Open Bionics and Daniel Melville enter 2018 Guinness Book of Records with a 3D printed bionic hand inspired by the video game Deus Ex. 

Good to know that you can now find Open Bionics in the book of Guinness World Records. The start-up, which produces open source low-cost prosthetic limbs, will feature in the 2018 Guinness Book of Records Gamer’s edition for the world’s first prosthetic limb based on a video game.

Open Bionics was working with engineer Daniel Melville. Melville, who was born without a right arm, tested the bionic hand. Open Bionics modeled the design after the cyberpunk video game, Deus Ex, which features transhumanist body upgrades. The result was the world’s first 3D printed multi-grip bionic hand designed to perfectly fit Melville.

Because the hand is based on Deus Ex protagonist Adam Jensen, Melville made sure to dress up for the photoshoot. In the Guinness World Record boll, Melville will be looking cool in a long coat and dark sunglasses (someone 3D printed these as well – more here).

“When I was growing up I wanted a bionic hand but they were too expensive… The ‘bog standard’ NHS prosthetic hand did literally nothing. I felt more disabled, people could immediately work out it was a prosthetic. My NHS myoelectric hand with an open and close function wasn’t helpful for me. With the Open Bionic hands, people don’t say ‘What happened to your hand? It’s more like ‘Wow, that’s amazing. How does it work? What does it do?'” Melville explains.

The Future for Bionic Arms

Melville has been testing Open Bionics prosthetics since 2014. As a result, he has high hopes for 3D printing and advocates its use for prosthetics thanks to the savings that can be made with the technology.

Melville has demonstrated the bionic hand around the world. During this time, he’s visited Los Angeles, Dubai, and Berlin. “They were very cool events, very me. I’m a bit of a geek. I played the games as a kid and being part of it (at the presentations) was absolutely surreal… I’ve shown people it’s a cosplay piece but it’s also functional, something I can use. It’s life-changing,” Melville adds.

Melville will soon trial the 3D bionic hand at his own home. Other future plans include starting his own business called Handy Dan’s 3D prints. In November, Melville will be presenting his business plan to a trust panel. However, he already creates objects to order – visit his website to find out more.

Inspired by Open Bionics? Read more about their fantastic work. They are also hoping to soon make bionic hands for children available on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

“We’re so grateful for Dan’s support as a volunteer tester of our bionic arms and we’re all excited to see what the future holds. As they say in Deus Ex: you can’t kill progress,” adds Open Bionics.

Source: Wokingham Today