Blog 5, Prosthetic Arm and Connection with the Nerves

   As the world, the people, and the problems change so does finding ways to work it out. Technology plays a big role in helping the world change in both good and bad ways, but lets focus on the good changes. Dr. Silvestro Micera a researcher from Switzerland developed a prosthetic arm that connects to the median and ulnar nerves in your body and makes you feel the sensation of a real arm. There are sensors placed at the finger tips, palm, and the wrist to send the signals to the nerves. This process also requires an implant that needs regular maintenance every month. Though this is quite new, there are plans to making it more efficient and would take a least a couple more years to test it safely. In doing so Micera's team is working together with the Italian Ministry of Health to further test this new prosthetic arm.

   I believe that with newer advances in technology comes better and safer treatment to today physical problems. However these solutions to our physical problems aren't one hundred percent curable, these replacements help comfort and bring joy back to the lives of people with disabilities. We as human beings will always strive in finding happiness, or a sense of comfort. What Dr. Selvestro is doing is providing people with another chance to finding that happiness in life again. With every new solution, there will always be a new problem afterwards. I have a feeling that this prosthetic arm is helpful, but also might lead to a nervous problem for those using it, since its directly connected to the median and ulnar nerves. This might be a sacrifice that many will make for that happiness or comfort they seek. All in all I support this new technology in making people feel and function with a prosthetic arm, but they need to be careful of the process of doing this. 

Devin Coldewey, NBCNews.com,3/1/13

   http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/bionic-arm-lets-user-feel-their-mechanical-fingertips-1C8435298

Dao Lee

3/1/13 

2:35pm