TED, or Technology, Entertainment, Design, is a global set of conferences under the motto "ideas worth spreading". I recently watched a TED presentation on bionics that I believe is worth sharing.
The topic of discussion was Bionics, specifically those of Hugh Herr. Hugh Herr is a biophysicist at MIT who has focused his research on biomechatronics, mechanisms that coexist with our body. For Herr, this is more personal agenda than simply paying the bills. He lost both of his legs in a rock climbing accident over thirty years before. Both Herr and his colleagues have made amazing progress in the pursuit of a fully versatile bionic system. As he spoke at the TED conference, he was shown in shorts, wearing his own made prosthetic legs. It was remarkable to see the way he could move on stage just as if the legs were flesh and bone. He demonstrated that his equipment was not just about getting people their limbs back but also their humanity.
Side by side comparisons of his bionics and prosthetic limbs showed a much greater depth of function. Individual portions of Herr's limb reacted identically to a human muscle. These muscle like responses allow their user to do most of the functions if not all a fully-limb person can do.
I really believe Herr and his colleagues work is noble and deserves more support. Giving people that lost limbs the chance to walk again is something I can definitely get behind. I would be interested in further pursuing the research involved in this humanitarian approach to technology. Technology can be a wonderful thing and I strongly recommend watching the video in the following link to TED's website.
Related Article: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance
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