The (robotic) hand that feeds

A hand exo-skeleton and its control and battery units, as developed by three European labs for paraplegics. Movement is controlled by eye movements and electrodes attached to the scalp. Photo: dpa/Nicola Vitiello

Researchers have developed a mind-controlled robotic hand for the 40% of paraplegics who can still move their shoulders and elbows and hate to be spoon-fed in restaurants, but the jury is still out as to whether or not the technology is practicable.

The hand exoskeleton, which is controlled via eye movements and electrodes attached on the scalp, is attached to paralysed limbs. Three European research institutes combined to develop it.