe they're keeping it at a distance and hoping nobody notices that they made him another right hand by accident.
Re:Not there yet (Score:2)
I think the hand came before the patient.
Re:Not there yet (Score:1)
Damn, a reasonable explanation. That's not nearly so amusing.
Re:Not there yet (Score:2)
OT but re your sig which asks why linux.conf.au is actually in nz? Well, according to the website:
So I hope that's cleared it up for you: in short, it's because they have good coffee in Wellington.
Are you going? Don't miss the little blue penguins, if you do.
Re:Not there yet (Score:2)
I doubt it. I live in Melbourne. I was actually in Hobart at the same time as the last one. There were lots of Linux people on the ferry going over. I didn't attend because I was on holiday with my son. I will wait for it to come back to Melbourne and try to con my employer into sending me.
I am sure Wellington is a nice place for a conference but it should be called linux.conf.nz.
Re:Not there yet (Score:2)
I live in Melbourne too! I don't see why an Aussie conference can't be held in Aotearoa though? It's not like it's a long way ... closer than Perth I think. What confused me was the name of the conference: I first thought it was a domain name, but of course it's not. :-)
Re:Not there yet (Score:4, Interesting)
Sounds like the purpose of the test was to test the actual electrode interface and how complex the hand motions could get with it. The duration the electrodes stayed in his arm is the important part. With this test it seems complex cybernetic limbs are basically a done deal. The question is whether or not they can actually hook them up long term without serious rejection problems.
Re:Not there yet (Score:2)
Sounds like the purpose of the test was to test the actual electrode interface and how complex the hand motions could get with it. The duration the electrodes stayed in his arm is the important part. With this test it seems complex cybernetic limbs are basically a done deal. The question is whether or not they can actually hook them up long term without serious rejection problems.
Makes me wonder if you could build an implanted sensor more like a cochlear implant. No direct electrical connection with the outside. Data and power are transferred both ways by induction.
Re:Not there yet (Score:0)
Perhaps the unit is too heavy at the moment.
The arm in the picture is 2 Kg... A much lighter one is being developed (and it's in an advanced stage of development)
This raises important questions... (Score:5, Funny)
And, can they give you control without feeling sensation? Because that would totally feel like somebody else's hand...
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The+Stranger [urbandictionary.com]
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:3, Informative)
No, he still gets sensation. That's actually a technology that's been around for a couple of years, now. The nerves that used to go to the tips of the fingers are surgically relocated to convenient locations where the prosthetic will be mounted, and appropriate sensory devices are built into the fingers, which in turn, relay that sensory data back to the appropriate nerve endings. The net result is that the person wearing the arm gets the distinct tactile sensations from his missing limb, via the artificial limb.
One of the things I find interesting about modern prosthetic limbs, is that the advanced models can actually have the ability to react to nerve impulses faster than the user's real muscles.
it doesn't count as masturbation BUT (Score:2)
scientists have found that the palms get hairy after you do it a while.
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:2)
Im still waiting for the scientific community weigh in on whether bonking your own clone is considered as such as well.
Ahh what an age of wizardry we live in!
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:3, Funny)
Heck, go whole hog. Have two amputees chatting with each other via webcams connect to each other's artificial arm over the Internet. Cybersex will never be the same.
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:2)
Two or more amputees in an online masturbation ring?
I've just had a really neat idea for a porno site!
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:1)
Without sensation? Seems dangerous. What if you squeeze too hard? Pull too hard?
Unless he also has a cybernetic wang, there would still be sensation where it counts.
- RG>
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:3, Insightful)
If there is a voice-controlled version, under no circumstances say "Jerk it off!".
Re:This raises important questions... (Score:2)
Like, will it still count as masturbation if he uses the cybernetic hand?
Yes, but he will have the option of also calling it "cybersex".
The better for obscene gesturing? (Score:1)
Not to diminish the achievement, but haven't they built him a redundant right hand?
A Start (Score:1)
Optional extras (Score:5, Interesting)
Could be interesting to outfit it with PDA/smartphone/net capabilities linked to a couple of extra feedback wires. You'd be able to develop electronic senses such as orientation, absolute location, driving directions to a destination, knowing when someone had sent you an email, and the direction and distance of practically anything with a Whitepages/Yellowpages entry.
For bonus points, equip your car with a GPS+intertial tracker and cellphone, and you'll be able to find it anywhere on the planet to within a couple of dozen feet. Add in a radio transmitter which can pick up and replicate signals from things like car keys, and you'll be able to find it within that dozen feet, too.
I'm thinking - what about being able to put the hand into virtual mode, so that wrist and finger gestures aren't expressed by the mechanical hardware but are instead used as input to an interface linked to a bunch of macros for the electronics? Add an IR transmitter/recorder, point at the TV, go virtual, and sign the macro for switching on, calling up your favorite channel, and turning up the volume. Or with an IRDA channel, be able to send macro signals to your PC to do whatever you want. Heck, go the whole hog and install WiFi, Bluetooth, a USB port, an acoustic coupler... you'd have the most connected hand on the planet!
Re:Optional extras (Score:0)
Someone chop my arm off. I've got to have one of these things!
Re:Optional extras (Score:2)
Re:Optional extras (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Optional extras (Score:2)
[SIGH] A compass points to the local magnetic north (or south), not to "north" in any other sense.
OK, it may seem trivial to some people, but there's about 5 degrees difference here, and 7 degrees of difference at my last work site. And that site, the magnetic variation changed by nearly 3 degrees across the site, due to the presence of magnetic rock intrusions nearby which hardened under a different magnetic field orientation and remember that orientation.
"Simply" and "magnetic compass" do not go together except for the crudest of applications. A 7 degree steering error from the summit of Ben Nevis, for example, would put you either freefalling down Tower Gully or avalanching down Five-Finger Gully, depending on which way you made the error.
Re:Optional extras (Score:1)
Re:Optional extras (Score:2, Interesting)
As opposed to.. (Score:0)
God moved the hand (Score:3, Funny)
More proof that God synchronizes mental and physical events. Substance dualists rejoice! ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occasionalism [wikipedia.org]
Re:God moved the hand (Score:0)
drunken fencers?
Why start there? (Score:1)
Imagine the remote control possibilities: Tele-Surgery and both Macro and Micro Waldoes in general (ever wondered what that water molecule "feels" like ?).
Re:Why start there? (Score:1)
Fear leads to anger (Score:0)
So how long before he turns evil starts listening to a crazy old man and kills Natalie Portman?
cnet is the worst journal we can get (Score:0)
During the LifeHand trial, which lasted a month, Petruzziello, 26, was able to experience sensations when grasping, making a fist, and apparently flipping the bird. No really. (There's nothing science can't do.)
WTF?
I for one.. (Score:0)
.. no, I am not going to make that joke :)
Finally (Score:0)
I remember when I as kid watched Star wars and was amazed how luke could move his cyber hand after operation. It felt so unrealistic and incredible. This has now happend totally weird when I think back.
Two right hands? (Score:1)
I wonder if this makes it harder to control (like his hand is back to front), and whether he will have trouble adjusting to a prosthetic left arm later on.
Re:Two right hands? (Score:1)
Now, the ultimate test! (Score:0)
Arm, pick up the ball! (Red Dwarf) [youtube.com]
Interesting (Score:1)
so is it his hand now? (Score:1)
I mean... if someone were to destroy this hand for some reason, would they be sued for damaging his personal property, or for bodily harm?
Seriously.
And what then of the destruction of a "personal" computer, cell phone and/or other gadget (which some can argue are more useful than 1 hand or 1 foot)?
Scary headlines... (Score:3, Funny)
I'm still waiting for the newspaper headlines reporting a nose-picking fatality caused by a short in the sensing circuits!!!
Re:Scary headlines... (Score:1)
That or something like the tragic death of Captain Hook.
Looks like snows of yesteryear (Score:1)
Ah, Europe (Score:0)
Where the Italian guy is found speaking Portuguese in a British channel.
Re:Ah, Europe (Score:2)
Where the Italian guy is found speaking Portuguese in a British channel.
Native-like Brazilian Portuguese, to be more precise.
From this article (in portuguese language) [geek.com.br] it seems that he was born in Brazil (he has dual italian-brazilian citizenship) and his family strongly kept their italian identity. Also, he is a public servant in Curitiba [wikipedia.org].
Performance enhancement? (Score:1)