Third Thumb printed prosthetic provides fine motor control

Prosthetics of the future will not be limited to helping people with disabilities, if a bizarre creation by a young artist is anything to go by. The Third Thumb aims to extend the abilities of anyone who wears it, providing finer control when handling objects. The device could help its wearer to carry more, keep a tighter grip on their smartphone, or even play complex chords on the guitar. The human thumb has a dynamic range of movement, including its characteristic opposable directional ability, which the Third Thumb seeks to recreate. It uses two motors to create tension in a cable system, similar to a bike's brakes, to pull the thumb towards the fingers.