Mastering a Handy Third Thumb Might be Easier than you Imagine

While adding an extra thumb might seem daunting, a recent study suggests most people mastered its use within a minute, challenging this notion. The Third Thumb gained attention in 2017 when British designer Danielle Clode developed it as her Master’s project at the Royal College of Art in London.

Anatomy of the Third Thumb

The device is built around a 3D-printed articulated Thumb, attached to the user’s right hand opposite their natural thumb. A cable connects this Thumb to a wrist-worn motor module, which wirelessly links to two pressure sensors—one under each of the user’s big toes.

Applying pressure to the right-side sensor moves the Thumb laterally across the hand, while pressure on the left sensor moves the digit up toward the fingers. The speed of the Thumb’s movement increases with greater toe pressure, and releasing toe pressure returns the Thumb to its original position.

When neuroscientists from University College London discovered the Third Thumb, they reached out to Clode to incorporate the device into their research on body augmentation. In a subsequent study conducted in 2021, researchers gave 20 participants five days to familiarize themselves with the extra thumb, practicing for two to six hours daily.

Although the study revealed notable alterations in activity within the brain’s sensorimotor cortex due to Thumb usage, it didn’t offer a comprehensive understanding of the device’s applicability across diverse individuals.

This is where the recent study from the University of Cambridge becomes relevant.

Data Collection at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition

The study relied on data collected in 2022 at the annual Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, where members of the public tested the Thumb. Over the course of five days, 596 participants from various demographic backgrounds and spanning ages three to 96 were provided just one minute to familiarize themselves with the device.

After the brief 60-second training session, nearly all participants could adeptly move the Thumb, except for a few small children and individuals with ill-fitting setups. Similarly, the majority could manipulate objects with the Thumb, with only a handful encountering difficulty.

Task Performance Following Orientation

Volunteers were then given two tasks to complete within one minute after the orientation. The first task involved using the Thumb alone to transfer pegs from a pegboard to a basket, which 333 participants accomplished.

The second task required using the Thumb in conjunction with the hand to move various foam objects of different shapes and sizes, with 246 individuals successfully completing the task.

The study found no significant differences in performance based on gender or handedness, despite the Third Thumb being designed exclusively for the right hand.

Similarly, while performance varied slightly among younger and older adults, there was no marked difference between age groups, although older individuals tended to exhibit a slight decline in performance, possibly due to reduced sensorimotor abilities or familiarity with technology.

Advancing Accessibility and Inclusivity in Wearable Technology

Beyond enhancing the capabilities of able-bodied individuals, the Third Thumb shows promise in aiding those with impaired manual dexterity. Danielle Clode, now collaborating with Prof. Tamar Makin at the University of Cambridge, emphasizes the importance of inclusive design in wearable technology to ensure accessibility and functionality for a diverse user base.

The study published its findings in Science Robotics, and you can watch the Third Thumb in action in the video below.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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