Better, Stronger, Faster - The Future of the Bionic Body

Explore the cutting-edge world of bionics in this 92-minute conference talk from the World Science Festival. Delve into the potential of embedded technology to revolutionize medical treatments, from spinal cord injury recovery to strengthening weak hearts. Join host Bill Blakemore and experts John Donoghue, Jennifer French, Joseph J. Fins, and P. Hunter Peckham as they discuss Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), BrainGate technology, and the future of brain-computer interfaces. Witness live demonstrations of bionic technology, learn about the journey of bionic pioneers, and understand the challenges in making these innovations widely accessible. Examine the shift from chemical to electrical medical care, the potential of non-invasive implants, and the collaboration between institutions driving this field forward. Gain insights into the ethical implications, funding needs, and the timeline for bringing these groundbreaking technologies to the public.

Re-engineering the anatomy of the "Vitruvian Man"
Bill Blakemore's Introduction.
Participant introductions.
What is FES? Functional Electrical Stimulation
A demonstration with FES and without.
How did you test FES systems?
Jen French the first bionic pioneer.
What was the journey like from injury to today?
A live demonstration of FES.
What is BrainGate?
What is the potential for this technology?
When will this technology be publicly available?
A cell phone app to drink water or stand up?
Jen French would be the first to try new technology.
What is the history of altering the human brain?
The move from chemical to electrical medical care.
The challenge of what is going to drive the delivery of care to groups in need.
Can these devices be implanted without surgery?
What field needs the most funding for this to become available to everyone?
What are the numbers of people who can use this technology?
Why can't we use stem cells to reconnect human spinal tissue?
What is the collaboration level between institutions?
How far away are we from using brain waves to control objects and communicate with each other?