Robotic Hand Can Be Updated to Meet User's Needs
2022-08-20
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1A British company has developed a robotic hand that it says can be updated to perform new actions required by the user.
2The device, also known as a bionic hand, is designed to work like a human hand.
3It uses electrical signals from muscles in the upper arm to power motors built into the device.
4Bionic hands can help users pick up and hold onto things.
5Many are designed only to do specific tasks.
6Others can be programmed to perform additional actions.
7The British company, Covvi, developed the robotic hand called Nexus.
8It says the device can be updated through a computer application program, or app, remotely from anywhere in the world.
9Simon Pollard started Covvi five years ago.
10He told Reuters news agency the company is now providing users with the ability to request new actions to be added to the Nexus device.
11Nexus uses the wireless technology Bluetooth to permit the company's specialists to update the bionic hand for users.
12"The fact we can change some of the things that the customer wants remotely is a really powerful thing and a first to market," Pollard said.
13He added that some other companies have created products that can also be app-controlled.
14But Covvi's robotic hand is different because the updates can be sent to an individual device.
15One Nexus user is Australian swimmer Jessica Smith.
16The 2004 Athens Paralympian was born without a left hand.
17When she was a child, her parents were advised to get her a robotic hand to help with development.
18But the device caused her to tip over a container of boiling liquid when she was very young.
19The accident led to serious burns that affected 15 percent of her body.
20Smith told Reuters the accident was "the most traumatic event in my life."
21But she heard about the Nexus device and decided to give it a try.
22Knowing it would be an emotional experience, Smith was fitted with the device in April at the age of 37.
23"I think that I was ready to try something like this," she said.
24Smith, who is a speaker and children's book writer, said the device was already creating new movements for her.
25"I've had a few kids ask if I can do different hand gestures, some polite, some not so polite," she said.
26Smith said that if she requests an update for the hand in the morning, the process is completed just a few hours later.
27She added that the tech was not just changing her life, it was also changing the lives of her three children.
28"They think it's amazing and I'm like a half-human-half robot."
29Smith added, "I'm not trying to hide who I am. I'm adding and expanding on who I am by being able to access technology that's never been available before."
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A British company has developed a robotic hand that it says can be updated to perform new actions required by the user. 2The device, also known as a bionic hand, is designed to work like a human hand. It uses electrical signals from muscles in the upper arm to power motors built into the device. 3Bionic hands can help users pick up and hold onto things. Many are designed only to do specific tasks. Others can be programmed to perform additional actions. 4The British company, Covvi, developed the robotic hand called Nexus. It says the device can be updated through a computer application program, or app, remotely from anywhere in the world. 5Simon Pollard started Covvi five years ago. He told Reuters news agency the company is now providing users with the ability to request new actions to be added to the Nexus device. 6Nexus uses the wireless technology Bluetooth to permit the company's specialists to update the bionic hand for users. 7"The fact we can change some of the things that the customer wants remotely is a really powerful thing and a first to market," Pollard said. 8He added that some other companies have created products that can also be app-controlled. But Covvi's robotic hand is different because the updates can be sent to an individual device. 9One Nexus user is Australian swimmer Jessica Smith. The 2004 Athens Paralympian was born without a left hand. When she was a child, her parents were advised to get her a robotic hand to help with development. But the device caused her to tip over a container of boiling liquid when she was very young. The accident led to serious burns that affected 15 percent of her body. 10Smith told Reuters the accident was "the most traumatic event in my life." 11But she heard about the Nexus device and decided to give it a try. Knowing it would be an emotional experience, Smith was fitted with the device in April at the age of 37. "I think that I was ready to try something like this," she said. 12Smith, who is a speaker and children's book writer, said the device was already creating new movements for her. "I've had a few kids ask if I can do different hand gestures, some polite, some not so polite," she said. 13Smith said that if she requests an update for the hand in the morning, the process is completed just a few hours later. 14She added that the tech was not just changing her life, it was also changing the lives of her three children. "They think it's amazing and I'm like a half-human-half robot." 15Smith added, "I'm not trying to hide who I am. I'm adding and expanding on who I am by being able to access technology that's never been available before." 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 18____________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20update - v. add new information 21task - n. a piece of work 22remote - adj. far away 23customer - n. a person that buys goods or services 24traumatic - adj. shocking and upsetting 25gesture - n. a movement made with a person's hand, arm, head, etc. 26polite - adj. behaving in a nice way 27access - v. to find or see information 28__________________________________________________________________ 29What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.