Paralysed Woman Controls Robotic Arm With Mind-Control
A breakthrough has been reported in the quality of mind-controlled artificial limbs.
According to a study in the Lancet medical journal, a paralysed woman has been able to pick up objects, move them and place them in precise locations using only a robotic hand - and her mind.
The woman, Jan Scheuermann, was 52 at the time of the study, and has been paralysed for years after being diagnosed with spinocerebellar degeneration.
Her robotic arm works by implanting two sensors - each about 4mm square - in the part of the brain that deals with movement, known as the motor cortex.
Each of the sensors holds about 100 needles, which are able to pick up information from 200 brain cells each.
The electrical pulses are translated into movements for the robotic arm to follow, and after training it appears that the woman could "routinely" use the arm to deftly use and manipulate objects.
"There is no limit now to decoding human motion," Michael Boninger, who worked on the study, told Reuters.
"It gets more complex when you work on parts like the hand, but I think that, once you can tap into desired motion in the brain, then how that motion is effected has a wide range of possibilities."
Bionic arms controlled by the mind have been available in varying forms since at least 2006, but the precision of the movements allowed have often been called into question.
The report said:
"The participant was able to move the prosthetic limb freely in the three-dimensional workspace on the second day of training. After 13 weeks, robust seven-dimensional movements were performed routinely. Mean success rate on target-based reaching tasks was 91.6%"
"The participant was also able to use the prosthetic limb to do skilful and coordinated reach and grasp movements that resulted in clinically significant gains in tests of upper limb function. No adverse events were reported."
Shoes Designed with New Technology
The
latest technology design for running shoes is for there to be very little shoe at all. Because barefoot running is not always ideal, shoe manufacturers are using new
technology to design lightweight running shoes that simulate the motion of barefoot running. Termed the “minimalist shoe” with designs from Nike, New Balance, Vibram and Saucony, there are plenty of these running shoes to be found online and in stores.
Mike Shinsky, the general manager of New Balance, says that wearing these running shoes feels like you are running barefoot. Because the shoe weighs less than eight ounces the wearer is forced to run on the balls of their feet, which ist he more natural way to run and is much better for you. And because they are so lightweight, instead of keeping them on the floor you can opt for one of the ingenious shoe hanger solutions as a method of storing your stability running shoes.
These shoes are very unlike usual off road running shoes as they are so thin. At first glance Vibram’s “Five Fingers” shoes seem as though they will be impossible to run in because they look like gloves for your feet. However, once you put them allow a good 15 minutes to get used to how the shoes feel. While gel running shoes have some padding for comfort, these provide absolutely no padding and will force runners to run in the natural way that they are meant to. In fact they offer about as much comfort as the packaging from the shoe hooks manufacturers.
While the running shoes are receiving a good review, it is important to note that technique is favoured over technology. The best advice you can get about these running shoes is that you need to wear them in first and become completely comfortable with the correct way of running in them. On the other hand, these running shoes will help you build up the soft-tissue in your feet and encourage you to run in the correct way.
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