10 Sci-Fi Tech That's So Close We Can Barely Contain Ourselves
4. Mind Controlled Prosthetics
These have been a long time coming, but were finally beginning to develop mind-controlled prosthetics that are simple enough to be practical in the real world. An orthopedics company in Iceland have unveiled a prosthetic leg that can be controlled by the users mind via sensors implanted directly in to the flesh - negating the need for nerve transplantation that was required in previous models.
Because the technology is relatively simple and less invasive, it seems like a step in the right direction (no pun intended) for practical medical use with the public. One of their test subjects, Gudmundar Olaffson, described how after ten minutes of trying to gain control of the prostheses, he found he was able to just stand up and walk away. Of course, the more natural the integration of a piece of technology, the easier it would be for a patient to master it whilst minimising the need for intensive physio.
This also opens up a wealth of opportunity for those without and limbs or mobility at all. In 2012 a quadriplegic woman managed to successfully feed herself a chocolate bar using a robotic arm that was powered by her mind. This kind of technology could allow new freedoms to those with the least mobility. How far we can push it, whether we could extend it to speech control or even full movement, only time will tell.