In a previous article, I mentioned stunt expert Casey Pieretti and engineer Bill Spracher on their show, Bionic Builders. In his presentation during the Tuesday General Session of SolidWorks World 2011, Pierretti declared, “I don’t want to be enabled; I want to be super-enabled.”
Later, at the press conference that followed the General Session, I asked Pierretti and Spracher if they thought about making everyone super-enabled. Pierretti said they thought about the broad range of possibilities but focused on prosthetics for amputees.
Additionally, Pierretti and Spracher are trying to make prosthetic limbs that are inexpensive as possible. Medical insurance wouldn’t even apply to the types of prosthetics they produce, nor would it need to if the cost is in the right price range. One thing that has helped reduce costs is the standardization of the pyramid fitting. The standard connection also makes marketing prosthetic limbs easier.
I’m glad to see this topic getting this type of attention. One thing I would like to see on Bionic Builders is something similar to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where they could dedicate one of the stories in each episode to help a new person who has a need for a special prosthetic. That would be great!