Dean Kamen shows off his prosthetic arm on The Colbert Report
By Laura June 
posted April 6th 2010 10:38AM
posted April 6th 2010 10:38AM
Dean Kamen showed up on The Colbert Report last night to show off Luke -- the advanced prosthetic arm he's been working on with DARPA and the Defense Department for the past few years. Besides the requisite Segway jokes (and Colbert's are pretty funny, we'll give him that), it's pretty heart-warming to see Kamen and his crazy awesome arm hanging out with our favorite faux Republican. Just more proof that Colbert is a major gadget nerd. The video's after the break -- hit the read link if you want to watch the entire episode.
Wow. Really cool
@plasticlung
http://www.ted.com/talks/dean_kamen_the_emotion_behind_invention.html
@plasticlung
yeah this was amazing. you could feel all the people getting tears in their eyes when he was talking about how the guy fed himself for the first time in 19 years with that arm. pretty credible.
@plasticlung
that was phenomonal! :-)
@plasticlung
I love Dean Kamen, I was a part of the FIRST Program he started when I was in high school (you should really check that out, and he's also invented a water purifier that can run completely powered by cow dung. He wants to get it in as many countries as possible to help reduce water-borne diseases, but companies are not picking it up right now, because it will not make them enough money. :/
steve gutenberg champion arm wrestler is downright creepy.
Roomba, look out!
@plasticlung Unfortunately, the DoD will charge you an arm and a leg for one of these.
....Yeah.....
I love you Stephen
@Disturbedmaggot I always like him because he knows when to shut up when the audience wants to hear the guest speak. and he knows when to speak when the audience wants the guest to shut up :D.
FAP FAP FAP?
@mps A third hand can augment some sexual experiences.
@mps
fap fap ARRRRGGHHHHHH!!!!
I thought the droid commercial before the video was of his new arm... was kinda freaky.
That's pretty awsome. Cyborgs are no longer fantasy!
Sounds cool - if only engadget had a video which can be watched outside the US then i'd be able to see what you are on about -.-
@humanerror
Use hotspot shield. Seems to work in Australia for me.
@humanerror Im in Germany and can watch with no problems without Hotspot Shield or anything like that.
@humanerror It's not our video -- it's Comedy Central's -- sorry!
@humanerror
France here and video plays without any problems.
@humanerror : This may work for you: http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/#clip16251
Someone from the UK said it worked for him, so maybe Comedy Network isn't as lame about having an Internet service that works internationally... :)
(On which topic, if it does, wouldn't it be GREAT if Engadget started linking to them instead of US-specific video sites?)
@humanerror : Woops, I guess that was an older interview. Well, here's the full episode... http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/#clip285079
:)
@humanerror Watching here in Jamaica. No problems. Maybe they just don't like you? :P
@DariusRobert
They just don't like Canada. Enjoy it until they notice.
@DariusRoberti I think you mean that "we're watching in Jamaica, and it's NO PROBLEM MON"
Wow. That's absolutely incredible.
I know how that guy Feels. and why the hell did they name the arm Luke?
@Lord Vader I love how committed you are to your gimmick.
@Booksmart Devil Prepare to be choked
@nalanarof. Not just any choke, FORCE CHOKE!
@Lord Vader
lmao, funny on so many levels
@Lord Vader
They should have named it after you! Luke only lost his hand.
@andthemaniam Anakin doesn't have the same ring to it.
Colbert was a long haired D&D nerd in college, gadget nerd isn't much of a stretch.
That's damn cool. I remember reading an article about it in Wired awhile back. Guess he's finished it since then!
@danielhonigman
it's nowhere near finished.
i mean, it is amazing, but i doubt even he would call it finished.
not available in the UK apparently, alternative website source please!
@Marix
Yup can we get a different upload? i want to see his robo-arm in action!
How does he control it? I'm guessing for amputees they could connect cables to the nerves or electrodes to the brain, but since he has both arms and I don't see any grid on his head, how does he do that?
@kitsune it's myolelectric control - the grid taps into the electrical signals given off by his muscles. The shoulder harness, etc, is all for that control - different muscle groups control different movements in the arm.
What I wouldn't give to work with DEKA research and/or work on gen 2 of this device!
@gankit
Thanks for the answer. Yeah that's pretty exciting, I didn't know they could actually detect and differentiate those signals without some heavy gear or opening up your arm.
@kitsune It's not myoelectric, though it could be in future. The current model reads actual pressure using small balloons, so twitching muscles and toes controls the motions.
I got a chance to work with Dean Kamen via the FIRST Robotics Competition and went to his home in NH 3 times; what an awesome guy, genuinely interested in giving back to the world. And totally unassuming and approachable. He's an inspiring individual and you can't help catching his enthusiasm. Probably more excited about meeting him than any celeb I've ever met. If you are lucky enough to get a chance to get involved in one of his projects - jump in, you'll never regret it.
@rapitera
My robotics team at school has competed in FIRST for many, many years. This guy is awesome.
Nothing but WIN!
Well done! Let's hope the gov finds it suitable for amputees.
That is AMAZING ... I would like to know how does he control it though?
@amirmah
With a toe switch. Seriously.
Less comedy... more to the intelligence of the man.
wow...I honestly wasn't really that impressed with his demonstration on the show....HOWEVER, seeing the real example of that guy using chopsticks and it seemed so natural, I was astounded. It must be a lot easier to control without an arm.