#prosethetics

The eyes have it.

From “i-limbs” to artificial organs, advances in technology have led to an explosion of innovation in the increasingly critical field of prosthetics

Only recently have we begun to see exponential advances in prosthetics, such as the i-limb hand, worn by social psychologist Bertolt Meyer, which can translate his muscle signals into multiple grips. (Gavin Rodgers / Rex Features / AP Images)

Bertolt Meyer pulls off his left forearm and gives it to me. It’s smooth and black, and the hand has a clear silicone cover, like an iPhone case. Beneath the rubbery skin are skeletal robotic fingers of the sort you might see in a sci-fi movie—the “cool factor,” Meyer calls it.

I hold the arm in my hand. “It’s pretty light,” I say. “Yes, only a couple of pounds,” he responds.

I try not to stare at the stump where his arm should be. Meyer explains how his prosthetic limb works. The device is held on by suction. A silicone sheath on the stump helps create a tight seal around the limb. “It needs to be comfortable and snug at the same time,” he says.