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Do Any Of The Prostheses Have The Ability To Use Touch Screen Technology Such As With An iPad?

Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed. Advanced Practice of Occupational Therapy, OTR/L

October 5, 2015

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Question

Do any of the prostheses have the ability to use touch screen technology such as with an iPad?

Answer

Some of the new technology have sensors built into the fingertips. If you looked on the Touch Bionics website you would definitely see that. I believe it is in some of the other technologies as well. I believe the Michelangelo hand and the bebionic hand, by Steeper, have it. Another thing that is very interesting is that many of them have programmable software so when the consumer gets one of these hands, for example an i-limb, they get an iPad to go with it. They can use that to download software, update their software, and change their gripping patterns. They can also use it for training games. If you go on the Touch Bionics website they have training games that are available to the consumers and so do the other manufacturers as well. Otto Bock does the same thing. I have not  been on the VINCENT Systems site lately, but I would not be surprised if they have incorporated this technique into their technology as well.


debra latour

Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed. Advanced Practice of Occupational Therapy, OTR/L

Dr. Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L is a registered occupational therapist and owner of Single-Handed Solutions, LLC, providing clinical, educational, and research consulting services to manufacturers, providers, and individuals with upper limb loss/difference. She offers clinical interventions through her affiliation with Handspring Clinical Service.   Debi graduated from BSOT/Tufts University and earned her M.Ed. (Advanced Practice OT) from Springfield College and post-professional OTD at A.T. Still University. She is a full-time academic faculty at Western New England University.  Debi is active with the Amputee Coalition and is a member of ACPOC, AAOP, ATA, and AOTA. Debi has a congenital upper limb difference, is an active prosthesis-user and shares her experiences and tips through her blog at www.Single-HandedSolutions.blogspot.com. She is the inventor of record of patented prosthetic technology, and has authored published articles and chapters in occupational therapy text books, as well as copyrighted educational materials distributed by ContinuEd and MedBridge. Debi has consulted with Scholastic Books as a sensitivity reader for diverse publications, was mentioned in the book “Inventology” (by Pagan Kennedy), and is a subject in the “We Design” exhibit of Design Museum, that opened October 3 in Boston, MA.


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