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Archive for the ‘cyborgs’ category: Page 93

Jan 29, 2017

Textile muscles could find use in a literal “power suit”

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, materials

There are many people who could use a bit of help moving their limbs, but they don’t necessarily need a full-on exoskeleton. Well, imagine if their clothes could provide that help. Such a thing may one day be possible, thanks to the recent creation of “textile muscles.”

In a study conducted at Sweden’s Linköping University and University of Borås, scientists coated mass-producible cellulose yarn with a flexible electroactive polymer known as polypyrrole.

When a low voltage is applied to the polymer, it increases in volume, causing the yarn fibers to increase in length accordingly – when the electrical current is switched off, the fibers retract back to their original length. By varying the manner in which those fibers are woven together, it’s possible to tune the force of the material toward different tasks.

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Jan 28, 2017

11-year-old girl who made glitter-shooting prosthetic has more 3D printed projects lined up

Posted by in categories: 3D printing, biotech/medical, cyborgs

Luv this. True Girl Power!


11-year-old Jordan Reeves, who last year made the world a bit jollier with her 3D printed, glitter-shooting prosthetic arm, has become a source of inspiration for many. The young and remarkably ambitious girl, who was born without most of her left arm (it stops just above the elbow), has been showing off her 3D printed glitter prosthetic all around the U.S. for the past several months, was presented with Disney’s Dream Big, Princess award, and was given a 3D printer courtesy of Autodesk and Dremel.

Not only is she receiving recognition, however, but Reeves has continued her steadfast work and is creating more 3D printed prosthetic accessories and assistive tools. Her latest project, for instance, is working on developing a device that combines a medical-grade prosthetic arm with 3D printed, changeable attachments. Though decidedly less sparkly than her first make, the hybrid prosthetic could allow for a variety of 3D printed attachments (like a hand or a pirate hook). Jordan is developing the 3D printed prosthesis with the help of her prosthetist and her Autodesk mentor Sam Hobish.

Continue reading “11-year-old girl who made glitter-shooting prosthetic has more 3D printed projects lined up” »

Jan 27, 2017

IARPA launching two programs aimed at making fingerprints more reliable biometrics

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, cyborgs, privacy

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), the intelligence community’s research arm, will soon launch two programs designed to detect fake fingerprints and develop devices to collect fingerprint data without the aid of a human operator, according to a report by GCN.

The Odin program, which is scheduled to begin with four prime developers in early March, will develop detection technologies that can spot presentation attacks on biometric devices that attempt to spoof physical biometric samples, said Chris Boehnen, senior program manager at IARPA.

Boehnen said that prosthetic fingers, fake fingerprints made with wood glue and other tactics can dupe current fingerprint sensors.

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Jan 26, 2017

Scientists are making genetically modified cyborg dragonflies

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, cyborgs, drones, genetics, surveillance

They could be used for guided pollination… or for surveillance.

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Jan 26, 2017

UK Man with a Bionic Penis Now Must Endure a Two-Week Erection

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, transhumanism

For science.

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Jan 26, 2017

Neuroprosthetics: Brain Interface Applied in Neurology

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, cyborgs, engineering, neuroscience, robotics/AI

The brain is the fattiest organ in your body made up of 60% fat, the dry part that is. 75% of your brain is actually water which houses 100,000 miles of blood vessels that use up 20% of all your oxygen and blood. It’s an amazing piece of hardware. Of all the moonshot projects out there, the ones that relate to augmenting the brain are perhaps the most fascinating. Companies like Kernel have actually succeeded in writing long-term memories to a chip – well, at least 80% of them. When that number hits 100%, the sky is the limit to what we can do with the brain.

If you want a graphic image of what the future holds, imagine a robotic arm on top of your table (no wires) moving its fingers or trying to grab something powered only by someone’s thought. After all those Terminator movies, this could be a bit creepy. You may not get Terminator at your doorstep just yet, but someone with neuroprosthesis might just be ringing your doorbell a few years from now.

Neuroprosthetics or neuroprosthesis is a field of biomedical engineering and neuroscience concerned with the development of neural prostheses which are a series of devices that can substitute your brain’s motor, sensory or cognitive functionality that might have been damaged as a result of an injury or a disease.

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Jan 19, 2017

Harvard’s Hidden Exosuit Powers the Mech March to Relevance

Posted by in category: cyborgs

‘Avatar’ and ‘Aliens’ didn’t contend with the potential for mass adoption.

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Jan 18, 2017

It was nothing less than amazing speaking to the Masters Degree Program of Orthotics and Prosthetics at Eastern Michigan University today

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, cyborgs, transhumanism

I was able to demonstrate the Bebionic and its components while also hooking one of the students up to our small hand so they could get a taste of what it’s like to Bebionic. I also had the chance to demonstrate and speak on the importance of fitting patients with an ETD such as my Motion Control, Inc. from Fillauer to accompany the Bebion…ic hand.

We got to talk about the basic components of a myoelectric prosthesis as well as some of the advanced systems such as the Coapt Direct Control and Morph system from Infinite Biomedical Technologies, LLC. With all of the major advances in upper limb prosthetics in recent times it’s great to be part of this technology.

A big thanks to Wendy the program director and faculty for having me visit your program and for making me feel welcome. You have an amazing facility. I will be looking forward to revisiting the program this fall. Steeper Group Steeper USA.

Continue reading “It was nothing less than amazing speaking to the Masters Degree Program of Orthotics and Prosthetics at Eastern Michigan University today” »

Jan 15, 2017

Chinese humanoid robot turns on the charm in Shanghai

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, economics, finance, robotics/AI

“Jia Jia” can hold a simple conversation and make specific facial expressions when asked, and her creator believes the eerily life-like robot heralds a future of cyborg labour in China.

Billed as China’s first human-like robot, Jia Jia was first trotted out last year by a team of engineers at the University of Science and Technology of China.

Team leader Chen Xiaoping sounded like a proud father as he and his prototype appeared Monday at an economic conference organised by banking giant UBS in Shanghai’s futuristic financial centre.

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Jan 13, 2017

This Remarkable Robot Hand Is Worthy of Luke Skywalker

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, robotics/AI, space, transhumanism

Most of today’s robot hands can perform easy tasks. They’re uber-practical grippers, simple and useful. But is it really so much to ask for robotic masterworks as dextrous as Luke Skywalker’s bionic hand in Star Wars? In short, yes, yes it is. It might have been a long time ago in a galaxy far far away—but most Star Wars tech is beyond us.

Still, it’s hard not to get in a Star Wars state of mind watching this beautiful robot hand engineered by Yale postdoc Joseph (Zhe) Xu and the University of Washington’s Emanuel Todorov.

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