Xerfas's Journal: Gallery: Bionic Arms Gain Power, Dexterity, Sensitivity

Prosthetic legs have gotten an image boost recently, thanks to the high-performance carbon-fiber springs worn by the likes of Oscar Pistorius and Aimee Mullins. But prosthetic arms still call to mind stiff, heavy chunks of plastic -- barely one step up from Captain Hook's creepy iron claw.

"Prosthetic legs are in the 21st century," Dean Kamen recently told the trade publication IEEE Spectrum. "With prosthetic arms, we're in the Flintstones." Kamen, who invented the Segway, has been working on creating an advanced artificial limb.

The human hand is difficult to replicate. It's an instrument that can squeeze a lime as effectively as it can hold a delicate lightbulb. The hand is not just about mechanical movement: Its sense of touch offers important feedback to the brain about the texture and nature of the object.

Story: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/bionic-arms-gallery/