Cambridge researchers want you to wear an extra robotic thumb… for reasons | Science News
Getting to grip with an extra robotic thumb is easier than you think.
Apparently, members of the general public can easily learn to use the extra robotic thumb. (Image Credit: Cambridge/News9).
New Delhi: Researchers from Cambridge university have developed a robotic opposable thumb and have now demonstrated that members of the general public can quickly learn to use the controllable prosthetic digit to pick up and manipulate objects. Such devices could improve the quality of life for healthy individuals who can enhance their productivity. It also provides people with disabilities with novel ways to interact with the environment.
Out of the 596 participants tested between the ages of three and 96, only four individuals were not able to use the ‘Third Thumb’ because it did not fit their hands securely, or because very lightweight children could not control the device with their feet. The participants executed tasks such as picking up pegs and manipulating multiple foam objects. Almost all the participants could use the device straightaway.
A paper describing the findings has been published in Science Robotics. One of the study authors, Tamar Makin says, “These technologies open up exciting new opportunities that can benefit society, but it’s vital that we consider how they can help all people equally, especially marginalised communities who are often excluded from innovation research and development. To ensure everyone will have the opportunity to participate and benefit from these exciting advances, we need to explicitly integrate and measure inclusivity during the earliest possible stages of the research and development process.”
Why do we need the Third Thumb?
The Third Thumb is aimed at increasing the range of movement for the wearer, enhancing their grasping capability and expanding the carrying capacity of the hand. The thumb allows users to perform tasks that might otherwise have been challenging or impossible to execute with a single hand. The thumb also allows wearers to perform complex tasks requiring multiple hands without having to coordinate with other people.
How does the Third Thumb work?
The Third Thumb is worn on the opposite side of the palm as the biological thumb, and is controlled by a pressure sensor placed under each big toe. Pressure from the right toe pulls the thumb across the hand, while pressure exerted from the left toe pulls the Thumb towards the fingers. The extent of the movement is proportional to the pressure applied, and releasing the pressure returns the Thumb to its original position.
