Published on 01/27/2008
Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill has Bluetooth technology to thank for regaining his motion after losing both legs above the knees when a bomb blew up right under his Humvee while performing his rounds in Iraq a couple of years' back. The prosthetic legs that Bleill uses comes with computer chips which is capable of sending signals to motors in the artificial joints so the knees and ankles move in a co-ordinated fashion. While I'm sure it is not as fast as a wheelchair user when getting around, this brings back a greater semblance of "normality" to Bleill's life. Bluetooth receivers strapped to the ankle area will communicate with each other so that both legs know what they're doing, how they're moving, etc. Would be nice to see solar powered versions in the future so that these prosthetics don't have to be charged overnight each day.