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Like 'A Part of Their Body': People Adapt to an Extra Thumb in Fascinating Experiment
Gizmodo ^ | George Dvorsky

Posted on 05/19/2021 9:24:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin

A group of 36 healthy participants were trained on the device (professional musicians were excluded) and used it to perform a variety of tasks, such as building a tower of blocks, manipulating multiple balls simultaneously, or stirring a coffee cup with a spoon. They even managed to perform some of these tasks while blindfolded or distracted with math problems.

“The Third Thumb is a flexible 3D-printed thumb extension for your hand, controlled by your feet,” said Clode, a designer at UCL. “It is worn on the hand, next to your little finger, and dynamically moves like a thumb by using two motors controlled by two pressure sensors retrofitted into your shoes, under your toes, and communicating with the Thumb piece wirelessly.”

The use of feet to control this device might seem weird, but Clode compared it to driving a car, using a sewing machine, or playing the piano—all activities that make use of foot pedals.

The participants had access to the device for five days, and their brains were fMRI scanned both before and after the experiment. They learned quickly, using the device to pick up wine glasses, sort objects, and go about their daily routines. The participants were encouraged to take the Thumb home each day, allowing them to wear the device between two and six hours each day. A control group was also created, in which participants used a static third thumb with no robotic capability.


UCL designer Dani Clode with her ‘Third Thumb’ device.
Image: Dani Clode

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: extrathumb; research; sixfinger; thumb
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1 posted on 05/19/2021 9:24:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

2 posted on 05/19/2021 9:28:30 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: BenLurkin

Oh, so it’s NOT some new euphemism. I knew that.


3 posted on 05/19/2021 9:29:48 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: gundog

How did I ever get along with 5!


4 posted on 05/19/2021 9:30:38 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (`)
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To: BenLurkin

Cats everywhere want to know where to get some.


5 posted on 05/19/2021 9:31:30 PM PDT by ConjunctionJunction
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Welcome to the digital age.


6 posted on 05/19/2021 9:34:24 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: DIRTYSECRET
"SixFinger, SixFinger, man alive! How'd I ever get along with five?"


7 posted on 05/19/2021 9:34:48 PM PDT by fidelis (Defeatism and despair are like poison to men's souls. If you can't be positive, at least be quiet.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Dunno. I have 10.


8 posted on 05/19/2021 9:35:41 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: gundog

Clever!


9 posted on 05/19/2021 9:36:00 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: BenLurkin

Useful to pianists trying to play any Rachmaninoff piece.


10 posted on 05/19/2021 9:43:04 PM PDT by mkmensinger
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To: BenLurkin; Lazamataz

Laz has already ordered one for his girlfriend. For science.


11 posted on 05/19/2021 9:54:00 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: fidelis

lol — what a concept


12 posted on 05/19/2021 9:59:36 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: BenLurkin

Alternate title:

Pretty girl spends lots of money to find out humans are good at learning to use tools.


13 posted on 05/19/2021 10:09:33 PM PDT by ifinnegan ( Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: BenLurkin

I had a cat years ago that adopted us. (1975) Cats do that. We called him “gato de siete garras”. Cat of seven claws. He had two extra claws. He used them like an opposable thumb. He could pick up things with one paw. The first time he did this I said to myself, “a cat can not do this.” I immediately looked at his claws and feet. I then realized he could do this.

He was a good cat.


14 posted on 05/19/2021 10:11:16 PM PDT by cpdiii (Texan Coonass Cane Cutter Deckhand Roughneck Geologist Pilot Phamacist & much more education)
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To: BenLurkin

Glorious, an extra digit for Democrats to stick up their ass.


15 posted on 05/19/2021 10:37:54 PM PDT by twister881
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To: BenLurkin

Here she is blabbing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UD_LwZD2Kls


16 posted on 05/19/2021 10:54:33 PM PDT by ifinnegan ( Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: cpdiii

Around these parts, the extra claws and fingers are usually found in barn cats. Usually found on the front paws and are large enough to be seen as extras if one is looking.


17 posted on 05/20/2021 2:34:49 AM PDT by wita (Always and forever, under oath in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.)
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To: BenLurkin

“Like a part of their body”. Sounds awfully close to how the mask nazis operate!


18 posted on 05/20/2021 3:18:26 AM PDT by Maskot (Put every dem/lib in prison........like yesterday!!! )
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To: BenLurkin

A workable prosthetic for people who have lost fingers or born without them..........I used to play racquetball with a guy who was born with only a thumb on one hand.


19 posted on 05/20/2021 3:27:14 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: BenLurkin
manipulating multiple balls simultaneously,
20 posted on 05/20/2021 4:58:45 AM PDT by Pollard
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