dispatches from the new world of work

Bionic Man, Almost

Another inspiring speaker at PopTech was Todd Kuiken (pronounced kyken), Director of the Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Todd's working on making prosthetic limbs work more like real limbs by taking nerve endings and growing them into chest muscles to allow the limbs to behave in a more human fashion. Most mechanical limbs only operate in one dimension at a time. Todd's mechanical arms can operate like a real arm. Two problems: They're heavy. And slow. And so they're not quite ready for prime time.

But as Jesse Sullivan says, "The Wright brothers' first flight didn't go that far, either." Jesse is one of Todd's research patients. He was a lineman who lost both arms at the shoulders when he touched a 7200 volt power line. The guy is an inspiration. Very funny. He's from Tennessee, and when Dr. Kuiken mentioned that one of his other research subjects was from the same state, Jesse replied, "I guess we're just accident prone there." More about Jesse and his work with Dr. Kuiken is here.

Erik Hansen posted this on 10/25/05.

Comments

note to self: don't write about bionic arms at tp.com again.

Posted by erik hansen at October 26, 2005 1:49 PM

Why do you say that Erik? I read about it yesterday at Core 77 and thought it was pretty neat stuff.

Is it because no one commented today? Don't sweat that. If all you want are comments on this blog just post something about the iPod and you will get plenty. Truth is, most people can't relate to having their arms blown off, so this technology doesn't hit home the way iPods and browser software do.

I also thought the presentation about the Saturn fly-by was good stuff, as was the piece about overthrowing gov'ts through video games.

Posted by Mike at October 26, 2005 2:12 PM

mike, i only said that because there had been no comment activity under this post. kind of joke, to myself. the photos from saturn were, well, out of this world. it was magical. and the game stuff, very powerful things happening there. i think i'll be interviewing edward castronova, who is studying the economies of virtual worlds. his new book: Synthetic Worlds.

Posted by Erik Hansen at October 26, 2005 3:02 PM

Erik, I'm of two minds about Mr. Castronova's work. I don't have the depth of experience with this that you do, but I can't help get the feeling that he might be making more of this phenomenom than there really is. Every time I start to look into it, a little voice in my head starts telling me that it is just about people willing to part with their money for "nothing." Is it a new economy or just another take on the old "one born every minute?" I'm interested to see your interview.

Posted by Mike at October 28, 2005 8:49 AM

mike, i'm of two minds myself. but there is something going on here. more and more people "living" in Second Life each day. as for the economy of it, who knows. but given the world of brand you espoused by tom (and countless others now), these virtual environments give people the opportunity to try out new personnas. which they might then want to take out to their "live" world. i'm looking forward to the iinterview myself.

do yo have a question that you want me to ask him?

Posted by Erik Hansen at October 28, 2005 10:20 AM