Mechanical Third Thumb Offers Extended Hand Abilities From: Wireless Design Magazine - 07/07/2017 By: Bob Yirka Dani Clode, a grad student at the Royal College of Art in London, has created what she calls the "Third Thumb" system that adds a mechanical thumb to the opposite side of a natural thumb on a human hand. She showcased her invention at this year's RCA graduate exhibition. The system is made of a bracelet to hold the servo motors, tiny ropes that connect to the thumb that control its movement, the thumb, and sensors that sit in the user's shoes. The user exerts different amounts of pressure with either foot to activate the thumb. Signals are sent from the sensors to the bracelet via Bluetooth. The thumb was made via 3-D printing, which allows for customization—users can print one to fit the size of their hand. The material is a type of plastic called Ninjaflex. Clode has told members of the press that her intention in creating the thumb was to extend the concept of a prosthesis. It adds functionally that people discover gradually as they grow accustomed to wearing the device. Read the entire article at: https://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/news/2017/07/mechanical-third-thumb-offers-extended-hand-abilities Links: Dani Clode http://www.daniclodedesign.com Third Thumb Project http://www.daniclodedesign.com/thethirdthumb "The Third Thumb" is for all the times two just are't enough https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/06/third-thumb-two-just-arent-enough This "third thumb" is the unnecessary prosthetic of my dreams (with video 1:55) https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/7/6/15927362/3d-printed-prosthetic-third-thumb-dani-clode Controllable Third Thumb lets wearers extend their natural abilities https://www.dezeen.com/2017/07/05/controllable-third-thumb-lets-wearers-extend-natural-abilities-royal-college-art-design-graduates 'Third Thumb' https://www.pddnet.com/news/2017/07/video-day-third-thumb 3D-Printed Prosthetic Acts As an Eleventh Finger https://youtu.be/X2PQIWYrr8E?t=136 Need an Extra Thumb? The Third Thumb Project Uses 3D Printing to Change Perceptions of Prosthetics https://3dprint.com/180162/third-thumb-project-3d-printing Not Related: Denis Schindler to become the first Paralympic cyclist to use 3D-printed prosthesis https://www.dezeen.com/2016/05/12/video-interview-denise-schindler-worlds-first-paralympic-cyclist-3d-printed-prosthesis-autodesk-movie Empathy kit to help users better understand autism (with video 4:49) https://www.dezeen.com/2017/01/08/heeju-kim-emapthy-bridge-kit-help-users-understand-autism-augmented-reality-candy Dan Britton's typeface recreates the frustration of readin and dyslexia https://www.dezeen.com/2015/06/05/dan-britton-typeface-recreates-frustration-reading-dyslexia Vibeat listening device allows deaf people to experience music https://www.dezeen.com/2016/08/07/liron-gino-design-vibeat-listening-devices-wearable-hearing-impaired-tactile-music Yves Behar's Aura Power Clothing helps the elderly with mobility https://www.dezeen.com/2017/01/12/yves-behar-aura-power-clothing-helps-elderly-mobility-design-museum-london Di Peng recreates dementia with sense-distorting helmet https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/31/video-di-peng-dementia-experience-sense-distorting-helmet-central-saint-martins-graduate-movie Emerging Tech Aims to Improve Life for Handicapped https://www.ecnmag.com/news/2017/01/emerging-tech-aims-improve-life-handicapped Teen Makes 3-D Printed Hand for Brother with Teacher's Help https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/06/teen-makes-3-d-printed-hand-brother-teachers-help App Couples with Sensors to Assist Blind https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/10/app-couples-sensors-assist-blind Open Platform to Help the Blind Navigate Surroundings https://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/news/2015/10/open-platform-help-blind-navigate-surroundings Hand-Worn Robotics to Help Blind and Visually Impaired Recognize Objects https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2015/12/hand-worn-robotics-help-blind-and-visually-impaired-recognize-objects Toyota's Neckband Could Generate Complex Indoor Maps for the Blind https://www.mdtmag.com/blog/2016/03/toyotas-neckband-could-generate-complex-indoor-maps-blind Robots to Provide a Steadying Hand at the Right Time https://www.wirelessdesignmag.com/news/2016/06/robots-provide-steadying-hand-right-time