College+Essay

College Essay By. Justin McMahon

Imagine going to work one day, everything is going as usual. But a group of terrorists invade your workplace. They beat you to a pulp, throw you through a thick pane of glass, and shoot you in the head. This would not only ruin your day, but your body also. Adam Jensen, of Edios’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution, goes through this exact experience. The majority of his body was destroyed. Luckily, in his reality, medical technology is advanced enough to not only save his life, but give him special abilities. Today’s advancement in medical technology pales in comparison. I find the current state of medical technology lacking in the field of robotic prosthetics and augmentations. My goal in life is to advance the field of biomedical robotics, to help the people who need it.

In Deus Ex the doctors integrated robotic prosthetics and augmentations with the working remains of Adam Jensen body. He is restored of his former physical and mental abilities. He also gains some new abilities like adaptive camouflage, neural hacking, computerized vision, electromagnetic parachute system, etc.

According to the National Limb Loss Information Center, “In the United States, there are approximately 1.7 million people living with limb loss”. And according to the National Center For Health Statistics, “50,000 new amputations every year in USA.” Not all lose go through what Adam Jensen does, but the loss of limbs effect them none he less. Amputees must learn to cope and adapt to life without what they lost.

Our technology helps amputees adjust by giving them. Prosthetic limbs haven’t advanced much past peg legs and hook hands. Yes springs and joints have been added but major improvements can be made. I am developing pneumatic muscle powered limbs that are controlled by natural brain signals. The Pneumatic muscles give the limbs an anatomically correct form. The muscles come in multiple forms and strengths. Sub-dermal sensors in the scalp will be able to sense the natural motor signals and control the limbs accordingly. Power will be supplied by either an external battery pack, an internal pacemaker-like battery, or a flexible battery under a flesh-like covering. The prosthetics will be controlled nearly the same way as a natural limb. Therefore, giving them more precision in movement.

My research will not only help make amputees’ lives better, but can also be applied to external augmentation. Suits like the one in the video game series “Crysis” can be developed to improve or augment the physical abilities of a person. The design is a layer of artificial muscles over the user. These designs have practical applications in things such as the military and construction.

Medical technology is becoming more advanced over time, but it can’t advance without innovators. My goal in life is to innovate and create things that help others. My designs and ideas will help us get closer to what we see in the media. One day our medical technology will be able to restore an amputee’s life to or even above its prior state.