The $60,000 Woman - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Dave · 15th September 2006, 01:35 PM

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Remember the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman?

Here is the first real Bionic arm and it is only $60,000! Wired to muscles in her chest.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5348458.stm
http://www.world-science.net/otherne...914_bionic.htm
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/...gets_bion.html

BookStop · 15th September 2006, 03:34 PM

I saw her on GMA yesterday - pretty cool, now she'll be able to do things she couldn't before. We still have a long way to go though - I guess they are working on a way to make a prostetic that has a touch sensation - I definitely think this is a worthwhile endeavor, even at 60,000 a pop.

Wishful · 15th September 2006, 03:35 PM

That's pretty amazing. It always astonishes me how today they're able to just hook up human nerve fibres to electronic equipment.

carrie221 · 15th September 2006, 09:04 PM

This is neat... I saw an article about it on aol yesterday.

nixie · 15th September 2006, 09:14 PM

I seen it on the news this morning.Shame they aren't widely available to everyone who's lost a limb.

dustinzgirl · 15th September 2006, 09:55 PM

I can think of a few appendages for my husb......

um

Anyways How cool is that?

I want a bionic arm so that dishes get washed faster and I have more time for doing the important things in life.

Briareus Delta · 29th September 2006, 12:52 PM

Yet another example of science fiction becoming science fact. Slightly worrying though. Shades of the Cybermen here - how much of the central nervous system can you replace with electronics before it starts to affect your emotions and ultimately your humanity? Answers on a postcard.....

Or perhaps we should look at it more positively. Asimov's Bicentennial Man wasn't human at all by physical characteristics - but better than humans in all other respects.

Im confused, and so am I.....

Dave · 29th September 2006, 10:27 PM

I see a huge difference between linking muscles to cybernetic limbs, and linking the brain with computers. (I do realise that the brain is just a large muscle though.)

I have my own reservations about linking my brain with a computer, but I've been thinking about this concept for a few years now. Despite all the SF doomsday scenarios - you mention 'Cybermen' - but I can think of many others - Michael Crichton's 'Terminal Man', Neal Stephenson's 'Interface', Larry Niven's 'Saturn's Race' - there are some advantages that are so great that people are still going to queue up to have the operation.

I have absolutely no doubts that this will come soon, and that the people who don't have it will be severely disadvantaged. I really hope that people continue to control the technology, and that it doesn't control us.

iratebeaver · 1st October 2006, 04:34 PM

that's crazy! i wonder how the get it to respond to th nerve pulses?

15th September 2006, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,595	The $60,000 Woman Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Remember the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman? Here is the first real Bionic arm and it is only $60,000! Wired to muscles in her chest. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5348458.stm http://www.world-science.net/otherne...914_bionic.htm http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/...gets_bion.html

15th September 2006, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
BookStop Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 1,498	Re: The $60,000 Woman I saw her on GMA yesterday - pretty cool, now she'll be able to do things she couldn't before. We still have a long way to go though - I guess they are working on a way to make a prostetic that has a touch sensation - I definitely think this is a worthwhile endeavor, even at 60,000 a pop.

15th September 2006, 03:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wishful Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: EUROPE: Posts: 23	Re: The $60,000 Woman That's pretty amazing. It always astonishes me how today they're able to just hook up human nerve fibres to electronic equipment.

15th September 2006, 09:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
carrie221 Darkness is my friend :) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 711	Re: The $60,000 Woman This is neat... I saw an article about it on aol yesterday.

15th September 2006, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
nixie pixie druid Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,629	Re: The $60,000 Woman I seen it on the news this morning.Shame they aren't widely available to everyone who's lost a limb.

15th September 2006, 09:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
dustinzgirl A posse ad esse Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,088	Re: The $60,000 Woman I can think of a few appendages for my husb...... um Anyways How cool is that? I want a bionic arm so that dishes get washed faster and I have more time for doing the important things in life.

29th September 2006, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Briareus Delta Misunderstood Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Torfaen Posts: 337	Re: The $60,000 Woman Yet another example of science fiction becoming science fact. Slightly worrying though. Shades of the Cybermen here - how much of the central nervous system can you replace with electronics before it starts to affect your emotions and ultimately your humanity? Answers on a postcard..... Or perhaps we should look at it more positively. Asimov's Bicentennial Man wasn't human at all by physical characteristics - but better than humans in all other respects. Im confused, and so am I.....

29th September 2006, 10:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,595	Re: The $60,000 Woman I see a huge difference between linking muscles to cybernetic limbs, and linking the brain with computers. (I do realise that the brain is just a large muscle though.) I have my own reservations about linking my brain with a computer, but I've been thinking about this concept for a few years now. Despite all the SF doomsday scenarios - you mention 'Cybermen' - but I can think of many others - Michael Crichton's 'Terminal Man', Neal Stephenson's 'Interface', Larry Niven's 'Saturn's Race' - there are some advantages that are so great that people are still going to queue up to have the operation. I have absolutely no doubts that this will come soon, and that the people who don't have it will be severely disadvantaged. I really hope that people continue to control the technology, and that it doesn't control us.

1st October 2006, 04:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
iratebeaver i see said the blind man Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 195	Re: The $60,000 Woman that's crazy! i wonder how the get it to respond to th nerve pulses?

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