Art and Technology Assignment 3

-

The Bionic Hand
The bionic hand is the future of prosthetics because of its ability to allow the user to move the fingers by themselves. It was invented in 2007 by David Gow and is formally named the iLIMB. It uses its own motor-control system to allow the fingers, thumb, and palm to move independently of each other. The technology behind the iLIMB is drawn from the prosthetics that are common today and modern computers.
The furthest back we’ve traced the use of prosthetics is to Ancient Egypt with a prosthetic big toe. The big toe prosthetic was more practical and did not require movement as its only purpose was to keep the sandal from falling off. When prosthetic limbs started to appear they, like the big toe, lack movement and were mainly used for a specific purpose, such as with General Marcus Serguis of the Ancient Roman military who had an iron arm that he used to hold his shield. Prosthetics remained the same up until Ambroise Paré, who introduced hinged prosthetic. From that innovation, James Hanger created the “Hanger Limb”, which included more hinges to allow a more realistic movement. James Hanger’s company is still a leader in the prosthetic industry today. That brings use to today where most prosthetics are being made with new materials to make them lighter and stronger and have slowly started to introduce motor-functions into them.
The way computers have influenced the iLIMB is with the software and programming that goes into them being able to function without having to be plugged into anything. The iLIMB is essentially a very basic computer that can process what the user wants it to do through various nerve impulses it can sense. This makes it mimic the way regular people move their arms. The program in the iLIMB works with the brain to move, making feel very natural for the user as they can move their fingers with a thought.
The iLIMB will influence the future of prosthetics to become unnoticeable from regular limbs and body parts. The functions of the prosthetic may also become more advanced and have more capabilities beyond that of the human body. Perhaps even super speed and strength like a superhero. It may also influence human and technology working together and maybe even becoming intertwined. The largest impact to could have is on the design of robots. It could make robots really be able to move fluidly and more human. The robots of today generally do not look very alive, such as the robots made by Boston Dynamics, which are still made to fulfill a purpose rather than make them human-like. The iLIMB has the potential to really blur the line of technology and nature. The concept of what it means to be alive could also blur.
Over all, the iLIMB and the bionic hand is the future of prosthetics in that it mimics the function of human limbs and can go beyond the basics into possibly super strength and speed. The iLIMB can also influence the design of future robots into making them more lifelike. Bionic advancements could become the next stage in human evolution and robotic evolution. Prosthetics could become obsolete in the sense that humans could decide to get a bionic prosthetic just for the advancements it could have over the regular human limb. Prosthetics could become a choice for most people and not just a way to improve amputees lives. Robocop could cease to be science fiction, like how many advancements in science started as an idea by the likes of science fiction authors like Jules Verne.

Works Cited
Layton, Julia. “How can someone control a machine with her thoughts?” howstuffworks, https://science.howstuffworks.com/bionic-arm.htm.
Marshall, John. “The History of Prosthetics.” UNYQ, http://unyq.com/the-history-of-prosthetics/.
Gabriel, Brian. “The Best Inventions of the 21st Century.” Bizfluent, https://bizfluent.com/info-8059828-inventions-21st-century.html.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Performance Art

-
Image
For the performance art project I was inspired originally inspired by Tatsumi Hijikata for the creepiness of his animation, but I soon discovered Benjamin Bennet, who had also managed to create an air of creepy by sitting motionless for hours. I wanted my performance to be a contradiction, in that I am lit up to symbolize the light of life, but remain motionless to create this kind of unnatural feeling to see if that contradiction would unsettle people. That response of being unsettled was what I mainly got from people, especially kids. I was mistaken as a statue until people walked past and I could see them kinda jump and stare at me as they walked past, most people were afraid to get close to me which I found interesting because I was essentially just sitting still, nothing that people would say they get creeped out by, but upon being faced with it they would keep about 10 feet away. For the technology aspect, I wrapped myself in battery powered string lights, which made peopl
Read more

Art and Technology Blog Post 3

-
When I watched Pjotr Sapegin's animated version of Madame Butterfly  what really struck me was the ending where Madame Butterfly, whose name I later learned is Ciocio-san, essentially kills herself by disassembling herself and from those parts she transforms into a butterfly and goes on to repeat the story. It'd seemed like it was a true tragedy because she was forced to go through the story infinitely. I think Sapegin really wanted to use the story to reflect on a part of U.S. history that is often not even brought up in a classroom. The aftermath of WWII and the Vietnam War with the U.S. soldiers getting sexually involved with the women of those countries is never really mentioned in U.S. education as it would ruin the perspective the public has of U.S. soldiers being very honorable people. After watching the animation I looked up the synopsis of the actual opera and the differences between the opera and the animation do change the story but not necessarily in a bad way. Th
Read more

Music

-
Image
1. Studio Killers - Virtual I consider the Studio Killers to fit into the virtual movement because they are not only a virtual band, but also refuse to identify themselves in real life, which solidifies themselves as a virtual band. Their music is also very nontraditional, as they are made up of one singer and two DJ's and their music is only mad up from vocals and synthesizers. 2. Robert Delong - House I consider House to best fit Robert Delong because of his use of manipulating his own voice with various instruments he builds himself and the style of his music is easy to dance to and be able to enjoy in a club. 3. Alle Farben - Electronic Producer/DJ Culture I chose Alle Farben for DJ Culture because of the presentation of his music in concert and his use of technology as his instrument. He also rarely ever lacks any vocal element in his songs, which I think makes him more similar to the DJ culture and to what DJ Khaled is doing, than to EDM. 4. Poppy - Techno
Read more