Tech Toy of the Month: Smart Hand

Now this isn’t really a tech toy by any stretch of the imagination. But the technology is just so intriguing that I felt I needed to write about it. And since this is my article, I can do what I want!

Basically, researchers in Italy and Sweden have developed a prosthetic hand that allows amputees to actually feel what they are touching! Think Luke Skywalker and his robotic hand from The Empire Strikes Back! The Smart Hand has forty sensors that connect to the nerve endings of the patient, which then links directly to the brain. Of course, the technology is in very early stages, but the potential applications of this technology are amazing to think of.

You can read more about this new technology at the following links:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/24/prosthetic-robotic-smart-hand-has-feelings-too/
http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/21/prosthetic-smart-hand-lets-amputee-feel-and-move-objects/