Extreme Bionics: This man is rebuilding humanity

AUSTIN, Texas — Dr. Hugh Herr is living proof that "extreme bionics" is no longer science fiction. The double amputee strode about a South by Southwest (SXSW) convention hall stage on two bionic limbs attached just below the knee — and if he weren't wearing suit shorts, the audience might never have known. "I think we will all be surprised at the speed at which bionics occurs in this century," said Herr, who recently established the Center for Extreme Bionics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. Last year, Herr gained national recognition when his team constructed a

special bionic limb to help a Boston Bombing victim dance again. SEE ALSO: Implanted Prosthetic Arm Moves Us One Step Closer to Bionics During a deep and wide-ranging talk entitled "Extreme Bionics: the End of Disability," Herr outlined his team's efforts to build current and future generations of bionics and human augmentation. There have been many hurdles, including how to communicate with the brain. "The human brain is unimpressive when looked at externally ... inside there's extraordinary complexity," he said. More importantly, Herr's team is investigating how to get information from inside the body outside, and vice-versa.