“Third Thumb” Augmentation Changes the Way we Think of Prosthetics
No matter how often we try combating muscle atrophy, once we reach a certain age, the tyranny of aging begins lurking in. Known as sarcopenia, by the time we reach the age of 50, each year from thereon in, we lose around 0.5–1% of our skeletal muscle mass.
To help us combat this, Swiss designer Yves Behar has created a powersuit that’ll help the elderly acquire extra muscle mass. Say hello to the Aura Powered Suit!
Photo Credit: Yves Behar
“What…if technology and design could help us continue to move about the world and engage with it physically, socially and emotionally? This is the question Superflex is answering with the Aura Powered Suit.”
– Yves Behar
Photo Credit: Yves Behar
To ensure maximum comfort, the powersuit is made up of motors, batteries, and control boards that are designed into hexagonal pods. These pods allow three-dimensional movement, whereby the hardware is able to expand, contract, and move with that of the wearer. As a result, its configuration is then anatomically aligned with each wearer’s natural muscular composition.
To assist in the wearer’s movement, the engineered fabric contains a V-shaped band holding tightly around various regions of the body. In doing so, it maximizes both the ergonomics and lumbar support of the body. Each time the wearer applies any type of force, whether it be standing, sitting, or walking, the powersuit then augments their natural muscles by using its electric muscles instead.
Photo Credit: Yves Behar
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
The Aura Powered Suit serves as not only an assistant clothing line for the elderly but as a concept design for how all clothing will be manufactured in the relatively near future. Clothes of the future will work in the same manner exoskeleton suits operate today – by accommodating the day-to-day strains of muscle fatigue, thereby keeping the body healthy and relaxed. Clothes of the future will also be smart. Their very fabric will be etched with mass circuitry, of which will be connected to an intelligent systems network. They’ll be connected to every other device you own, regulate your body temperature, serve as a biological compass, and likely provide newer sensations and experiences of the world of which we cannot possibly fathom at this particular time.
About the author
B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.
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