New Prosthetic Grants Users a Third Thumb

What would you do with a third thumb?

Well Dani Clode, product design student from the Royal College of Art, took this question and made a prototype out of it for her graduate work. She created a motorized prosthetic thumb to help people carry more things or even play musical instruments on another level. 

Her intention was to design a prosthetic not to help disabled people but to add an ability to normal people. But how practical is an extra thumb and does this device really work well? 

"The origin of the word 'prosthesis' meant 'to add, put onto', so not to fix or replace, but to extend," said Clode. "The Third Thumb is inspired by this word origin, exploring human augmentation and aiming to reframe prosthetics as extensions of the body."

To control the Third Thumb's movement, you use your feet to adjust the pressure of sensors in your shoes. So, it's a bit far from a mind-controlled extra digit but it seems people are able to make it work.

It's 3D-printed out of Ninjaflex with a wire pulley pulled by two motors. 3D printing enabled Clode to easily customize the Third Thumb to each wearer's specifications. 

What do you think about this? Are you interested in having extra fingers? Leave your comment below. 

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SOURCES:

https://www.dezeen.com/2017/07/05/controllable-third-thumb-lets-wearers-extend-natural-abilities-royal-college-art-design-graduates/?li_source=LI&li_medium=bottom_block_1