THE FARM REVEALED

PROGRAMME 5: BIONICS

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00:00 – 01:20

Introduction and titles.

01:20 – 04:00

Athlete Richard Whitehead and prosthetist Richard Hirons demonstrate how the flexibility of the latest carbon fibre materials allows for much more flexible limb-like movements in prosthetics.

04:00 – 7:40

Marc Woods demonstrates an intelligent prosthetic ankle to the studio audience. Single amputee and winner of four Paralympic gold medals for swimming, Marc has lately taken up mountain climbing.

07:40 – 10:43

Dr Francisco Sepulveda from the University of Essex demonstrates the mind-reading computer. The computer reads brain activity via a 'shower cap' full of brain sensors. The subject simply has to imagine to where he wants the robot to move – and hey presto, it goes there.

10:43 – 13:05

Professor Kevin Warwick explains that he had a microchip, or radio frequency identification device (RFID), implanted in his arm. These are the same kind of chips that are used to identify pets. Kevin explains how RFIDs might be used in humans.

13:05 – 14:10

We see a short film about how Kevin linked himself to a computer. He had 100 little electrodes fired into his arm that could send and receive signals to and from a computer.

14:10 – 17:09

Kevin's link with the computer gave him an ultrasonic sense, of the same sort that bats use to hunt and navigate by. Kevin shows a studio volunteer how ultrasonic senses could be an aid for blind people.

17:09 – 20:18

We see Kevin controlling devices remotely by clenching his fist. Hands free, he turns a light on, drives a wheelchair and controls a prosthetic hand that was in Reading University while he was in New York. These kinds of applications could be used to improve the functioning of prosthetics and to aid people with spinal injury.

20:18 – 24:00

The studio audience questions Kevin.