Australian swimmer Jessica Smith had not an easy relationship with prosthetics since a childhood accident, but her convictions are being challenge by a British bionic hand that can be update remotely anywhere in the world.
The 2004 Athens Paralympian was born without a left hand.
Jessica Smith parents were advise to fit a prosthesis to help with her development, but the device cause her to upset a boiling kettle when she was a toddler, causing burns to 15% of her body.
Jessica Smith Said :
“There’s always been an association between the fact this prosthetic aid didn’t actually help, it created the most traumatic event in my life,”.
But Jessica Smith curiosity was arise when she was approach by Covvi, base in Leeds, northern England, to try its Nexus hand.
Knowing it would be an emotional challenge, Jessica Smith was fit with the device in April at the age of 37.
Jessica Smith Said :
“I think that I was ready to try something like this,”.
Bionic hands convert electrical impulses from the muscles in the upper arm into movement power by motors in the hand, enabling a user to hold a glass, open a door or pick up an egg.
Simon Pollard, who found Covvi five years ago, said he want to add Bluetooth to the device to allow the company’s specialists to update it via an app.
Simon Pollard Said :
“The fact we can change some of the things that the customer wants remotely is a really powerful thing and a first to market,”.
Some rival bionic hands can be app-control, but Simon Pollard said the ability to talk to a single device set the Nexus apart.
To do that anonymise data is collect for every user, a task manage by partner NetApp.
Simon Pollard said Covvi had sign up 27 distributors globally, including in Australia, China and the United States, and he aim to increase monthly production to 100.
Jessica Smith, who is a speaker and children’s author, said Covvi was already creating new movements for her.
Jessica Smith Said :
“I’ve had a few kids ask if I can do different hand gestures, some polite some not so polite,”.
“I asked Covvi this morning, and I know that will be done in the next couple of hours.”
As Jessica Smith said the tech was not just changing her life, it was changing the lives of her three children.
Jessica Smith Said :
“They think it’s amazing and I’m like half human-half robot,”.
She also said the “bionic” appearance of the hand was an attraction, given her pride in difference.
Jessica Smith Said :
“I’m not trying to hide who I am,”.
“I’m adding and expanding on who I am by being able to access technology that’s never been available before.”
