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We can rebuild him, we have the technology: Guitar Hero photo

DARPA is sponsoring a massive project with the goal of developing a prosthetic limb which closely mimics an actual, human one. In a demonstration last Friday, at the IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference, researchers presented one of their latest tools for amputees to train themselves in the use of these advanced prostheses: a modified version of Guitar Hero.

The program, called Air Guitar Hero, functions as a sort of calibration tool for the movement of individual digits. In order for the arm to correctly read the electrical impulses which command movement, a tedious process of following commands (such as, "touch ring finger to thumb," and "touch index finger to thumb") over and over again must be completed. Air Guitar Hero is intended to keep patients motivated by providing them an entertaining and challenging context to perform the exercises in.

Amputees who have participated in the experiments have been able to score as high as 70 percent in songs using signals from muscles in their residual arm.

Donald Anderson was unavailable for comment. 

[Via BoingBoing








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Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work. Likes Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games Meet the rest of the team



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12 comments | showing # 1 to 12
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spaziswin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 08:09
spaziswin
thats kinda cool...
Clance's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 08:22
Clance
Are you watching Jack Thompson?
Bennyishere's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 08:38
Bennyishere
I demand a video!
Bacon Burger's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 08:38
Bacon Burger
Fox...DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!
Jesus H Christ's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 08:52
Jesus H Christ
Will the dormant personalities in the prostetic arms cause any adverse effects, like taking over the host's psyche?
Jamie McGinn's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:11
Jamie McGinn
I LIVE ON THROUGH THIS ARM!
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:20
deiga-the-semivaliant
...THE DARPA CHIEF?!
JynxShot's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:28
JynxShot
They should test this by having them manipulate a PAL Key.
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:32
Rosseh
Haha just last night a friend and I were talking about how it would be great to have a bionic arm to play guitar with, because our stretch isn't that wide. This is one step closer to living tissue over cybernetic skeleton.

Come with me if you want to live.
savagesaladin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 09:45
savagesaladin
Thats because Donald Anderson had a heart attack... or something.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 13:11
Darren Nakamura
That is friggin' awesome.
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/24/2008 19:46
The Amazing Shenazin
BROTHERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
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