this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2023
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I find alternative approaches to prosthetics fascinating. With enough crativity, prostethics dont need to be replacements for standard limbs. How long do you think it will be before prosthetics exceed regular limbs?

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[–] STUPIDVIPGUY 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

No reason to just copy our old anatomy if you can come up with something better. For example, humans don't have nearly enough thumbs. Not only do we obviously need thumbs on our feet but we should also get a 2nd thumb on the opposite side of our hands.

But that's because the thumbs would be extremely useful. So what exactly is the advantage of a tentacle? The only way to grab something would be to constrict around it

[–] hemko 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You understand quite well the purpose human limbs fulfill, and where they lack potential.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

On the subject of ditching the human 1.0 blueprints, cheap prosthetics could bring the opportunity to add limbs or mechadendrites tech priest style. I often just need one more hand to hold something in place while I'm working, not even a proper dexterous hand, just something simple with some clamping force for when my hands are already in use. Could attach it with a harness or something. Cheap prosthetics plus some ability to control them via brain (I know most current designs work by looking for muscle movements intended for the now-missing limb, so I don't know how we'd send signals to an additional one yet) would be awesome.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It sounds like I have a new book(?) to read(?)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes! It's a trilogy by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. The first book is "The Mote in God's Eye"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks!! I'll check them out

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

My understanding is that the tentacles advantage is ease of manufacturing and very low cost. I thought it was an interesting discussion point.