NaBlogPoMo Day Seven
Yesterday I got to hang out with the technology club at my son Andrew’s middle school. I should point out that Andrew stealthily avoided me the entire time.
Anyway, while the boy was being too cool to acknowledge his own mother, I was downstairs in the “makers’ space” playing with prosthetic appendages that students had made using a digital printer.
I should’ve run those plastic fingers through my hair before taking this selfie. What a mess!
Examining the fully operational, light-weight, plastic hands, complete with working joints and textured fingertips, I was blown away impressed with the ingenuity of today’s middle schoolers. The only thing I ever created at that age was an ocean floor-themed shoe box diorama that leaked sand all over the science lab.
And these kids are making hands…..for real people…who hear about their program and sign up to receive a hand. That’s so awesome!!! (I’m super impressed with these students…sarcasm not included.)
According to Mrs. Hockenberry, her students are able to produce fully functional artificial limbs with a 3D printer, a few small hardware pieces and some twine. Cost per limb is about $50, compared to the $40,000 patients spend on traditional prosthetics.
I was having so much fun playing prosthetic patty-cake with the kids that I didn’t even think to ask how well the hands hold up compared to their high end counterparts.
I’ll try to remember to ask next week before our prosthetic rock-paper-scissors tournament.
That is awesome because people pay so much money for prosthetics. Better living through children.
LikeLike
I love the level of work kids can do now, or play–so advanced!
LikeLike
How absolutely awe inspiring. Do the kids understand how truly amazing this is? Wow…. what a cool experience!
LikeLike
Okay, that is amazing! What kids can do today is so inspiring!
LikeLike
I am very impressed and amazed. Wow. I hope this is the beginning of lowering the ridiculously high costs for anything ‘special needs’ or the handicapped need.
LikeLike
Very, very cool. The only technology I remember from junior was the fog machine malfunctioning at the dance. I did take shop and we made a really cool thing from old bowling pins we knocked the shell off up, exposing the wood. So bowling pin craft vs. Robotic hand. Don’t think things have changed much.
LikeLike
I saw this on TV and it is so cool, and that your son’s school is doing this is way, way, way cool!
LikeLike
wow, amazing and exciting!
LikeLike
Fun! Those 3 d printers are amazing! It’s really great what technology has done for those who need it. Wow!
LikeLike
I just saw a demo of one of those printers at Costco! Amazing! Oh and I rather like the unbrushed hair, makes me feel at home!
LikeLike