‘Wii warm-up’ good for surgeons via Gizmodo

Specific games, requiring fine motor skills, were found to benefit surgeons’ skills when operating in a simulator.  The belief is that the dexterity requirements “warm up” the surgeons and better prepare them for surgical work.  Further proof that some bad things are good for you.

Two interesting articles on work to replace and upgrade human vision.  To begin, Gizmodo covers research to replace the retina with a micro-camera.  The mission being to replace lost vision with a chip that would record and stimulate the natural optical nerves with a chip. 

The second article, from medGadget, reports on an attempt to embed a visual feed into something as basic as a contact lens.  This would allow for a wide range of use from tourism to combat assistance to gaming, as the feed, if combined with GPS and directional awareness, could be overlayed on what the viewer can see in the moment. This could also have influence on education and psychology by adding/removing visual influences which might cause stress or distraction.

Naturally, once somone’s retina is replaced, it should be simple to include this type of visual overlay.

Project Aiko

A project to build an android is taking place in Canada.  Designed to mimic the human ability to feel pain, partially as an effort build limbs to help amputees replace lost tactile function (specifically mentions pain, which is an interested starting point).

Quote from the site “It is my dream to have Aiko be as human-like as possible. I’m not sure
if it is possible, but there is no way to find out unless I try.”

Meets a few of my categories:

Body Alteration: Ability to replace lost body parts.

Intimacy/Recreation: Tactile function at a distance?  Will take teledildonics to new levels.  Bots which are capable of sex, but offer a more human level of interaction, may allow for more fulfilling relationships.

Healing/Psychology: We can only assume prosthetics with the ability to replicate nerve function would allow for more complete recovery for amputees (and possibly to discover methods for individuals with irreversible nerve damage) over time.

Interface: Would this allow us to use robotics to “feel” items at a distance?  Certainly a step up for surgeons operating from a distance and engineers manufacturing technology by hand.

Intra-Body Communication: Use Your Body to Download Data

Using the body to complete a loop through which data can flow is a brilliant method for allowing humans to use tactile manipulation to identify, select and receive data.  A bit more like hunting and gathering than any of our current interfaces.  I do wonder how this, combined with multitouch interfaces and cheap LCDs will change our interaction with our environment?

I also wonder what the medical repercussions may be?  Current belief of wi-fi contributing to autism (Wi-Fi linked to childhood autism – debunked by Ars Technica, so the research continues) is a concern and any time we send electrical impulses through the body, there is a need for consideration of the risks involved.

Wireless ID Skin Patch Technology via Gizmodo

The thought of embedded RFID chips has caused some fear.  Yet, the technology has many valuable applications and medical is just one of them.  At least with this form of bandage, we can enjoy the benefits without so many risks.

Micro-robot that can clear arteries via Gizmodo

Microscopic robots, fueled by blood sugar, will be traveling around arteries to remove build-up. Issues they mention is keeping the immune reaction from attacking the ‘bot and I’m certain there has to be some concern about them entering regions of the brain and contributing to stroke risk.

Suicide-Gene Test Could Spawn Customized Drugs

Wired has an article on the beginning of identifying psychological risks based on genetic studies, this one to identify risk of suicide.  Interesting start to how government and insurance will view the results or eventually require or limit requirements for such testing.

A Human Anti-Aging Pill in Ten Years

Sterling makes some interesting comments leading to this article.  I do believe science will crack the aging process and it will be done ASAP.  In a conversation with friends on the subject, where they claimed it would be wonderful for people and horrible for the planet, I had my own argument on how this will impact humanity.  While it would be wonderful for people to control their lifespans, this will be a controlled substance by government limit if not highly taxed/expensive for the same reason.  We can only support so many people on this planet.  I believe this will lead to a horrible question along the lines of “We can always use 100 year old doctors, but why would we want 100 year old janitors?” As populations increase, there will be a horrible moment where humanity must make a choice between the equal value of everyone and assigning value based on expertise and affluence.

This is one medication which will lead to many instances of social bottlenecks.

Surgically Implanted Bra is Like an External Bra, but With More Horrible Surgery Involved

Basically, a new procedure to place an internal silicon bra with attachments to the ribs in place of an external support.  The thing to understand is that there is a belief that modern bras may restrict mammary blood flow, adding to risk of breast cancer.  Whether there can be an argument for the benefit of this invasive technique, beyond maintaining physical appeal and comfort, will remain to be seen.  I, however, do believe it would be a very popular procedure just on an expectation of maintaining physical attractiveness. 

Artificial bones made with 3D inkjet printers – Via Gizmodo

Pink Tentacle has an article on how researchers at the University of Tokyo are working to print replacement bones using 3D printing techniques.  Current bone replacement is functional, but limited, in allowing people to regain full range of motion and can limit how much impact and strength can be used.  Perhaps we will see a need to get a full body scan to provide accurate template objects for replacing bones if they are injured beyond repair.  Keep them on file for later creation due to injury or age.

On the negative side, will people choose to have bones replaced for vanity or wealth?  Could a slightly shorter sprinter, taking on Usain Bolt, have considered leg-bone replacements as a gamble for greater speed?  Or a basketball player for greater height?  Or a Napoleon complex to overcome their issues? 

On a further extreme, what about an individual who wants their face replaced with a more attractive bone structure?  Seems far-fetched, but possible.  Especially in this time when some of the most beautiful women in the world still feel a need for enhancement.  There will have to be negative possibilities to this positive development, if only to help pay for the R&D costs of getting this procedure approved for medical use.