An Update from Peregrine about his Talon Hand.
“So I’ve had this hand for quite a while now. When I started using the 1.0, I was shakily carrying someone a full glass bottle I had maneuvered and placed with my right hand. Many tasks were awkward, and I had to take it off for more delicate tasks like tying my shoes or putting my hair back.
It didn’t have enough strength to open the fridge, I got bruises on the back of my wrist from extended use, and most tasks were only marginally easier, if even that. I used it because it was cool, and I felt that it /could/ work, that it could become a part of me, if I gave it a chance.
Skip ahead six months of heavy use, and an upgrade.
I’m working at FedEx SmartPost as a parcel assistant. When I’m on the line with medium to large packages, I scoop them off the line with whichever hand is nearest the belt, left or right, and carry them with ease, due to the rubberized grip on my Talon’s left fingers. Many times I’ll hold smaller boxes in my left hand while scanning them with my right and I can press buttons on the arm mounted scanner/computer we use more easily. When I’m sorting large amounts of smaller packages, it’s even more dramatic. I can use my significantly larger and more grippy Talon to hold a mountain of boxes while sorting them with my more dexterous right hand. It’s actually easier to reach the lower bins with my Talon due to the extra size and reach there. When I’m splitting, sorting a flow of packages into two belts, I use my right hand primarily, but use the Talon to bounce boxes off, spin them around, scoop them off, or simply push them off into the proper belt, if it’s convenient.
Even at home, I’m finding it easier to use it to hold multiple things when working in the kitchen, I can pick up, move and steady things as need be.
To put it simply, I’m getting used to it, and I really like it. I would almost say that I’m on my way to being ambidextrous, but that’s not quite right. I will never write with my Talon. I will never have the same kind of fine motor coordination in my mechanical fingers as I do in my flesh. What I do have, is a fabulously expanded toolbox.
Your average person has two copies of the same tool: two hands. I now have one copy of three different tools: my paw, good for reaching into places a bulkier hand with fingers wouldn’t be able to, my flesh hand, a dexterous and strong set of fingers that are highly versatile and good for tasks requiring more controlled manipulation of my environment, and my Talon, a larger, bulkier device that, while appearing like the flash hand, functions far differently. I can grab light objects, and place much heavier ones in it. It greatly expands my carrying capacity in that arm, either by allowing a secure holding slot, or just letting the fingers act as a rubber plate to expand my surface area. The size gives my far more reach than either of the ‘tools’ I was born with, and it functions in a unique manner that I find very useful.”
From Peregrine’s Blog: justcyborgthings
