http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091302271.html

Cool stuff, although it looks kind of creepy right now.

Looks cool, but it looks very delicate.

I've actually been asked by the same institute if I would be interested in replacement limbs that would use the muscles I DO have in my body to control a partially bionic extension of my arm. The offer wasn't really all that serious, but more of a "suggestion" to me. They're not promising this technology any time soon, but letting me and a handful of others with dwarfism know that it's a possibility.

I'm very torn between the concepts. I'd love to have a fully functioning, nearly 2 foot long leg that had both output and input, as if it were my own functioning leg. Being able to feel with it would be amazing, and being able to walk, upright, like any human being would be... breathtaking. I'd give almost anything.

Except that I'd be partially artificial. I'd likely be the "first" in the experiment, and although it'd be free to me financially, I might end up with serious disfigurations, pain, or even cancer. They want to use us dwarves particularly because we often have strong, thick, large muscles in our limbs that could be drawn upon, instead of hijacked chest muscles. They'd be able to replace bone tissue, particularly joints, lengthening our limbs while retaining much of our feeling, possibly even creating mid-points that simply lengthen the arms, but keep even the skin and blood stuff all intact. The middle place may or may not receive touch sensation.

We've been given first dibs at this, and I know of at least 3 or 4 who are completelly and wholly interested. I don't know if I necissarily am. What would you do? Granted, you're not all confined to wheelchairs and have never walked... but still.

oops... thread hijack :-/

Interesting.

And this quote seems rather apt.

Kirby:

Taking the risks associated with being one of the first in a field always requires a degree of altruism. Of course, unlike a purely altruistic act, you would also stand to benefit from this as an individual.

Technology is also pursued by that nasty "law of conservation of problems," where every advancement produces a new problem - all those you listed as the risks of being one of the firsts, as well as other unforeseen dangers. The new problems created by technology can many times be unpredictable.

Honestly, I don't know what I'd do. If I lost the use of my legs, I'd definitely consider something like this if it were offered to me.

If I were to loose a limb, it would either be death or this.

Kung Fu is too hard without all your limbs eh?

Man, this is on par with that replacement eye thing. Soon we will have cyborgs. I wonder what sort of throughput a nerve gets. It'd be nice to directly talk with then via a really advanced DAC.

Unavailable for comment.

Still awaiting the day when we can finally have cybernetic limbs similar to the one Luke received in Empire Strikes Back.